The Col de Leschaux circular route

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An exposed hike requiring caution, offering a stunning view over the entire southern sector of Pralognan-la-Vanoise.

Details

n°3773618
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.42 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,113 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 3,996 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 8,589 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 4,613 ft
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Photos

The path before the Col de Leschaux
Path leading to the Col de Leschaux
Balcon towards the Col de Leschaux
Panorama from the Col de Leschaux

Description of the walk

Park in the centre of Pralognan-la-Vanoise. Walk to the Mont Bochor cable car station. Take the cable car to the top station (altitude 2022m).

(S) Head down towards the mountain restaurant, then climb up a path alongside the Campanules ski lift; a few hundred metres further on, turn left to reach the Creux ski lift. Then follow the Ancolie chairlift to its terminus.

(1) Take the path on the left towards the Col de Leschaux, ignoring the one on the right which leads to the Col Rosset. The path winds its way up the slope to reach the rocks beneath the Aiguille du Bochor.

(2) Cross a cable-assisted section and continue with caution along a high, balcony-like path to reach the Col de Leschaux.

(3) Descend left into the Leschaux valley via a path that is steep at the start and winds its way to a rocky outcrop. Go round it to reach the Couloir des Rossets.

(4) Ignore the path heading towards Mont Chevrier and continue down to the left to the Fenêtre viewpoint.

(5) Continue, ignoring the path branching off to the right, along a wide track to the left, to reach the hamlet of Les Granges.

(6) From there, follow the road due south leading to the centre of Pralognan-la-Vanoise (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : mi 0 - alt. 6,522 ft - Upper station of the Mont Bochor cable car
  2. 1 : mi 1.27 - alt. 7,654 ft - Junction
  3. 2 : mi 1.74 - alt. 8,445 ft - Beneath the Aiguille du Bochor
  4. 3 : mi 2.27 - alt. 8,415 ft - Col de Leschaux (2564m)
  5. 4 : mi 3.4 - alt. 6,129 ft - Couloir des Rossets
  6. 5 : mi 3.97 - alt. 5,335 ft - La Fenêtre viewpoint
  7. 6 : mi 4.61 - alt. 4,728 ft - Les Granges
  8. E : mi 5.42 - alt. 4,616 ft - Pralognan-la-Vanoise - Doron de Bozel (rivère)

Notes

No water along the route.

Worth a visit

You can also start from Les Fontanettes (+350m).

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 3 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
MaitreFolace
MaitreFolace

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely climb, starting along the Col Rosset route before turning left onto a steep slope with well-defined switchbacks. There’s no real objective danger in dry weather; it feels a bit exposed when you reach the balcony path, but the trail is in good condition. It’s worth continuing on to the peak.
On the other hand, I found the long descent tedious and at times not very ‘flowing’.
It’s important to note that there are no water sources, so you need to carry enough and manage it carefully. In the blazing sun, I was parched all the way to the village wash house.
As for the number of people, I was surprised by how many were heading to or returning from the Grand Bec refuge. On the other hand, there was no one on the descent to Pralognan, except at the very end.

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sempervivum
sempervivum

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with spectacular high-mountain scenery and high-altitude trails. Taking the cable car makes the going easier. The chimney section requires the use of both hands, and some sections are exposed. I would classify this hike as ‘difficult’ for occasional hikers. For those with some rock-climbing experience, the ascent to the Pointe de Leschaux is easy (follow a faint path. Make sure there are no hikers on the path below, as there is a risk of falling rocks). The descent is long and a bit hard on the knees.

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Nutstreck
Nutstreck

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent, varied route with high-mountain scenery... From the Col de Leschaux, we climbed the peak of the same name, which adds a bit of a challenge to the hike (a steep grassy slope and rocky terrain towards the top). A route away from the crowds, which is a real bonus!

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