Le Monal via Chenal d'en bas

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Le Monal is one of the most beautiful examples of mountain pastures in the Tarentaise. Facing the Mont Pourri glaciers, this hike offers magnificent, colourful landscapes in every season.

Details

n°16149412
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.02 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 231 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 231 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,929 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,698 m
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Photos

View of Mont Pourri from Le Monal
Monal hamlet

Description of the walk

From Bourg-Saint-Maurice, head towards Val d'Isère. At the intersection at Les Pigettes, take the road on the left that climbs up to the Chenal d'en bas car park.

(S/E) From the car park, head towards Le Monal via the Via Alpina. Pass by the houses in Chenal d'en haut and continue to the junction.

(1) Turn left, still heading towards Le Monal.

(2) At the intersection, turn right at the hairpin bend towards Le Fénil and continue along the track.

(3) Once you reach the hamlet, stay on the track.

(4) 100 m after La Legettaz, leave the track and take the path that descends towards Le Monal. Further on, ignore a path on the right.

(5) At the chapel, take the small path on the left towards La Combaz.

(6) Cross the hamlet and rejoin the track.

(2) Keep to the right and continue along the track to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,698 m - Chenal car park
  2. 1 : km 0.3 - alt. 1,742 m - Chenal d'en haut, on the left
  3. 2 : km 0.73 - alt. 1,785 m - Intersection, on the right
  4. 3 : km 2.08 - alt. 1,896 m - Le Fénil, straight ahead
  5. 4 : km 2.56 - alt. 1,926 m - La Legettaz, path on the left
  6. 5 : km 3.05 - alt. 1,872 m - Monal Chapel, on the left
  7. 6 : km 3.84 - alt. 1,817 m - La Combaz, return to the track
  8. S/E : km 5.01 - alt. 1,698 m - Chenal car park

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 7 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
titan92
titan92

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely little family hike with children. Follow the trail on the right at the first bend for an easier climb. Magnificent view of Monal from above.

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gbg
gbg

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Did it as described. On the way there, just before arriving at Monal, we continued to Lac du Clou via a direct path through the woods to reach an alpine trail. The Vallon du Clou and the nearby lake are well worth discovering, as the landscape is magnificent. Without that, I think it's a little less interesting (not a criticism, just my opinion). We rejoined the route on the way down.

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MinouMarco
MinouMarco

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike in good weather with superb views of Mont Pourri and its glaciers.
A peaceful stop in the hamlet of Monal. An easy route with no difficulties.

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Nadine 38
Nadine 38

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant, easy hike. We pushed on to the peak and it really is magnificent... The only slight downside was finding the entrance to the car park at the channel, as it isn't signposted in the hamlet of Les Pigettes. You need to take the small hairpin road on the left at the foot of the first avalanche barrier bridge in Les Pigettes...

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FLEURPATOU
FLEURPATOU

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike, don't hesitate to push on to Lake Clou, superb scenery.

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manupoca
manupoca
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A short hike we did in April 2024, but in cold and snowy weather! It was very beautiful.
However, it was impossible to reach the starting point by car because of a huge icy snowdrift on the road. We left the car 1 km further down.
With snow in the woods and meadows, it was sometimes difficult to find the trail, especially when leaving the small listed hamlet (which is so pretty).
We will do this route again in good weather to see how it is.

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tmasson2
tmasson2

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with magnificent views of the glaciers and the village of Le Monal.

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