The Pas de la Beccia from the Col du Mont-Cenis

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This is a circular hike passing by the Old Fort of La Turra before crossing the Pas de la Beccia at 2,717 m and descending with a beautiful view of Lake Mont-Cenis and its dam.

Details

n°23534415
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.61 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 837 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 837 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,717 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,992 m
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Photos

View of Lake Mont Cenis from Fort de la Turra
Panorama from Fort de la Turra

Description of the walk

The starting point is at the Col du Mont-Cenis, which you can reach from Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis, but also from nearby Italy. Parking is generally easy at the pass.

(S/E) With your back to the bar-restaurant, take the path slightly to the right. Climb towards the Old Fort of La Turra. You will come to a fork in the path.

(1) Go around the Petite Turra, taking the path furthest to the right to reach the Old Fort of La Turra.

(2) Retrace your steps to the previous fork.

(1) Take the path on your right and then quickly left, continuing towards the ruined buildings. After a good effort, you will reach Pas de la Beccia.

(3) This is an ideal picnic spot, sheltered from the wind. Continue southwards down the path, which is a little steep at first. You will come to a fork.

(4) Continue along the path on your right to reach Grand Plan. This area is much flatter, as its name suggests. You will come to another fork in the path.

(5) Continue your descent by following the path on the left. Further down, you will come to a crossroads of tracks and paths.

(6) Leave the path that leads to the Refuge du Petit Mont-Cenis and take the path on the far left.

(7) You will come to theGR® de Pays "Tour de la Haute-Maurienne" trail. Follow it to the left until you reach a fork at an elevation of 2,033 metres.

(8) Do not join the road below, but take the path that climbs to your left.

(9) At the fork at an altitude of 2,105 metres, continue on theGRP® until you reach the road overlooking Lac du Mont-Cenis.

(10) There is no other option but to continue along the road towards La Vachère.

(11) Turn left to join the main D1006 road overlooking the lake.

(12) Cross the road carefully and continue left along a path to reach the Chapelle Saint-Pierre and the Col du Mont-Cenis (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 2,083 m - Saint-Pierre Chapel - Col du Mont-Cenis
  2. 1 : km 1.69 - alt. 2,468 m - La Petite Turra
  3. 2 : km 2.02 - alt. 2,484 m - Ancien Fort de la Turra
  4. 3 : km 5.12 - alt. 2,717 m - Pas de la Beccia
  5. 4 : km 6.42 - alt. 2,364 m - Fork in the road
  6. 5 : km 7.6 - alt. 2,346 m - Fork in the road. Grand Plan
  7. 6 : km 8.59 - alt. 2,238 m - Crossroads
  8. 7 : km 9.5 - alt. 2,122 m - GR de Pays Tour de la Haute-Maurienne
  9. 8 : km 10.48 - alt. 2,036 m - Fork in the road - GRP
  10. 9 : km 11.1 - alt. 2,104 m - Fork in the road - GRP
  11. 10 : km 11.98 - alt. 1,994 m - Road - Lac du Mont Cenis
  12. 11 : km 13.03 - alt. 2,006 m - Fork in the road - GRP
  13. 12 : km 13.77 - alt. 2,059 m - Crossing the D1006
  14. S/E : km 14.61 - alt. 2,083 m - Saint-Pierre Chapel - Col du Mont-Cenis

Notes

Hike classified as difficult.
Take enough water with you as there are no water sources along the route.
Good walking shoes and poles are strongly recommended for comfort and safety at the start of the descent after the Pas de la Beccia.

Worth a visit

A short visit to the Old Fort of Turra is recommended.
Option 1: At the point (4), turn left to shorten the route, but be aware that this is a tricky passage that is not suitable for everyone.
Option 2: From the point (6), head to the Petit Mont Cenis Refuge and then continue on theGR® de Pays Tour de la Haute-Maurienne to rejoin the basic route at the point (7). This adds about 3.5 km with very little elevation gain, or a good hour's walk.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 5 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
shapiro
shapiro
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Lovely walk, beautiful views; the mountain is very accessible. The visit to the fort is interesting.

Green markings are quite faded, and blue stars on a white background.

On the climb (S) – (1) there are two tricky sections with handrails. Between the fort and the Pas de la Beccia (2)—(3), there is a slightly tricky section on scree. The descent from the Pas de la Beccia (3) zigzags down a ridge and is very steep, so it is probably best to avoid it in wet weather. It is a long descent. You can avoid the section at (11) by cutting across the meadows.

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User 21987085

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed in 6 hours with breaks. Departure from the car park (easy to access) at the Col du Mont Cenis. The climb is steep almost from the start and continues up to the small turra with three short steeper sections equipped with handrails. After visiting the fort, between the turra and the Pas de la Becca, there was no snow this year. There is a slightly tricky section on a schist scree slope, but the fluorescent markings make it easier. (I would avoid this section in wet weather.) Once at the Pas de la Becca, the landscape is magnificent. The first third of the descent is quite steep and continues without difficulty across the grassy, flower-filled slope with views of the lake and the Ambin mountain range. The only slight downside is the last two kilometres, which are on the road back to the starting point. A challenging and magnificent hike

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TrisranVDB
TrisranVDB

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The climb is steep but not difficult. The passage through the fort is really nice with a beautiful view of the Vanoise. From the fort to La Beccia, the path becomes more and more interesting, winding through these schist slopes.
I was much less enthusiastic about the rest of the hike: the circular route to the Petit Mont Cenis refuge is quite long and the scenery is pretty much the same. What's more, you then have to add on the rather tedious return trip along the road.
Personally, if I were to do it again, I would cut straight from point 4 to point 9.
So, mixed feelings about the hike, but the description is spot on.

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Vic&Nath
Vic&Nath

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, easy hike.
The view from Fort Turra is well worth the detour, so the few metres of elevation gain are quickly forgotten.
Well done to the volunteers who maintain this heritage site by restoring it.
We took the opportunity to pick some blueberries.

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Florent92
Florent92
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike, with heritage sites (Fort Turra and the road to the Beccia Pass), viewpoints and a variety of landscapes.
The main difficulty is the initial climb to the fort, after which the elevation gain to the Beccia Pass is not very significant. The first part of the descent from the pass is also steep, but in both cases, it is not difficult for experienced walkers.
Lunch break at the Beccia Pass, sheltered from the wind as indicated by the author.
Superb weather. Lots of people up to the fort, but after that it gets quieter. Marmots spotted on the plain.
Thank you for sharing.

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