The Pas des Ladres via the Col de Fenestre

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A beautiful loop around the Fenestre valley with Lake Fenestre as its centre point.

Details

n°74067
Creation:
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.53 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 626 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 622 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,487 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,902 m
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Photos

A pleasant encounter
ibex
Lake Fenestre
Vallon de la Fenestre

Description of the walk

To get there, take the Vésubie valley to Saint-Martin-Vésubie. On leaving the village, turn right towards Madone de Fenestre and continue for 12 km, parking at the sanctuary.

(S/E) At marker 357, behind the CAF refuge, head north. Follow the beautiful stone track to reach marker 368 (0H30).

(1) Turn right. The return trail is on the left. Cross the small stream and follow the well-marked trail to Lac de Fenestre (30 minutes).

(2) Walk along the lake and continue northwards until you reach the Col de Fenestre, which you can see from the lake. The slope is a little steeper but not difficult, and you will arrive at marker 369 (0h35).
To reach the Col de Fenestre, climb a few more metres.

(3) There is a beautiful view of the valley and Lac de Fenestre on one side and Val Gesso on the Italian side. The last part of this climb is dotted with blockhouses.
To reach the Pas des Ladres, descend to marker 369 and turn right. The path is well marked and crosses a small scree slope, followed by a slightly more difficult but safe passage before reaching the Pas des Ladres (0h35). Magnificent view of the beautiful Lac de Trécolpas.

(4) The return to our starting point is via a winding path from which you can see Lac de Fenestre again. Reach marker 368, which you passed on the way up (0h35).

(1) Continue downhill to reach the CAF refuge (0h25) and then the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,903 m - Car park - Refuge de la Madone de Fenestre
  2. 1 : km 1.17 - alt. 2,067 m - Marker 368, on the right. Near the - Vésubie (rivière)
  3. 2 : km 2.54 - alt. 2,262 m - Le lac de Funestre
  4. 3 : km 3.62 - alt. 2,464 m - Col de Fenestre
  5. 4 : km 4.66 - alt. 2,440 m - Pas des Ladres
  6. S/E : km 7.53 - alt. 1,905 m - Car park - Refuge de la Madone de Fenestre

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 29 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
bermurat
bermurat

Hike not completed because to reach the Madonna di Fenestre, I set off from Boreon and turned back due to thunderstorms
To be redone

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User 17724269

The road to the sanctuary of the Madonna di Fenestre is closed, and it is impossible to reach the starting point.

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syloo
syloo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 13, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very busy route (it's the motorway) but very pretty and well worth the effort.
The path is beautiful and easy all the way (except for the part that climbs up to the Pas des Ladres, which is a little rockier).
Despite the crowds, we saw lots of ibexes that came very close. The view from the pass or the Pas des Ladres is magnificent.

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Efyx
Efyx

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike.

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Ecolocool
Ecolocool

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A good hike to warm up on our first day. Beautiful scenery

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Mitchou et Nanou
Mitchou et Nanou

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A LITTLE OPTIMISTIC WEATHER, GREAT WALK AND BLUEBERRY PIE ON ARRIVAL...GREAT!

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Xaco
Xaco
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 02, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike at the end of June to enjoy the snow-capped peaks and, above all, the carpets of flowers. A rocky walk, but the views from the Col de Fenestre and Pas des Ladres are sublime. Horned creatures are guaranteed, they have made their home in the bunkers and refuge on the Italian side. We spent a little time on the GR section, but that was all. The path is perfectly signposted, with a slightly tricky section between the pass and the col, but nothing too difficult. I was alone at the pass due to the icy wind (not counting our friends the ibex). Definitely worth doing, and as always, set off early...

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doume06
doume06

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 05, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Quite busy, but a classic Mercantour destination with lots of animals post-lockdown...

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fttrando
fttrando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent hike. Very green at the end of spring. Lots of ibex, but also chamois and marmots... a real treat! Beautiful view at the Col de Fenestre, but also at the Pas des Ladres overlooking Lake Trécolpas. The Col de Fenestre was a little too crowded for my taste (which is to be expected, arriving at noon). I highly recommend it!!!

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dlemeitour
dlemeitour

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very beautiful hike, encountered marmots and ibexes. Surprising to see blockhouses at the Fenestre Pass. Very beautiful view of Lake Trecolpas at point 4.
A hike worth doing

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virangelaur
virangelaur

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 26, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Do not enter the casemates without first knocking on a loophole... a chamois lives there! The water in Lake Fenestre is so clear that you can see trout swimming. The weather was magnificent, and the chamois and ibex were out in force. A very beautiful hike in a mineral world.

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bebeghislaine
bebeghislaine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike with the added bonus of seeing ibexes at the Col de Fenestre.

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LF-McCoy
LF-McCoy

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very green! That's what we'll remember. Definitely the most accessible hike for beginners and the most diverse in terms of scenery of all the hikes around La Madone.

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EstérelVar
EstérelVar

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Beautiful hike. A few ibexes. Lovely view of Lake Trécolpas from the Pas des Ladres.
Very stony path.

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MCD85
MCD85

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

an interesting route with lots of chamois, which are not at all shy

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