The summit of the Aiguillon

As you walk through the mountain pastures, reach the summit of the Aiguillon, offering a 360° panorama of the Romanche Valley, the Écrins massif and its glaciers.

Details

6082002
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.30 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,585 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,604 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 6,857 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5,233 ft

Description of the walk

Car park at the entrance to the village near the cemetery, coming from La Grave.

(S/E) Head south-east and enter the village.

(1) At the foot of the church, turn left into Rue de la Maire. At the next junction, turn left again into Rue de la Chapelle. Cross Place Sainte-Anne and follow Rue des Jardins to the left. At the end, turn left onto Rue de Fonton. At the next junction, turn right to reach the D1091 (bar on the left).

(2) Cross the D1091 at a small shed (take care) to find a path that climbs up into a wooded valley; after a few hairpin bends, you’ll reach a small road.

(3) Take the path opposite and rejoin the road you left earlier. Follow it for 200 m and take a path on the left which climbs up to Lac du Pontet. You can walk round the lake if you wish.

(4) Take the uphill path which runs along a ridge. You’ll reach a junction on the ridge at an elevation of 2059. Take the path on the left to reach the summit of the Aiguillon at 2095 m. 360° panoramic view.

(5) Descend via a narrow path that winds down in switchbacks across the southern flank of the mountain. Join the departmental road, then immediately take the path on the left-hand side (signposted). Cross the departmental road with care and return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 5,335 ft - Car park at the village entrance – Cemetery. Near the - Romanche (rivière)
  2. 1 : mi 0.08 - alt. 5,371 ft - Église Saint-Martin-de-Tours (Villar-d'Arêne)
  3. 2 : mi 0.28 - alt. 5,443 ft - Crossing the D1091
  4. 3 : mi 0.91 - alt. 6,093 ft - Route
  5. 4 : mi 1.36 - alt. 6,496 ft - Lac du Pontet
  6. 5 : mi 2.86 - alt. 6,854 ft - L'aiguillon (2095m)
  7. S/E : mi 4.3 - alt. 5,335 ft - Car park at the entrance to the village – Cemetery

Notes

Yellow markings and beige signposts.
No difficulties, apart from the descent, which is rather steep.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 3 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
ALEX69
ALEX69

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route with some beautiful views – and a few marmots to boot!

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Martine74
Martine74

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk with no particular difficulties, featuring magnificent flowers in June – daffodils, asphodels, wood anemones…
There’s a chance you might find drinks at the lake, and perhaps some food too… we didn’t try it out.
Not many people at this time of year
On the way back, we didn’t take the signposted path. We walked back down along the ridge and took the path
shown in pink on the IGN map, which took us to the car park at point 3.

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lapinoum
lapinoum

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

An efficient climb with little to offer apart from a quick arrival at Lac du Pontet. You can swim there and have a bite to eat whilst enjoying a view of the Ecrins that’s already quite impressive
Once you’ve left the throng of visitors around the lake behind, the climb to L’Aiguillon presents no difficulty other than reaching the summit against the magical backdrop of the glaciers
A thoroughly photogenic climb
The descent is very pleasant

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