The Vallon from Villaron

de fr

This is a short, easy and pleasant hike, ideal for a family outing. At the start, the village of Villaron is typical and well worth a visit, and at the end, the Cirque du Vallon is very bucolic.
Along the way, you may see some wild animals (marmots, chamois, vultures, sparrowhawks, etc.).

Details

n°157815
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.77 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 598 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 597 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,289 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,732 m
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Photos

In the cirque
Cave paintings
Weather
One-day encounters

Description of the walk

Access: from Bessans, follow the D902 towards Bonneval-sur-Arc.
Park at the Pont du Villaron car park.

(S) From the car park, after the Saint-Bernard chapel, climb up to the village of Villaron along an old Way of the Cross. Continue straight ahead past the first fountain, pass the Saint-Colomban chapel with its Cross of the Passion and continue to a second fountain.

(1) Turn left at the start of the trail. Follow this path, which is initially marked in yellow (for 600 metres), then in white and red at the start ofthe GR®5, and in blue, white and red to mark the boundary of the Vanoise National Park. A winding track has been built for 4x4 vehicles. You can take it, but the old path is much more pleasant. It crosses this track several times and leads to a place called Le Coin.

(2) At the intersection, continue along the track.

(3) Pass the unmanned Refuge du Mollard and continue to follow theGR®5

(4) At Pont du Vallon, turn left, leave the main path (GR®5) and continue on the left bank towards the bottom of the valley.

(5) Arrival at the bottom of the valley.

Return via the same route.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,733 m - Pont du Villaron car park - Arc (rivière) - Affluent de l'Isère
  2. 1 : km 0.47 - alt. 1,752 m - The trail starts on the left
  3. 2 : km 2.34 - alt. 2,135 m - Place known as Le Coin
  4. 3 : km 2.74 - alt. 2,220 m - Refuge du Mollard
  5. 4 : km 4.16 - alt. 2,242 m - Turn left at the fork when leaving the GR5
  6. 5 : km 4.84 - alt. 2,289 m - Arrival at the bottom of the valley.
  7. S/E : km 9.77 - alt. 1,733 m - Car park at the start

Notes

At the start, there are two fountains with very fresh water.
At the top, on the right bank, is the Vallon d'en haut mountain pasture.
Remember to bring your binoculars

Worth a visit

In the village, just before WP1, see the Saint-Colomban Chapel

(2). From the place called Le Coin, look north-west at the top of the rocky ridge where you can see vultures circling, using the updrafts. Continue the climb.

(5) Look due west at the scree below the ridges. There is a patch of snow that does not melt all year round. With binoculars, you may see chamois. This is also the case due north, above the waterfall.

After your hike, you can observe a rather special weather station (at the back on the left after the first watering hole).
If you are not too tired, on the way back you can make a short detour to the "Château", a listed prehistoric site.
The path runs alongside the Arc. In autumn, the colours are splendid and, if you are lucky, you may spot a squirrel or a fox.

 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

4.8 / 5
Based on 14 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
User 11872818

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike! Snowshoes are essential from halfway along the route, with around 50 cm of snow (21/12/25). The path is well marked at the start, but the markers quickly disappear under the snow. Very beautiful view of the valley.

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craco.35
craco.35

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A hike for the whole family. Check the weather forecast before setting off. Bring binoculars!!!!!

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Patrice Rhône
Patrice Rhône

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

easy family hike.
There is a farmhouse inn at the end of the hike towards the waterfall, and the people are welcoming.
You may see bearded vultures, so bring your binoculars

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User 7588446

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Easy to park.
We liked the little paths that cut across the main road, which meant we didn't have to take exactly the same route on the way back. Quite a climb for a first hike at the start of the holidays, but no particular difficulties. Pretty scenery. Pleasant, peaceful valley.

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pierre huraux
pierre huraux

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Large car park at the start.
A pleasant, moderately difficult hike with a steady climb, offering the option of following an existing track (which is easier on the knees on the way back). The trail for the climb is well marked and easy to follow.
Refreshments available at the Fond de Vallon farm.
Return via the same route, but follow the well-marked track from point 2. The descent is then very pleasant.

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jacques06380
jacques06380

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

magnificent views
the village of Villaron is worth a visit
thank you
Jacques

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cathycoco
cathycoco

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a spectacular circus, we encountered cows climbing up to the mountain pastures, which we accompanied for a short while
i recommend it

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Philippe Chotteau
Philippe Chotteau

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The route described is lovely. The famous valley is majestic, with a beautiful waterfall at the bottom. There is a very nice farm that processes milk from 56 cows in the mountain pastures and also offers bed and breakfast accommodation (the products are also on sale down in Bessans), but where you can also eat your sandwiches and just have a coffee.
The continuation on the GR5 towards Iseran is superb, and allowed us to observe chamois, bearded vultures and other vultures...
However, BE CAREFUL with the alternative route that should have allowed us to descend directly to Bonneval. The ford of the Lenta torrent was completely impassable on the afternoon of 2 July, as it was far too impetuous.
We ended up having to retrace our steps...

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RPodor
RPodor

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike to start off a four-day trip to the Vanoise with my 12-year-old son. Nothing difficult. The path to Vallon is not particularly interesting (4x4 track), but Vallon itself is a haven of peace where you can easily spot marmots. Be sure to enjoy the surrounding waterfalls and beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.

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ab80104
ab80104

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

From point 4, off the trail or almost to the bottom of the valley, the valley cirque is indeed very bucolic.

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fleur62250
fleur62250

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We went on this hike today and had a wonderful time. Thank you for suggesting it
Just bear in mind that it's uphill from the start and doesn't let up, with no shade and few streams
but what a reward! The view is spectacular
Today, it was very cold up there, very windy and very, very chilly
We saw a beautiful display of vultures but no ibex or chamois

Don't hesitate to stop off at the refuge. The people there are really friendly and showed us around their farm and their Beaufort cheese maturing cellar

It took us three hours to climb up and two hours to climb down

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pierrelanoix
pierrelanoix

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful meadow in the valley, magnificent waterfalls, we loved the walk!

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Baladeuse66
Baladeuse66

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant walk that climbs steeply at the start. The old path is shorter (avoiding the twists and turns of the track) but more challenging.
The hamlet of Villaron is charming and well preserved (and car-free).
Encounter cows and their cowbells, which are numerous in these mountain pastures.
At Le Vallon, don't hesitate to go all the way to the end, i.e. the farm and cheese dairy, as the cirque is quite spectacular with its waterfalls.
If you push on a little further to Les Roches, you will pass over patches of snow where the sheep have settled down to enjoy the coolness! Even the marmots are taking advantage of it.
Beautiful views of La Lenta and Bonneval.
On the way back, we admired the Charbonnel glacier.

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globoeasy
globoeasy

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Surprising Vallon des Alpages: between the beauty of the site (and its coolness), the hamlet, the waterfalls, the snowfields and the varied wildlife (marmots, vultures, maybe even a pair of bearded vultures gliding above the trail?), I can only advise you to take a trip there.
Possible half-day hike.

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