The Col de la Chal and Col d’Arves from Le Corbier

A pleasant walk with no major difficulties. The ascent follows a wide, comfortable path that climbs steadily. An alternative route via another parallel path is possible (it passes through the Combe des Arvins). These paths run alongside the mountain pastures where you may encounter our friends the cows. The descent back down follows a slightly wilder path but is not difficult. Due to the presence of several small paths, various alternative routes are possible.

Details

1350354
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.99 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 446 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 453 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,862 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,425 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start from the Corbier Tourist Office.

(S/E) Walk past the Tourist Office and head straight up towards the mountain. After about a hundred metres, at a T-junction, turn left onto a wide path and pass under the Verne chairlift. Further on, take a sharp right-hand bend.

(1) At a very tight left-hand bend, near the chairlift line, take the path to the right. Continue along the winding path to La Vernaz, next to the Corbier chairlift.

(2) Turn left towards the Col de la Chal. Pass successively under a chairlift line at the Épaule du Corbier, then two double ski-lift lines. At the fork near a lake, turn left and reach the Col de la Chal 50m further on.

(3) Head towards the Col d'Arves via the path climbing to the right (ignore the one descending to the left). Pass a high point (1856m) between two ski lifts. Continue downhill on the same path to the Col d'Arves (cross).

(4) Then follow the path on the left (north-east) which descends towards Le Corbier. The descent is quite long and you will come across a few small paths on the left, which you should ignore. Continue along the main path. From the pass, you will cross a total of four streams.

(5) Ignore the path on the right leading to Mollard Pingon and, 300m further on, after the Cruet stream and before reaching the road, you’ll come to a junction with a small path on the left.

(6) Take this path on the left, signposted Le Corbier. Pass through the hamlet of “Le Cruet” and turn right onto a small tarmac road

(7) At the junction with another road heading towards Le Corbier, turn left. After about 200m on this road, just after the Saut ski lift, take the path on the left. Walk past the resort buildings and return to your starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,559 m - Le Corbier Tourist Office
  2. 1 : km 0.73 - alt. 1,644 m - Crossroads
  3. 2 : km 1.76 - alt. 1,824 m - La Vernaz
  4. 3 : km 3.41 - alt. 1,816 m - Col de la Chal (1780m)
  5. 4 : km 4.51 - alt. 1,747 m - Col d'Arves (1750m)
  6. 5 : km 6.45 - alt. 1,450 m - Junction
  7. 6 : km 6.73 - alt. 1,425 m - Towards Le Cruet
  8. 7 : km 7.4 - alt. 1,509 m - Les Granges
  9. S/E : km 7.99 - alt. 1,556 m - Le Corbier Tourist Office

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
User 1346616

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The Corbier resort: you either love it or hate it
The appeal of this hike lies in the fact that you have the Aiguilles d'Arve in view the whole time
The route is not technically difficult, except for the last section on tarmac to reach the resort
At point 1, don't hesitate to turn right, even though all the other hikers are heading left

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MaDro
MaDro

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with stunning views of the Aiguilles d'Arve on this very sunny day.
The return route was a bit steep with some very slippery sections, despite the dry weather over the last few days.

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Flopat
Flopat

A lovely walk, apart from the first section from the resort, which follows tracks used by vehicles. Varied scenery. Few walkers.

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pvntmp
pvntmp

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

There are stunning panoramic views throughout the hike and a magnificent view of the Aiguilles d'Arves. However, much of the route runs through the heart of the ski area (with views of the ski lifts) and the path can get very muddy if it rains. Best tackled in summer when the weather is dry!

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babarr38
babarr38

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We went on this lovely hike with my daughter, which offered us some beautiful views at various points.
For the return journey, we took the “Le Corbier through the forest” route, which was lovely too, but tricky as the snow hadn’t melted on a good part of the path and the descent is quite steep... For those with slightly dodgy knees, it might be best to avoid this route, even though this forest path has a very wild and pleasant feel to it.
In short, a very lovely walk...
At the time we went on this walk, we only came across one other person... It must be said that Le Corbier resort was closed... So overall, there weren’t many people about!

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BARET André
BARET André
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Done in the opposite direction, ascending via Le Cruet-la-Baye and the Col d'Arves, and descending via the Col de la Chal and the Combe des Arvins.
Nice, beautiful scenery

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