Les Deux Ponts and l'Envers du Plan through the mountain pastures

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A hike with little elevation gain along a wide path offering views of beautiful alpine chalets, the Notre-Dame de la Paix Chapel in the hamlet of Pré des Plans, and Les Deux Ponts, with superb panoramic views.

Details

n°96348896
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.57 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 486 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 515 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 5,387 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5,157 ft
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Photos

Return to Saint Sorlin d'Arves
View from L'Envers du Plan
Alpine pasture on the reverse side of Le Plan
Descent towards the two bridges

Description of the walk

Start from Pierre Aigüe on the D926, just past Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves as you climb towards the Col de la Croix de Fer. A car park is located near a hotel and a pizzeria.

(S/E) Head south and follow the D926 downhill. Pass the Chemin des Cigales on the right and immediately take the next right.

(1) You’ll come out onto the Chemin des Prés Plans; follow it to the right. Go under the bridge carrying a ski run, then under a chairlift line. Then pass a ski lift line on your left. Go under another chairlift line and you’ll immediately reach a Fork in the road.

(2) Take the left-hand path (the right-hand one leads to a car park, which can serve as an alternative starting point). Pass under another chairlift line and continue south on a wide track until you reach a fork in the road: a small, shaded picnic area with two wooden tables.

(3) Keep left (south-southeast) and you will soon reach the Croix de la Troche: a sign indicating that you are entering an alpine pasture area.

(4) Continue south on the track, leaving the mountain bike trails and other paths to your right. After a slight bend to the right, cross the hamlet of La Mollardière and arrive at Les Prés Plans, where the Notre-Dame de la Paix Chapel stands.

(5) Continue along the wide track (south-south-west). Descend gently and, after a sharp left-hand bend, you will reach the site of Les Deux Ponts. Cross the first bridge.

(6) At the junction on the other side, turn left towards Lac de Laital and cross the second bridge. Ignore a path on the right and continue south along the track towards Col d’Ornon. Climb slightly through the woodland before reaching a large alpine meadow, with a fine view of the surrounding valleys.

(7) The return journey follows the same route in the opposite direction, back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 5,190 ft - Car park - Pierre Aigüe
  2. 1 : mi 0.11 - alt. 5,157 ft - Chemin des Prés Plans
  3. 2 : mi 0.37 - alt. 5,276 ft - Fourche - Car park
  4. 3 : mi 0.77 - alt. 5,308 ft - Fork in the road
  5. 4 : mi 0.89 - alt. 5,322 ft - Croix de la Troche
  6. 5 : mi 1.58 - alt. 5,371 ft - Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Paix (Les Prés Plans)
  7. 6 : mi 2.18 - alt. 5,230 ft - Les Deux Ponts - Arvan (rivière)
  8. 7 : mi 2.79 - alt. 5,384 ft - L'Envers du Plan
  9. S/E : mi 5.57 - alt. 5,190 ft - Car park - Pierre Aigüe

Notes

No drinking water points along the route.

The path is clearly passable on snowshoes in winter as far as the Chapel of Notre-Dame de la Paix (snowshoe signs are present).

Passing through mountain pastures: please ensure you follow the recommendations indicated at the start of the path. We undertook this hike in early May and, on our return, we came across farmers who were already taking their livestock up to the mountain pastures.

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↔4.97 mi ↗+1,463 ft ↘-1,486 ft ◔3h 35 ▲Moderate
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