Western Levanna

At Bonneval-sur-Arc, leave the road leading up to the Col de l’Iseran at Pré Catin. Turn right onto the small road towards L’Écot and park in the car park by the dam.

(S/E) Head north-east along the track to the left of the dam, which forms part of the^GRP® Tour de la Haute Maurienne. You’ll reach a junction at La Tuilière.

(1) Then turn left, heading due north, to stay on the^GRP® and climb through the mountain pastures until you reach a fork at Plan Sec.

(2) Leave the^GRP® and turn right onto the Sentier Balcon leading to the Refuge du Carro.

(3) Continue straight on, skirting Lac Blanc along its southern shore. The path is not very visible, so keep a close eye out for the cairns. After the lake, the climb takes you up through scree to the Col des Pariotes.

(4) Continue straight on, heading north-east. Caution: from here onwards, the walk is off-trail and over boulders that are not always stable. Take care where you step.
Avoid taking the ridge path that leads directly from the pass to the summit. The start of the ridge is very unstable. It is better to skirt round it lower down, on the northern side, passing above the remainder of the Derrière les Lacs glacier. Depending on the time of year, snowfields may still be present; do not hesitate to climb higher up and stick close to the foot of the ridge.

(5) At the upper edge of the glacier, continue eastwards to reach the north-west ridge of the Levanna. There are numerous cairn-marked paths, and it is not necessary to use your hands to climb. Reach the summit by following the ridge slightly below it.

(6) From the summit, retrace your steps along the same route as on the way up to the Col des Patriotes.

(4) Turn left, heading south, to reach the upper sources of the Arc and a fork in the path.

(7) Turn right, heading due west, and follow the Arc river until you reach the original fork at La Tuilière.

(1) Continue straight on along the^GRP®, following the track to reach the Écot dam and the car park (S/E).

High-mountain hike: only to be undertaken when there is no snow, as snow can remain throughout the summer depending on the year. Otherwise, it is best to go in the^second half of the summer (August and early September). Ask the warden at the Refuge de Carro for advice on snow conditions.

There’s no need to set off at dawn; allow time for the slabs at the Col des Patriotes to thaw.

Watch out for loose boulders between the pass and the summit.

It is possible to stay overnight at the Refuge de Carro and complete the hike over two days.