Circular Pointe de la Fenêtre via Lachat and the Col de la Fenêtre

From Albertville, follow the N90 up to Moûtiers. On entering Moûtiers, follow signs for Saint-Jean-de-Belleville, Les Menuires and Val Thorens (exit 40). In Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, turn right towards Le Châtelard.
There is usually a car park available near the summit of Le Châtelard, at the start of the hiking trails, but it fills up quickly. If so, avoid parking in the village and return to park in the large car park just before the hamlet (the trail starts from there).

(S/E) Head back up towards the village and turn left onto the Route des Encombres until you reach the upper car park, where the path starts.

(1) Turn left onto the summer path and then immediately turn right to head south along the summer trail, which crosses the Lachat sheep track several times; follow this track for a few metres at the end.

(2) At the junction marking the routes to the Col de la Fenêtre and Lachat, take the path on the right towards Lachat, which crosses the pastoral road again and, on emerging from the forest, reaches the Abord des Champs chalet.

(3) The route becomes more clearly marked in the mountain pastures. Continue climbing south-west to the group of chalets at Téton.

(4) Carry on past the Limbeau and then the Bouillet chalets.

(5) Continue the ascent to the Lachat chalets on the edge of a plateau, after passing the foot of a cross.

(6) Head south along a track (not always visible in winter) which climbs gently before ascending diagonally up the western face of the Pointe de la Fenêtre, towards the Col du Chenu. As soon as the slopes allow, veer left to take the ridge leading up to the summit of the Pointe de la Fenêtre.

(7) Retrace your steps southwards, then veer left to take the valley leading, in plain sight, towards the chalets at the Col de la Fenêtre, where you can climb a little further up towards Le Cochet for a better vantage point.

(8) From the pass, head north into a rolling valley where there are numerous tracks, winding along the foot of the Cochet. Pass more or less close to the Biolleys chalets, then, after a steep descent through woodland, reach flatter fields at the Parchy chalet.

(9) Do not continue straight on to the Route de Lachat, but turn right just before crossing the Ruisseau de la Perrière to reach the Chalet de Pralautray. Go round the back and head down to join a path that crosses the stream and climbs back up to the Route de Lachat just before a left-hand bend and the junction you passed on the way up.

(2) Head down to the right along the path you came up on to reach the upper car park.

(1) Continue through the village to reach the lower car park (S/E).

The route is signposted up to the Lachat chalets on the ascent and then from the Col de la Fenêtre on the descent (signs are not very visible in winter). Signs at junctions indicate, alternately at the start (up to (2)), the directions to Lachat or the Col de la Fenêtre.

This route can also be tackled on ski touring.

From the summit, a 360° view: Écrins, Encombres, Cheval Noir, Beaufortain, Mont Blanc, Mont Maudit, Grande Casse, the Vanoise Glaciers, Péclet-Polset, Cime du Caron…