Pointe de la Vélière circular route from Champagny-en-Vanoise

Park near the Champagny-en-Vanoise bridge. There are several accessible car parks nearby.

(S/E) Take the path heading due north along the left bank of the Ruisseau du Remous. You’ll soon reach a junction of paths.

(1) Take the path on the right signposted ‘Bois des Fougères’. Follow the Route des Gorges for a few metres; at the hairpin bend, continue left onto the path and, climbing steadily, reach the hamlet of La Fougère. Carry on until you reach a Y-junction.

(2) Turn right towards Plan du Bouc. Follow the right bank of the Ruisseau de la Combe. Further up, you’ll reach a junction on the banks of this stream.

(3) Cross the stream and continue to the right, towards Les Chapelets, to reach the Plan du Bouc crossroads.

(4) Turn left and continue the steady climb. Cross several streams, including the Tougne and the Remous. You’ll come to another crossroads here.

(5) Take the path branching off to the right and climb as the path leads to reach the ruins of Le Tougne.

(6) Turn left to quickly reach the junction with the Pointe de la Vélière path.

(7) Turn right onto this path and follow the clearly marked trail to the summit of the Pointe de la Vélière.

(8) Follow the same route downhill to return to the ruins of Le Tougne.

(6) Turn right, cross the Remous, then turn left and return to the Remous junction you passed on the way up.

(5) Continue straight ahead, cross the Ruisseau de la Rossa and, about a hundred metres further on, you’ll come to a crossroads of paths at the paragliding launch site.

(9) Turn left, cross the Ruisseau de la Rossa again and follow its left bank downhill. You’ll reach a junction a few steps from the stream.

(10) Keep to the right, cross the stream again and, at the next junction a few metres further on, turn 90° to the left and head down through the Bois des Cabanes until you reach a fork in the path. Pass a footbridge over the Remous on your left. Head off to the right and reach the junction with the Sentier des Dodes.

(11) Turn left, follow the Remous once more and then return to the junction you passed on the way out.

(1) Head straight ahead, following the route in the opposite direction to your outward journey, to return to the car park by the bridge (S/E).

Please note: there are no water sources along the route (you can make a short detour to the Roc des Blanchets chalet)

(8) Summit of the Pointe de la Vélière: unobstructed views of the Champagny valley above and the Vanoise Glaciers area.