Country:
City:
Park at the Martinette car park on the D525a just before you reach Fond de France.
This car park is specially provided for walkers heading to Combe Madame or the Sept Laux massif.
In fact, there is parking a little further up, but at busy times the car parks fill up quickly.
(S) Cross the car park and quickly join the road leading to the hamlet of La Martinette, near the bridge over the Bréda.
(1) Follow this road uphill to a small car park.
Then take the path that branches off to the left.
It gradually enters the forest, reaching the junction at Grange de Naime (a ruined building barely visible).
(2) Turn left, leaving the path on the right which leads to the Waterfall du Pissou. This route can be used as an alternative on the way back.
Now there is really no alternative; you must continue along the path, which will occasionally have sections with a steeper gradient. In the forest, a flight of steps has been built to bypass the rockfall that swept away the path.
In fact, you’ll be heading upstream along the Combe Madame stream, keeping it on your right at all times.
You’ll emerge from the forest to cross a small meadow dominated by a chalet, then re-enter the forest before emerging into a very rocky landscape.
The path continues to wind its way over a ridge, behind which the Combe Madame refuge (1,784 m) stands out.
The refuge is a building dating from 1992; it is in good condition and clean, apart from the graffiti.
The refuge is open all year round and staffed from 15 June; it serves as a stopover for walkers aiming for higher peaks.
In the first fortnight of June, there are still snow-covered slopes on which it is easy to spot chamois.
(3) Head back down to the Grange de Naime junction.
(2) Head off to explore the Cascade du Pissou; the path starts off gently on level ground before gradually climbing towards the waterfall, and you’ll cross the torrent via a wooden footbridge.
(4) Continue on to the waterfall.
(5) After visiting the waterfall, head back down and turn left towards Fond de France, crossing another footbridge.
(6) A series of steep sections leads to the junction of the path that heads towards the Sept Laux massif.
(7) Begin the descent, cross over a penstock, cross another footbridge, then head to Fond de France and follow the road back to the car park (E).
! The same goes for the Pissou waterfall, which is not accessible from the bottom (at the start of the hike after Point 2) because there were wires to prevent you from going over. Maybe it's just temporary because of the recent bad weather.
Visorando Member
Moderate 
Difficult 
Very difficult 
