Refuge de la Muzelle - Lodge l'Emparis in Mizoën

(S) Set off from the campsite on the shores of Lac de la Muzelle. Reach the refuge and, here, leave the^GR® 54 on your left and take the^GR® 54C opposite. After a short climb, pass the peat bogs, begin the descent and reach, on the banks of the Ruisseau de la Pisse, a remarkable tree, marked on the map as Arbre Sec.

(1) Continue along the^GR® and pass close to a waterfall before reaching a crossroads.

(2) Leave it on your right and continue the descent to reach the^first houses of Vénosc in the Alleau district.

(3) Turn left, cross the Vénéon and reach the car park beside the A530.
Cross this road and continue on to reach the Venosc cable car station.

(4) Take the cable car to avoid the long, uninteresting climb to the upper station at Les Deux Alpes.

(5) Take Rue Sainte-Luce then Avenue de la Muzelle to cross the resort of Les Deux Alpes. Continue along the shopping streets to reach the northern entrance to the resort. Then turn right to reach the Rossolins lake, a developed site. Follow the lake along the left bank to reach an orientation table offering a beautiful panorama of the valley.

(6) Take the path that descends alongside the Mont-de-Lans chairlift. You will reach the village of Mont-de-Lans.

(7) Turn right and cross the village. Follow the D213 for a few metres, then leave it by taking a shortcut to the right. Cross it again, continue along the path and rejoin this road above Lac du Chambon.

(8) Keep left on the road, taking great care as traffic is always heavy here. Then turn right onto the D1091, cross the Chambon dam on the pavement and, at the end of the dam, you will find the path junction.

(9) Turn left here and follow the red and white markings up a path that crosses the road several times to reach the village of Mizoën. At the junction before the town hall, turn left towards the church and the cemetery. Just before the church, you’ll reach the Lodge de l’Emparis and its campsite (E), today’s stop.

This stage is listed as having nearly 1,000 m of elevation gain, but given the cable car journey between Vénosc and Les Deux Alpes, this gain is reduced to around 330 m; however, the elevation loss is a full 1,800 m, which is tough on the legs and knees.
(S) Departure from the Refuge de La Muzelle.
(E) Arrival at the Emparis Lodge in Mizoën, where we camped whilst enjoying a warm welcome and a meal that will treat you after an exhausting stage.
Useful addresses and links:
Lodge de l'Emparis
Email: aubergemizoen@orange.fr
Telephone: 06 32 78 65 23

A lovely camping spot right next to the lodge with a magnificent view of the dam and its lake. Showers and toilets are available for campers.

As with all mountain hikes, bring binoculars, a camera, an IGN map and/or a guidebook.
As the route passes through several villages, you’ll have no trouble finding water and supplies if needed.
Note: many herds are guarded by sheepdogs, known as patous. Hikers are therefore strongly advised not to stray from the path. If you encounter a guard dog, remain calm and passive to reassure it.

Chambon Dam
Further information:
Since 2003, the Chambon Dam has been designated a^20th-century heritage site in Isère.
The D1091 departmental road, formerly the RN91, runs along the crest of the dam and follows the reservoir along the northern shore of the lake.