Saint-Etienne-de-Cuines walks

A wild and little-visited valley where you can discover two superb lakes in the middle of a mountain cirque. A true high-mountain atmosphere guaranteed.

If you enjoy the atmosphere of green mountains, the countryside, walking along small, often shaded paths that are very pleasant in hot weather, and discovering the charm of numerous hamlets with magnificent views of the surrounding area, then this is the right hike for you. Of course, you can also discover the flora and fauna, such as crocuses in August.

A true high-mountain experience is guaranteed on this beautiful walk in the Belledonne Massif at the foot of the Pic du Frêne

A lovely walk through a beautiful, unspoilt valley in the Belledonne range. It’s a bit of a long walk, but well worth the effort.

An unusual hike, half tarmac (with little traffic) and half footpath, through some remarkable landscapes. Beautiful views of the Montvernier hairpin bends, the Bérold Tower, the Aiguilles d’Arves and Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne. The descent along the Ravoire torrent is also well worth a look.

A two-day hike with a bivouac around the Grand Coin above Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne. It offers the chance to explore a little-known and rarely visited area on the edge of the Vanoise National Park.

First day of a two-day hike in the Maurienne with a bivouac. Hike completed in 2016 with a break at the Col de la Baisse, another above the Chalet des Brunes and a final one at the Chalet du Tovet. Note: The route shown is based on my GPS watch, which I never paused, which explains the circular patterns in certain places.

A superb viewpoint between Puy Gris and Pic du Frêne, easily accessible and offering a magnificent panorama of the main peaks of the French Alps. This walk takes place largely off the beaten track or along very faint paths, but there are no navigation difficulties in good weather, as the terrain offers plenty of landmarks. Vultures, chamois and ibex can be spotted, particularly below the Pointe du Villonet.

A lovely hike starting from Les Granges. The climb up the Combe du Merlet is fairly easy at first, but the slope gets steeper below the pass, which you reach without any trouble. The rest of the route follows a chamois track almost all the way to the summit, though you’ll need to keep a close eye on the path.

A hike starting from Montgellafrey, an authentic village in the Maurienne valley. The route passes scattered hamlets, then reaches Lac de la Grande Léchère, before continuing on to Croix du Grand Praz.

A lovely walk above Montaimont through woods and mountain pastures, exploring the hamlets of Le Loup and Bonvillard

The Prairie de Montaimont is a vast, easy area that is ideal for snowshoeing. This route quickly offers magnificent panoramic views (Belledonne, Cheval Noir, the Col de la Madeleine, the Maurienne Massif, the Aiguilles d'Arves in the distance, etc.).

A beautiful walk in the Montaimont cirque. The walk is described in a clockwise direction, but can also be done in the opposite direction.The markings, when visible, are those for the summer period. The route sometimes deviates from the official trail.The entire loop is well cleared, offering a vast panorama. Due to its orientation and modest altitude at the start, this hike is best enjoyed at the beginning of the season.There is no risk of snow slides on this route.

Please note: This walk is particularly long (make sure you take plenty of water in hot weather, as the route is exposed to the sun from start to finish). It is possible not to complete the entire route. You can descend directly via the Col de Cochemin (without going via the Grand Truc).

A summit with 360° views, easily accessible between forest and mountain pastures. Suitable for a family outing or for getting back into snowshoeing at the start of the season. Part of the route is shared with cross-country skiers, who are numerous around the Col de Chaussy.

A beautiful hike in a wild area of Belledonne. With a bit of luck, you may encounter streams, lakes and trout, blueberries, marmots and chamois.

A lovely hike above Lac du Loup with beautiful panoramic views of the Alps. Discover this route by taking a little-used path.

An original way to explore Lac des Balmettes and its pass, continuing on to the Col du Villonet – offering a front-row view of the imposing Pic du Frêne – and then on to the Brèches de la Passoire, which provide a superb view of the Grésivaudan.Along the way, you’ll spot ibex and chamois in the magnificent and little-visited Combe Rousse.The route is partly off-trail but poses no navigation difficulties.

A summit at 2,822 metres on a ridge running parallel to the Lauzière, offering a magnificent 360° view of the French and even Swiss Alps.

A lovely climb through the upper pastures where the cows that produce the milk for Beaufort cheese graze, with views of the Vanoise, the Thabor Massif, the Aiguilles d’Arves and the foothills of the Écrins. Then the route changes direction, offering views of Belledonne, the Chartreuse and the Bauges, before setting up camp at the Montartier Lakes.

An easy hike to the Col de Montjoie. Unobstructed views, particularly of the Aiguilles d'Arves and the Glacier de l'Etendard.

A beautiful, unspoilt route around Les Chatermes with panoramic views of Les Grands Moulins and the Pointe de Rognier.

Discover the Paradis mountain pastures, above Saint-François-Longchamp, the bells of the cattle herds in the green summer pastures, with magnificent views of the surrounding mountains, the passage through the hamlet of La Perrière, then a return via the path through the Pézières Forest, with its complicated passages through muddy waterways or a tiny, vertiginous path. Beautiful emotions await you.

A pleasant little walk with beautiful scenery, passing through several hamlets: Saint-Colomban-des-Villards, La Chal, Valmaure and Les Roches.

The ‘demoiselles coiffées’ (topped rock formations), known locally as the Cheminées des Fées, are a unique feature resulting from the erosion of the landscape by water runoff.

Une jolie randonnée dans la montagne à vaches (celles qui font le Beaufort). Belle vue sur la vallée de l'Arc et le massif des Grandes Rousses. Presque tout le parcours est au soleil.

A lovely mountain hike, without any major difficulties, featuring a wide variety of terrain: mountain pastures, forests, wide paths and streams. A stunning view of the valley from the Croix du Grand-Praz. The Col de Montjoie will be on your left on the return from the lake, with the Cheval Noir on the other side.

Starting from Saint-François-Longchamp, this first stage of the Tour de la Lauzière is a gentle walk to the Grande Léchère Lake Mountain Hut, where you’ll spend your first night.

This small mountain range undoubtedly offers one of the most stunning sequences of panoramic views. But beware of the challenging paths and the isolation. Pay particular attention to water management: streams and springs often run dry in summer.The starting point is Saint-François-Longchamp, accessible by public transport or by road. Parking is easy and free there in summer. The stages are connecting days. This route follows the Tour de la Lauzière route with a detour via La Thuile and the Col de l’Arc. You’ll spend every other night in a refuge and the rest in a bivouac.Do not attempt this hike if you are not sure-footed: although it stays on the paths (or strays very little from them), this route requires vigilance and follows routes that are very rarely used. You will almost certainly find yourself alone, or almost alone, for most of the day, in conditions where the markings are often half-faded and the paths obscured by livestock tracks. High-altitude cloud cover is common.

This circular walk offers stunning views of the Toussuire hillside as well as the Belledonne massif. You’ll be treated to 360° views. The pastures you will cross will no doubt give you the chance to see sheep and their patous, large dogs trained to protect livestock. This walk should be undertaken in clear weather to fully enjoy the scenery.

A short, easy walk overlooking the Toussuire amongst the mountain pastures.

An easy half-day route through the mountain pastures above Saint François Longchamp.

This loop south of the Lauzière allows you to explore both sides of the chain, climbing directly to the Pas de Sarvatan, then crossing the western slope via a well-marked trail before descending from the Col de Monjoie through beautiful meadows.

Family hike to the Col de Monjoie (but it's still uphill) then a short off-trail exploration towards the peaks that border it.

Discover a peak with a 360° view of the Savoie mountains.

Difficult hike: the path climbs quite steeply and, on a short stretch just before the pass, the path is very narrow. After crossing meadows with characteristic flora, you end up in a more rocky, wild environment. Once you’ve rounded the first ridges, you immediately feel far from civilisation, were it not for the presence of a few marmots.

This route takes you through what I consider to be one of the most beautiful areas in the municipality: Les Balcons. It boasts a rich diversity of flora, fauna and geology, as well as varied landscapes and terrain. All this in a place that feels wild and far from civilisation. See the ‘Practical information’ section regarding the path after the (3).

Final, connecting stage. A gruelling descent along the Col du Cheval Noir trail before rolling gently towards Saint-François-Longchamp, past cattle sheds, herds and ski facilities.

The aim of the hike is to reach Pointe de Rognier (2,341 m) while enjoying a pleasant walk in the surrounding area, via a partial circular route starting from Col de la Perche. This is a fairly physically demanding hike given the distance and total elevation gain.