In the footsteps of the Bélier des Aravis

Start from the Col de la Croix Fry car park.

(S/E) Head north on a small road running perpendicular to the D 16, towards Pointe de Beauregard (keep in this direction at the junctions where there are signposts). The road bends left then right in a hairpin bend, and enters the forest. Further on, the route continues on fairly level ground through alpine meadows.

(1) At the junction at the edge of a wood, continue straight on along the alpine track. Climb towards Pointe de Beauregard, take a few bends and pass the top of the Aiglons ski lift on your right.

(2) Turn right and head for the summit of Pointe de Beauregard (orientation table). Retrace your steps.

(2) Follow the track down to the right.

(3) Leave the track and take a path on the right along the edge of the woods. Pass a chalet below on your right. At the next fork, turn right along the edge of the woods. After about a hundred metres, the path turns left and enters the woods. Walk down to the Alpage des Corbassières farmhouse inn.

(4) Then turn right. Follow an alpine track downhill to Lac de la Ferriaz.

(5) At the lake, turn left and walk along the right-hand side of the lake. Continue along the track to the houses in the hamlet of La Patton.

(6) Continue straight ahead along the path that runs along the edge of the woods (ignore the path that climbs to the left). Enter the forest and reach an X-junction. Continue straight on; the slope becomes steeper and, after a few hairpin bends, the path joins a track. Follow it for a few metres to the right until you reach the road and a telecommunications pylon. Continue down the tarmac road; at the junction, turn left and head towards the bridge.

(7) Cross the stream via the bridge and turn left onto the D 909, towards Saint-Jean-de-Sixt. Follow the road carefully on the left-hand side until you find a path on the right, signposted: La Clusaz, le Parc, which begins with a flight of steps. The path climbs through the forest; ignore a turn-off to the right and continue uphill until you reach the Belvédère de la Perrière (views of La Clusaz and Beauregard).

(8) Continue towards Les Confins. Ignore a path branching off to the left, then head towards an alpine chalet at Les Mouilles de la Perrière. Continue towards Les Confins along the hillside path.

(9) At the Plattuy d’en haut signpost. Continue towards Les Confins. Pass through the hamlet of Les Frasses and reach a fork in the road. Pass several bus stops in succession: Les Frasses and Le Margueron.

(10) Continue left on a slight incline, cross La Cluiseraz and reach an H-shaped junction. Turn right for a few metres until you find a path on the left.

(11) Reach Lac des Confins and go round it on the right to reach the other side.

(12) At the end of the zip line, continue along the track. At the next junction, turn left towards Crêt Braffaz.

(13) At the Crêt Braffaz signpost, take the first path on the left (the second one below is for mountain bikes), heading towards Plan Lacha. Cross a large meadow, pass above an alpine chalet and join the track leading to the artificial lake.

(14) At Plan Lacha, turn right towards Crêt du Merle. Descend an alpine track and pass under the Fernuy cable car line.

(15) At the signpost ‘Sous le bois de Merdassier’, head towards: Crêt du Merle, Auberge des 4 Vents opposite. Continue straight on, passing the signposts: Bois de la Motte, Bois du Plan, and join the tarmac road at Crêt du Merle.

(16) Follow the road towards La Frasse Nord and the Auberge des 4 Vents; take the road, passing to the left of a retention lake and then a^first hairpin bend. Join a path on the left just before the^second bend.

(17) At La Frasse Nord, take the path on the left towards La Frasse Sud and the Auberge des 4 Vents. Continue straight on along the mountainside until you reach the “Crevetout” signpost.

(18) Continue towards Auberge des 4 Vents.

(19) At the Les Aravis d'en Bas signpost, continue towards the Auberge des 4 Vents, reaching the Col des Aravis road and the Via ferrata car park. Cross the road and walk carefully back up it to the path, which is near house no. 5974 (MTB path signposted "Sud Aravis").

(20) Follow this path to join the trail in the valley. Turn right onto the opposite slope. At the Sous l’Étale signpost, continue towards the Col de Merdassier until you reach the road (D 16) near the Laquais ski lift. Cross the road by first turning right then left and head down towards Le Planet.

(21) Cross the bridge, under which the Nant des Prises flows, and follow the green ski run uphill towards Beauregard.
If you’re starting from La Clusaz, take the green run to the right. This will take you down a slightly steep slope, then a gentle one, to the cable car station.

(22) When you reach a house, ignore the sign for Beauregard on the right and continue straight on along the path marked ‘dead end’, following the mountain bike signs for ‘Beauregard XC e-Bike’. Head to the start of the Croix Fry chairlift.

(23) Head up the track: beginners’ route, and reach the Col de la Croix Fry car park (S/E).

There are regular water points along the route. Civilisation is never really far away.

Alternatives:
(2) At Pointe de Beauregard, you can take the cable car (if operating), which will take you to La Clusaz in record time. Then continue towards the village exit, heading towards Saint-Jean-de-Sixt, until you reach the bridge near the coach station (7).
(10) You may choose not to go up to the lake. After the Margueron bus stop, take the road branching off to the right, then head towards Crêt du Merle on the left. Follow the short dead-end path running alongside a house and rejoin the Route des Confins (the main road leading to La Clusaz by car). Cross it, following the sign for Crêt du Merle, and rejoin the rest of the walk (13).

We recommend this hike during the cable car’s operating hours (free descent). The walk is then shortened by around 2½ hours.

You can also start from La Clusaz (Salon des Dames car park) near the (7).

At Lac des Confins or Crêt du Merle, the road takes you back to La Clusaz.