Country:
City:
From Monêtier-les-Bains, head up towards the Col du Lautaret then down towards Villar-d'Arêne. Before the village, at a bend, turn sharply left towards the hamlet of Pied du Col. On the descent, at the junction, take the road on the right towards the Refuge de l'Alpe and the leisure area. Pass the Auberge du Pas de l'Âne, then the bridge, and take the track on the right.
This track runs alongside the Romanche river and leads to the large car park at Plan de l'Alpe.
(S/E) From the car park, take theGR®®54(red and white markings) southwards. The path climbs gently, following the course of the Romanche to the Pas d'Anna Falque, where beautiful waterfalls flow.
It then climbs steeply in hairpin bends. During this steep ascent, it reaches a junction not shown on the IGN map (the path and junction have been moved).
(1) Pass the path to the Pavé and Adèle Planchard refuges on your right and turn left towards the Refuge de l'Alpe.
After crossing the rocky pass, the path winds gently through the pastures. Continue on theGR®®, heading south-southeast towards the Col d'Arsine.
(2) 600m after the second sign for the Refuge de l'Alpe, 200m before Lac de l'Étoile and 50m after a cairn on the left-hand side of the path, leave theGR®®, turn left then head north-east, zigzagging up the steep grassy slope.
Head towards a small pass that opens onto a grassy plateau. The climb is made easier by a series of small natural steps.
(3) Climb northwards to the left along the grassy ridge for 200 m, then head eastwards to a saddle.
Put down your rucksack and poles, then climb the broad summit ridge as best you can, staying sometimes in the centre and sometimes on its left flank to bypass the small rocky outcrops, before reaching the summit of the Tête de Pradieu, marked by a cairn.
(4) From the summit, return in the opposite direction via the same route to the car park (S/E).
Visorando Member
Moderate 
Difficult 
