Tete du Cuvy

Park in or around Arêches, walk to the chair lift ‘Grand Mont’ and take this to the start of the walk.

(S/E) From the top chair lift station, walk up the path through the piste between the forest in a southerly direction. The path is marked trails 5 and 8, it bends to the left and ascends to pass under a set of chair lift cables, shortly after this you will arrive at a yellow finger post with Tête de Cuvy marked (0.5km 20min).

(1) Turn right and follow the path to the Tête de Cuvy, ascending to the ‘table d’orientation’ (1988m) at the summit. Enjoy the great views.

(2) From the summit continue to follow the trail 5&8 markers and descend to a junction with a path and another yellow sign post (Tête de Cuvy 1976m). Turn right and take the path to Refuge de l’Alpage (1.2km 25min) Again you will follow trail markers 5&8 to ascend a broad piste, passing beneath another chair lift cable. At the top of the piste, you will join a broad track. Turn left and descend to the Refuge de l’Alpage.

(3) From the refuge, descend the track to where it bends back on itself. Immediately after the bend there is a sign post and path on the right, this path will split; with the right turn going uphill to Le Grand Mont and the left hand turn down to Lac de St-Guerin. Take the left hand turn and walk across the pasture (there may be electric fences) and down to the farm building at Chalets des Rognoux.

(4) From the farm buildings follow the path (more electric fences) to descend to the lower buildings which are mere ruins. Take care; you are now following the Tour du Beaufortain, which is the obvious path, and it is easy to walk past the junction and miss the turn. The turning is on the left between the two sets of ruins, if you descend to the trees you have gone too far, so turn around and head back uphill.

(5) At the junction, turn left and follow the path with the forest below you and on your right until the path joins and crosses the broad track from the Refuge de l’Alpage. (You can reach the same point by continuing along the track from the hair pin bend).

(6) Now turn right and follow the track which descends into the forest and after about 1.5knm passes beneath some chair lift cables. After this it descends further and curves to the left (ignore any turning on the right) before passing beneath the Grand Mont chair lift and then ascending back to the station.(S/E)

Optional walking descents
You can always walk down to Arêches following one of the following routes.

1. From the left curving track described in section 6 take the track on the right which zigs-zags down La Joux to Les Envers from where a marked path leads into the town via the waterfalls.
2. Take the path that descends under the chair lift cables.
3. From the chair lift station, take the path which descends westerly down the side of Cret Bron towards la Planay. From La Chornais Take the path back Les Envers and Arêches.

There are places to buy refreshments during this walk, but you will pay a premium for buying and eating at a refuge.

In the summer, the chair lifts for Le Grand Mont and La Planay do not both run at the same time. It is best to check online to make sure that the Grand Mont lift is running on the day you wish to do this walk.

This walk can be done wearing approach shoes or trainers with a good sole unit.

Refreshments are available for the Refuge de l’Alpage.

There are some nice views and this is a pleasant walk to while away half a day.