Ridge walk via Ban Rouge and Mont de Vorès

A circular walk offering panoramic views of the Mont Blanc, Beaufortain and Aravis massifs. Most of the ascent is on the climb up to Crêt du Midi; the route then follows the ridges with relatively little elevation gain, before descending to Lac du Plan Désert. This climb can be shortened by taking the Crêt du Midi chairlift (fee applies) from Praz-sur-Arly. A day hike with no particular difficulty

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.68 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,848 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,848 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 6,755 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 4,295 ft

Description of the walk

Park at the Mont-Rond car park.

(S/E) Take the road leading uphill towards Plan Dessert.

(1) Take the Impasse de la Victorine to the left of the restaurant and continue to the end of the street. Follow the track that climbs to the left across the field towards the hamlet of Les Béguelins and rejoin the road.

(2) Take the road on the right towards Le Lachat.

(3) At the third hairpin bend, follow the road to the right to reach the building at the end of Impasse du Château.

(4) Walk past it and follow the path which slopes down to the left further on and leads to another path; follow this to the right until you reach the track known as Route du Drayon.

(5) Follow it straight on to reach the Col du Drayon.

(6) Continue along the track, which winds its way up through the forest and then emerges into open country.

(7) Take another track to the right, then head slightly left towards a chalet. Go round it on the right and begin the final climb to reach the Crêt du Midi and its viewpoint.

(8) Follow the ridge towards Ban Rouge. Pass the orientation table and the top of the Ban chairlift, and continue to the junction at the paragliding launch site: viewpoint and picnic tables.

(9) Continue along the ridge to reach the Col de Basse Combe.

(10) Turn slightly left, reach the Col de la Limace and continue to the top of the Trois Coins ski lift.

(11) Continue straight on, leaving the ridge and taking the path that runs along the western slope of Mont de Vorès before heading back up the ridge due south.

(12) About 150 m from the top station of the Bellasta chairlift, turn right onto a ridge path that runs between the top stations of two chairlifts.

(13) Continue to the right, descending towards Lac du Plan Désert. Reach Lac du Gui.

(14) Take the winding track on the right which leads to the Lac du Plan Désert car park.

(15) Take the hairpin bend to the left, pass the start of the two ski lifts and follow the path through the forest, leaving the small snack bar on your right. You’ll reach a junction after passing a chalet high up on the left.

(16) Take the track on the right towards the hamlet of Chardonnet.

(17) Walk through the hamlet and continue until you reach the D218b.

(18) Take the green metal steps and head to the Mont-Rond car park (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 4,295 ft - Mont-Rond car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.11 - alt. 4,327 ft - Junction with Impasse de la Victorine
  3. 2 : mi 0.41 - alt. 4,423 ft - Les Béguelins, on the right
  4. 3 : mi 0.8 - alt. 4,603 ft - Impasse du Château
  5. 4 : mi 1.07 - alt. 4,721 ft - The Castle
  6. 5 : mi 1.46 - alt. 4,869 ft - Junction with the track
  7. 6 : mi 1.85 - alt. 4,984 ft - Col de Drayon (1519m)
  8. 7 : mi 2.95 - alt. 5,617 ft - Track junction, on the right
  9. 8 : mi 3.51 - alt. 6,194 ft - Crêt du Midi
  10. 9 : mi 4.25 - alt. 6,463 ft - Ban Rouge
  11. 10 : mi 4.62 - alt. 6,198 ft - Col de Basse Combe
  12. 11 : mi 5.07 - alt. 6,434 ft - Les Trois Coins ski lift
  13. 12 : mi 5.74 - alt. 6,657 ft - Turn right
  14. 13 : mi 6.45 - alt. 6,519 ft - Continue to the right - Mont de Vorés ou Tête destrtois coins 2067m
  15. 14 : mi 7.35 - alt. 5,640 ft - Le Lac du Guï
  16. 15 : mi 8.38 - alt. 4,888 ft - Lac du Plan Désert
  17. 16 : mi 9.49 - alt. 4,675 ft - Junction, turn right
  18. 17 : mi 9.84 - alt. 4,501 ft - Le Chardonnet
  19. 18 : mi 10.43 - alt. 4,314 ft - Junction with the departmental road
  20. S/E : mi 10.68 - alt. 4,298 ft - Mont-Rond car park

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