Tour of the Aiguille de la Vanoise - Stage 2 - Col de la Vanoise refuge - Fontanettes car park

A required stop when hiking the loop to circumnavigate the Vanoise Glaciers, Col de la Vanoise Pass, along the legendary GR55 trail, is also the most visited location in the Vanoise range, and rightly so.A hut dating from 1902, completely renovated in 2013 and 2018, located on the Col de la Vanoise, a high place of passage, surrounded by prestigious peaks such as the Grande Casse, the Glières, the Aiguille de la Vanoise and the Réchasse. Marmots, Ibex and Chamois are very close. !!Bivouac prohibited!!

This fun hike to enjoy as a family takes you to the foot of the mighty Grande Casse, the highest peak in the Vanoise Range. From the lake, it takes 45 minutes to walk to the Col de la Vanoise Hut and the area’s other mountain lakes.For this relatively easy hike, you can use the aerial tram or Genépi Chairlift in summer to take you to a higher starting point. It takes approximately one hour to hike to the lake from the Les Barmettes hut, which is located right at the boundary of Vanoise National Park. You will be walking along what was formerly referred to as “Salt Road,” and will also see many marmots all along the way.

At the gateway to Vanoise National Park, the Barmettes Hut offers breathtaking views of the entire valley. In a truly majestic setting at this ideally located, warm and cozy Savoyard chalet, rest and relax or enjoy traditional local cuisine.In both summer and winter, you can reach the hut either on foot by taking one of hiking trails or the Génépi chairlift.

Parking lot located in the hamlet of Les Fontanettes, at the GR55 trailhead for Col de la Vanoise Pass. Only open and accessible in summer.

Shuttle buses are a practical and environmentally-friendly means of transportation to the area's trailheads. Leaving from the village center (in front of the Tourist Office), the shuttle buses operate all day long to and from Les Prioux ou Les Fontanettes.Ride time: approximately 15 minutes.

Near the bottom of the Gentiane chairlif in winter, and the parking lot in the summer.