Lake Vargno, from Coumarial

Access

Leaving the motorway at the Pont-Saint-Martin exit, after 100m turn right and you will come to a first roundabout, take the second exit. A little further on you come to a second roundabout: take the third exit, and you enter the town of Pont-Saint-Martin. After a few hundred metres you come to the start of the road to the Valle del Lys: turn right and follow it for 10.2km, passing the villages of Lillianes and Fontainemore. About one kilometre after the village, turn right and follow the signs for Pian Coumarial. Cross the Lys and climb up the communal road for about 7.3 km, passing in sequence the villages of Colombit, Pacoulla, Pianpervero, Jugeo, Chouchal, Pra Dou Sas, Cios, Challasc, Colla, Grange, Savaroy, Goy and Coumarial until you reach the large car park at the end of the road. In the adjoining picnic area there is a fountain 💧 for refilling water: there are no other water points along the route.

[0h30'] - [18.9km]
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The information provided here has been verified on the date of the survey of the route. Before setting off, it is advisable to ensure that no substantial changes have occurred on the route to the starting point. We therefore recommend the use of the satellite navigation apps provided by Google or Apple for up-to-date and detailed directions.

Description

0h00' At the end of the car park, you will come across an information board and a signpost showing signs for Lake Vargno, signpost and Mont Mars, signpost . Follow the markers and take a path with stone steps that cuts across the hairpin bend in the asphalt road. Cross the road and continue on the path and then rejoin the road just above to start walking uphill, leaving behind the last Coumarial cottages and coming across a marker signposted for Mont Mars.

0h07' Keep left and continue along the road, now a dirt track, which runs flat along the wooded slope accompanied by the health trail equipment. You reach the Frédé hut (1473m) where there is a fine panoramic view of the watershed ridges between the Lys valley and the Ayas valley. The little road turns right and begins to descend towards the vallon de Pacoulla until it meets the dirt road coming from Pillaz with trail marker . 

0h35' Take the little road and continue straight ahead until you reach a second fork: go straight ahead, ignoring the little road that descends to the left. A few minutes' walk and you come to a small votive shrine; from here the road begins to climb more steeply. After a straight stretch of ascent, the road takes a few hairpin bends that allow you to gain a hundred metres in height, at the end of which the road reduces its gradient and soon reaches the vicinity of the stream. Cross the stream at an artificial ford and start climbing again with a couple of hairpin bends that lead to the junction for Col Marmontana, marker (1664m, 1h20').