Mouth of Eclou, from the Fenillettaz car park

Access

Leaving the motorway at the Verrès exit, enter the roundabout and take the second exit. Proceed in the direction of the town centre and, after 300m, turn left onto the regional road for Val d'Ayas. Follow the regional road for 16.5 kilometres, passing the villages of Challand-Saint-Victor and Challand-Saint-Anselme before reaching Brusson. Pass the village and, just before the junction for Col de Joux, turn right onto the communal road to Estoul. Continue on the communal road for about 7 kilometres, passing the villages of Croix, Estoul and Fenillettaz before reaching the large car park 🅿️ of the ski resort where you can leave your car.

How to get there with GMaps

How to get there with Apple Maps

The information provided here has been verified as of 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.

Introduction

Walk halfway up the slopes of Mont Bieteron (2763m), climb up the Estoul valley to the lakes of the same name and then choose whether to ascend to the Bocchetta di Eclou or take the demanding route up to the Valnera peak.

Description

Leaving the car at the car park 300m after the hamlet of Estoul, proceed on foot along the dirt track until you come to a path on the right that climbs into the forest. Great care must be taken not to miss it, for at this point there is still the old green and barely visible signpost with the number 13 indicating the direction of the lakes. Once on the path, the markers will be visible along the route and will be coupled to indicate the way to the lakes. At about 2000 m, the path becomes steeper and the trees begin to thin out; after a short time, you leave the forest and the flies that you have accumulated in the meantime (a hat is recommended!) to reach a hollow. Here, particular care must be taken to ascend in a straight line along the gorge (keep the stream bed on the left as a reference) without allowing yourself to be sidetracked by a flatter path that branches off to the right. You will then reach the second basin where you will go around a marsh following the path. GSM mobile phone coverage ends here. You then ascend the meadows leading to the plateau that serves as a prelude to the lakes. After a short distance, walk along the stony bed of the stream that serves as an estuary to the lakes to reach the first of the Estoul lakes. Proceeding to the left, you will immediately reach the largest lake.

At the first lake, you will find a stone where the routes to punta Valnera and Bocchetta di Eclou are signposted.

Bocchetta di Eclou

Continuing straight on at the crossroads, after a small difference in altitude, you will reach Bocchetta di Eclou.

>Punta Valnera

Continuing to the left, the itinerary proceeds along the route, which, after passing the lakes, climbs along the stony and steep section that leads to Punta Valnera(2752 m.). The stony path is particularly dangerous, especially on wet or rainy days, so it is only recommended for experienced hikers.

General Information

Trail:
Trail Marking:
Type of Trail:
Recommended Period: June, July, August, September
Exposure to Sun:
Objective Danger:
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Water:

Lakes of Estoul - Punta Valnera - Bocchetta di Eclou (2451 m)

Schedule

Access time: 2h00' (2h15' Bocchetta di Eclou) (2h30' Punta Valnera)
Descent time: 1h45' (2h00' Bocchetta di Eclou) (2h15' Punta Valnera)
Signpost sequence: ( Estoul Lakes) ( Punta Valnera) ( Bocchetta di Eclou)
Features: Naturalistic
Difficulty: Medium Easy Walkers (MCF) for Estoul Lakes and Eclou Mouth, Good Walkers Difficult (BCD) for Punta Valnera
Difference: 612 m Estoul Lakes, 717 m Eclou Mouth, 913 m Punta Valnera
Attainment point elevation: 2451 m Estoul Lakes, 2556 m Eclou Mouth, 2752 m Punta Valnera