< Left Panel   Passes in French Alps   Areas   Tables   Maps   All Favorites   Main Panel:   Main Page   Map+Profile   Picture Page   Alps Map

01.(00.0km,342m) START-END NORTH ALT: Albertville, bridge over Arly 02.(08.3km,537m) turnoff on left goes over Col de la Forclaz 03.(14.7km,704m) Villard sur Doron 04.(18.5km,741m) START-END NORTH: Beaufort 05.(24.5km,1132m) Areches: turnoff to Col du Pre is on left 06.(30.3km,1570m) route reaches Lac de Saint Guerin 07.(37.9km,2107m) TOP: Col d'Areches 08.(43.0km,1656m) Laval 09.(58.8km,678m) START-END SOUTH: Aime 10.(72.2km,480m) START-END SOUTH ALT: Moutiers

Approaches

From West. Looking at the route on the map, the initial approach between Beaufort and Areches is a side road, compared with the parallel, initial approach to Cormet de Roselend . But in my experience it has more traffic. But it all goes to the town Areches. After that a peaceful paved road stays fairly close to the valley bottom until it reaches the barrage de guerin. Here a sign with a Beaufort Cow as logo congratulates you on having climbed this one way paved summit.

From here on small signs, directed towards hikers,  point the way to the Cormet d'Areches at every intersection. But the pavement continues quite a distance further up. Now climbing above the reservoir, le Grand Mont (a little below 2700 meters) takes on a wedge shaped appearance. The road cut for the path we are on, can be seen ahead, up to a point where it disappears in a gap. It looks like it could be a pass, but a waterfall also originates in this gap, so the pass must be higher. After the road changes to dirt it is definitely rough enough to merit a mountain bike. The pass itself cannot be seen from below. It comes very unexpectedly after a left turn, soon after passing the gap originating the water fall. There is a large sign on top, that makes a good foreground for photos in several directions.

summit of Cormet d'Areches

From East. (described downwards). A hundred meters below the top, a magnificent vista to the west opens up. These high peaks are in the Vanoise National Park. Descending through tundra, the curves in the switchbacks become paved, while the ramps remain dirt road. When the entire road becomes paved the descend becomes very fast and straight. Emerging above the valley, still 1000 m above its floor, the road connects 3 high villages along the long ramped descend. All of them have the locally characteristic church towers and narrow passages through the villages.

The profile continues North to Moutiers. Along the way the National Route goes through a long tunnel. It's well lit and also has a bike lane. Connecting below Moutiers to Albertville takes a little time sorting out on a first ride. Many signs, directed at motor vehicles, constantly lead the cyclist onto the National Route. This road however is closed to bicycles below Moutiers, and the cyclist has to look for the adjacent, unsigned service road.

the eastern descend of Cormet d'Areches curves towards treeline with serpentines,
as a thunderstorm threatens

Dayride:

PARTIALLY PAVED / UNPAVED