Col de la Fenetre

This walk starts from the top of the gondola at Le Signal. It is an interesting walk, up to and through the Col de la Fenetre. The descent takes you back down through alpine pastures and into the valley leading back to Les Contamines-Montjoie.

⚠️ Please note that you need to park at (A) and not (D) for this walk ⚠️

Technical sheet

2257730
A Les Contamines-Montjoie walk posted on 08/07/19 by Alwayswiththehills. Last update : 16/07/19
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.44 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 4h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: No
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 394 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 1,094 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,244 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,170 m

Description

Park in Les Contamines-Montjoie at the car park for the Telecabin de Montjoie (E) Take the gondola up to Les Tappes and then the telecabin du Signal up to Le Signal.

(S) From Le Signal, take the track in a southwesterly direction to a junction and signposts to Lac de Roselette.

(1) Take the track on the left to a crossroads.

(2) Take the right-hand path and follow it with a chairlift on the right up to Lac de Roselette. Continue on the path past the lake passing beneath three chairlifts up to a junction with a path called Tour du Pays du Mont Blanc.

(3) Turn left and follow the path called Tour du Pays du Mont Blanc or Tour du Beaufortain to leave the ski pistes and contour beneath the Aiguille de Roselette. This part of the path is through alpine pasture and is much more scenic than the first part of the walk.

(4) When the path splits, take the left-hand path uphill to the Col de la Fenetre. Near the top, the track becomes steeper and require some easy scrambling on rock.

(5) From the Col de la Fenetre, scramble down for a short section before descending again through Alpine Pasture. Arrive at the farm buildings of Les Pres.

(6) Continue downhill and enter light woodland called Bois de la Rollaz. The path descends through the wood to join the Tour du Pays du Mont Blanc track.

(7) Turn left and follow the broad track crossing the Pont de Nant Borrant and the Pont de la Tena/Pont Romain. Continue along the path and descend over some rocky slabs to a bridge on the left. This leads to the chapel of Notre-Dame de la Gorge. Visit the chapel or continue straight on to pass through the Parc de Loisirs.

(8) After the car park turn, left and cross the bridge, then turn right and walk along the roadside path back to the car park (E)

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 1,870 m
  2. 1 : km 0.07 - alt. 1,870 m - Take left
  3. 2 : km 0.23 - alt. 1,874 m - Turn right
  4. 3 : km 2 - alt. 2,100 m - Turn left to join Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc path
  5. 4 : km 3.76 - alt. 2,171 m - Turn left
  6. 5 : km 4.12 - alt. 2,244 m - Col de la Fenetre - Col de la Fenêtre
  7. 6 : km 6.46 - alt. 1,801 m - Continue downhill to enter Bois de la Rollaz
  8. 7 : km 7.53 - alt. 1,545 m - Junction with the Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc path
  9. 8 : km 11.79 - alt. 1,170 m - Turn left
  10. E : km 12.44 - alt. 1,178 m

Useful Information

The first part of the walk through the ski piste has many tracks so make sure you follow the map and the yellow signpost.

If the weather forecast is for rain or showers take your waterproof. Boots are recommended or at the least robust approach shoes as there is some easy scrambling.

Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.

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