Loop walk - Cirque du Genépi

This fantastic hike in Vanoise National Park takes you close to the Genépi Glacier. Observe glacial erosion up close.

This striking hike, in the heart of the Vanoise National Park, allows you to observe the traces of glacial erosion. This wild itinerary follows a gorge beautifully sculpted by the Génépy torrent, through a humid zone populated, depending on the season, by orchids, cottongrass, butterwort and edelweiss.

Pralognan-la-Vanoise trail map.

1. Head for Montaimont along the pastoral path on your left (trail no. 39).
2. In Montaimont, turn right above the Cabane des Gardes (path no. 42) and continue to the Cirque du Génépy.
3. On the descent, follow the same route to the first intersection.
4. At the intersection, fork right onto the path that runs along the edge of an ancient moraine now overgrown with vegetation, towards Plan des Bôs (path no. 41).
5. At the next intersection, go down the pastoral road to Montaimont (trail no. 40).
6. To reach the parking lot, take the same pastoral path as on the outward journey (trail no. 39).

LOOP VARIANT : CIRQUE DE ROSOIRE (2,208 m) (difficult) +5h30, +690 m ascent, +13 km
After climbing the Génépy moraine, the environment changes character, giving way to a balcony trail that leads to the Ariande cirque, where herds of chamois and herds of heifers share the pastures. On the way down, a well-deserved stop at the Ritord mountain pasture allows you to taste the Beaufort "Chalet d'Alpage" produced on site.
Follow the previous itinerary to stage 2.

1. In the cirque du Génépy, take the winding path through the lateral moraine (an accumulation of eroded rock debris transported and deposited by the glacier in front of it and on its flanks) (path no. 44), then the balcony path that leads to the cirque de Rosoire.
2. At the cirque de Rosoire, take the path down to the Ritord mountain pasture (path no. 45).
3. To reach the parking lot, take the GR 55 (paths no. 49b and 49), which passes close to the Roc de la Pêche refuge.