Guidebook with maps/step-by-step
1/ Leave your car at the La Plagne hikers' parking lot. Take the wide forest track from Le Selet (slightly to the right) up to a second parking area. Follow the yellow markings and continue up the gravel track, which climbs gently to the crossroads at “Le Bouchet”. Turn right (yellow markings) and climb a steep path to the Col de l'Alpette, which takes around 1 hour. 2/ After the pass, turn left towards Pas des Barres, where the path winds along a balcony in a magnificent valley used for summer grazing. The path then climbs to the left, with a magnificent view of Mont Blanc. Follow the path to the Pas des Barres. Climb to the left in the rocky bar and reach the foot of the chimney, equipped with cables and bars to facilitate progress (caution: difficult and vertiginous passage). After the chimney, continue up a winding path between rocky bars to reach a plateau. Continue until you reach a crossroads at 1840 m. 3/ Follow the path to the right, the path to the left will be our return route. The path leads to the summit of Mont Granier, which is quickly reached. Follow the same route back to the 1840 m mark. Take the slightly uphill path on the right. Descend to the Balme à Colon on a very steep path to reach the foot of the cliff and the Grotte de l'Ours. 4/ Enter the cave, which passes through the cliff, to emerge on the “La Plagne” side, and follow a sometimes steep path through the forest to reach the Granges du Priz. Continue along the path into the hamlet of La Plagne, passing the oven and wash-house. Follow the road back to the start parking lot.
