Evettes refuge and Grand Méan lake - a weekend at the foot of the glacier

A "Coup de coeur" hike, approaching the border glaciers at the bottom of the Haute Maurienne valley. A spectacle that nature offers us and that we must show to our children today. Memories for life guaranteed.

Additional welcome information

You must book your overnight stay in a refuge in advance. Stay on the trails, following the signs, and take your garbage with you.

Environments

• Lake view
• Mountain location
• Waterfall view
• Less than 10 minutes from a bus stop on foot

Prices

Free access.

Itinerary

• Distance 14km
• Itinerary type LOOP
• Positive elevation gain 1050m
• Negative elevation gain 1050m
• Roaming duration 2 days
• Marked itinerary Yes
• Marking details Yellow blade markings. The route is unmarked from Plan des Evettes to the lake.
• Delicate passage Passage over a handrail where you have to put your hands down in the Reculaz gorges. The route is signposted as far as the Evettes hut, but is not signposted as far as the Grand Méan lake, with passages on rocky slabs that can be slippery. High mountain itinerary (2900 m).
• Nature of the terrain Stone, Ground, Not suitable for strollers
• Maximum altitude 2905m

Opening period

Itinerary accessible outside snow periods and subject to favorable weather conditions. Check the local weather forecast in real time up to the day of departure.

Additional opening

• Subject to favorable weather

• Subject to snow conditions

Location

At Bonneval sur Arc, turn right towards l'Ecot and park in the Ecot parking lot (fee payable July-August).
By bus: Line 4 - Ecot stop. More info in the HMV mobility guide.

Documents

• LOGO-COLLECTION-RANDO
• Evettes refuge and Grand Méan lake - a weekend at the foot of the glacier_Bonneval-sur-Arc
• Complete flyer with stage descriptions Le Grand Méan in 2 days (pdf)

Animals

Animals accepted: Yes

Animals accepted with supplement: No

To pass through the handrail, you need to carry your pet.

Guidebook with maps/step-by-step

• 1/ From the village of l'Ecot, climb up the left bank of the Arc, then head for the Refuge des Evettes "par les gorges de la Reculaz". The path follows the ruisseau de la Reclulaz and then the ruisseau des Pareis. A series of handrails takes you to the top of the gorge. Once on the flat, the Refuge is only a few minutes away.
  2/ After a restorative night's sleep and a hearty breakfast, as you'll need to build up your strength, retrace your steps slightly, then descend towards the waterfall and the Roman bridge. Once you've crossed the Roman bridge, you're on the Plan des Evettes. At the signpost of the same name, head for Lac du Grand Méan. From this point on, the route is no longer signposted, so be careful!
  The ascent to the lake is through scree and rocky slabs. Ibex are often present in summer. From scree slopes to rocky slabs, you make your way through the heart of the Cirque des Evettes, under the gaze of the Albaron and Grande Ciamarella glaciers.
  And here you are facing the glacial lake of Grand Méan, a little piece of Greenland or Patagonia. A cliff of ice falls directly into the lake, with small icebergs floating on its surface.
  Strange noises emanate from the living glacier. Occasionally, a few blocks break off in a deafening din. Time seems to stand still.
  Once at the lake, turn around on the same path and walk back to the Roman bridge, then join the Evettes refuge for lunch. The descent to l'Ecot is via a comfortable path through the Plan des Roches.