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 at a mountain hut in advance. Stay on the trails, follow the signs, and take your trash with you.

Environments

• Lake view
• Mountain location
• Waterfall view
• Less than a 10-minute walk from a bus stop

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 trail markers. The route is unmarked from Plan des Evettes to the lake.
• Delicate passage A section where you have to hold onto the handrail in the Reculaz Gorge. The trail is marked all the way to the Evettes Hut, but there are no signs beyond that to Lake Grand Méan, and the path includes rocky slabs that can be slippery. High-altitude trail (2,900 m).
• Nature of the terrain Stone, Ground, Not suitable for strollers
• Maximum altitude 2905m

Opening period

This route is accessible outside of snow season and is subject to favorable weather conditions. Check the local weather forecast in real time up until the day of departure.

Additional opening

• Subject to favorable weather

• Subject to snow conditions

Location

In Bonneval sur Arc, turn right toward l'Ecot and park in the l'Ecot parking lot (fee applies in July and August).
By bus: Line 4 – l'Ecot stop. For more information, see the HMV mobility guide.

Documents

• LOGO-HIKING-COLLECTION
• 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 get past the handrail, you'll 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 River, then head toward the Refuge des Evettes "through the Reculaz Gorge." The trail follows the Reculaz stream and then the Pareis stream. A series of handrails leads you to the top of the gorge. Once on level ground, the Refuge is just a few minutes away.
  2/ After a restful night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast—which you’ll need to build up your strength—backtrack slightly, then descend toward the waterfall and the Roman bridge. Once you’ve crossed the Roman bridge, you’ll be on the Plan des Evettes. At the signpost of the same name, head toward Lac du Grand Méan. From this point on, the route is no longer marked, so be careful!
  The ascent to the lake takes you through scree and rocky slabs. Ibex are often seen here 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 with a deafening roar. Time seems to stand still.
  Once at the lake, turn around and follow the same path back to the Roman bridge, then head to the Evettes refuge for lunch. The descent to l'Ecot follows an easy trail through Plan des Roches.