Refuge du Carro - A breathtaking balcony trail - 2-day hike

A night in Savoie's highest refuge? Now that's an adventure for the whole family! Particularly if you have to pass through scenery worthy of a movie set to reach it. This glacier-facing balcony trail promises a lifetime of memories.

Description

As you make your way along the path through the alpine pastures, you'll come across some unusual-shaped chalets: to resist avalanches, they are semi-buried or protected by a "tourne", a kind of stone bow.

The Plan des Eaux and Pys lakes follow one another along the way. Shades of blue range from azure to turquoise, reflecting the eternal snows of the glaciers.

The majestic Albaron, Vallonnet and Evettes glaciers dominate the cirque of the Arc springs.

After this splendid balcony traverse, during which you may have spotted a few chamois, you arrive at the Carro refuge.

Perfectly integrated into this mineral setting, Savoie's highest refuge welcomes you in an end-of-the-world atmosphere! Before lunch, how about a gentle contemplation on the shores of the Black and White lakes adjacent to the refuge?

After a night close to the stars in this pure Haute Maurienne sky, the descent promises to be just as authentic. Linger in the hamlet of l'Ecot. Isn't that Sébastien running down an alleyway, followed by his faithful Belle?

But the adventure isn't over yet, as you'll have to follow the current of the Arc to reach Bonneval sur Arc.

Additional welcome information

The Carro refuge has been awarded the "Refuge en famille" label

Environments

• Lake view
• Mountain view
• Mountain location
• In a nature reserve

Prices

Free access.

Itinerary

• Distance 25km
• Itinerary type LOOP
• Positive elevation gain 380m
• Negative elevation gain 945m
• Daily duration 07:15
• Roaming duration 2 days
• Marked itinerary Yes
• Marking details directional signs and cairns
• Nature of the terrain Rock, Stone, Ground, Not suitable for strollers
• Maximum altitude 2760m

Opening period

From 17/06 to 17/09.
Accessible outside the snowy period and depending on weather conditions. Please contact the Tourist Office beforehand to find out the current access conditions. Recommended season: spring - summer - autumn.

Subject to favorable snow and weather conditions.

Additional opening

• Subject to favorable weather

• Subject to snow conditions

Location

Park in Bonneval near the OT parking lot. Take the shuttle bus (see OT timetable) to the Col de l'Iseran. Get off at the Oulietta bridge (start of the hike).

Animals

Animals accepted: No

Guidebook with maps/step-by-step

• DEPARTURE: "Pont de l'Oulietta" parking lot (on the Col de l'Iseran road). It is possible to take the shuttle bus up (July and August) from Bonneval sur Arc (ask at the Tourist Office).
  1/ DAY 1: from "Pont de l'Oulietta" to "Refuge du Carro" / Time: 4h15 / Elevation gain: + 555 m and - 268 m / From the parking lot, the balcony path heads east towards the Carro refuge. The trail crosses large mountain pastures where flocks of sheep graze, with a breathtaking view of the glaciers of the sources de l'Arc and the north faces of Charbonnel and Albaron.
  Continue past Lac du Plan des Eaux towards Lac du Pys at the foot of Ouille des Reys. At the junction with the path back down to Bonneval, continue towards the Carro refuge. Once you've reached your base camp, don't miss the Lac Noir and Lac Blanc at the back of the refuge.
  
  2/ DAY 2: from "Refuge du Carro" to "Bonneval sur Arc" / Duration: 2 hrs 30 mins / Ascent: - 942 m / From the refuge, take the left-hand path back to the hamlet of l'Ecot. A beautiful 3-hour descent awaits you. Once in the hamlet of l'Ecot, cross the village, then join Bonneval sur Arc on the bucolic Agneaux trail along the Arc. From the Tourist Office, you can take the shuttle bus (or hitchhike) to the Pont de l'Oulietta to pick up your vehicle. If, on the outward journey, you set off on foot using the shuttle bus, then you've arrived!