Pointe des Fours hiking trail

In places, the Vanoise is a rocky desert, where humans feel small, but it's here that the chamois feels right at home. And, when people feel small and lost, they build cairns. The one at Col des Fours is a real gem, standing an impressive two metres tall! It encourages you to extend your hike all the way to the lake, surpassing the 3,000 m altitude mark without too much effort. Chamois and ptarmigan might escort you some of the way. A 360° panoramic view of the border range with Italy and its eternal snows, just like those of the Vanoise (Grande Casse, Grande Motte, Mont-Pourri). The Grand Fond Lake, at the foot of the pass, reflects the pure sky, breathing life into the place, amid rocks whose colours range from gray to coppery brown. If you're craving some greenery, head down to the Fond des Fours refuge, nestled among the alpine meadows at the core of Vanoise National Park, where fearless marmots are ever ready to give you a warm welcome.