Summer hike: Col du Couard & high pastures of Plan des Cavalles
A beautiful technical itinerary will take you on a journey between glacial lakes and snowy peaks. An incursion into the world of high mountains and its history during the Second World War.
Col du Couard: Silver veins were once mined here; the site was known as the Mines de la Demoiselle and de la Cochette.
The lakes you will see occupy hollows formed by glacial erosion. After the glacier melted, water from higher glacial streams often filled these depressions, creating the lakes.
These wide-open spaces are home to rock ptarmigans, one of the few animals that retain the Arctic gene: white in winter, beige in summer. A camouflage pattern also seen in the stoat and the mountain hare in the Alps.
The ascent passes through cow pastures. The traditional transhumance of herds from southern France to these alpine meadows continues today. Please take care not to disturb the animals while crossing their grazing areas.
Route details
From the Tourist Office, take the road down to the left, in the bend, turn left to take the path going up towards the hamlet of La Villette, you go up until you reach the road you are following. You enter the hamlet, and follow the direction of the road to the mill, indicated in yellow sign Col du Couard. Always follow the yellow signposted Col du Couard. From the Col du Couard follow the route towards the Lac de la Fare. You walk between lakes and glacial plateau. At the Lac de la Fare you will find the Rajon shelter, and the sign for the descent to the Refuge de la Fare which you will follow. You arrive at the refuge of La Fare, be careful after the refuge technical passage; remain attentive. You reach the cable car arrival station. From the arrival station, go down the track in the direction of Clos Giraud, a track located to the north. This section is on a ski run. You arrive at the lac de retenue, and find the yellow signs on your left indicating Vaujany, la Villette. This downhill route takes you back to la Villette and you return to the hamlet via the route du moulin, and continue by the uphill route taken at the beginning of the hike.
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Coach access,
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Motorhomes allowed,
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Restaurant,
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Accessible via ski lift
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Play area,
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Picnic area,
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Barbecue,
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Orientation board,
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Charging stations for electric vehicles
Opening
From 04/07 to 30/08 daily.
Subject to favorable weather.
Informations to download
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Latitude : 45.157433
Longitude : 6.079051
Height : 1250
5 Place du Téléphérique
38114 Vaujany
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Information updated on 15/06/2026
by Office de Tourisme de Vaujany
