Plan Chécrouit to La Visaille via Lac Combol
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Beautiful views from the top of Plan Checrouit.Photo: Augustijn vanGaalen, Macs Adventure
This walk will start at La Dolonne, which starts right across the river from Courmayeur. This will take you up to Plan Chécrouit (1702 m). From here, you will follow the TMB path as it winds its way down through the valley, past Rifugio Maison Vieille, down to La Visaille. You can also choose to go past the Rifugio Combal to the Lac du Maige, before you begin your final descent to La Visaille. From this tiny hamlet, you will be able to take the ‘Allo Bus’ shuttle bus or a taxi back to Courmayeur. Make sure that you book this before 6pm the previous day, so that they can make arrangements to pick you up. Alternatively, it is also possible to walk back to Courmayeur (roughly about 1.5-2 hours). You will be able to find the route notes from this on the Macs Adventure app, or under the Val Veny loop walk, which is our alternative walk for this day when La Dolonne isn’t running.
The path is fairly comfortable to walk on, although there are some parts where the path can be covered in snow. There is also a small river crossing. For these reasons, you may be more comfortable bringing walking poles.
Author’s recommendation
Track types
Show elevation profileSafety information
There is a small river crossing as well as certain segments where the path may be covered in snow (depends on the time of year). Please take care here and watch your footing, as it may be slippery. When you cross the river, cross right between the two paths, as the water moves slowly here and there are some rocks which you can jump on.
Furthermore, you may be walking on a paved road with cars passing you, so please be careful and mindful of this fact when walking. Keep to the right hand side and make sure you are walking on the side of the road.
Tips and hints
Make sure to check ahead of time whether La Dolonne cable car is running. You can check this with the Uffice de Turismo or with your accommodation. Please bear in mind that the times vary depending on each year.
If La Dolonne isn’t running, then we have an alternative route available that you will be able to walk. This will be the Val Veny Loop Walk.
Maison Vieille and the Rifugio Combal are two of the main points where you can stock up on water, so keep this in mind as you plan how much water you will be bringing.
Start
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
Directions to La Dolonne:
0.00 km - From in front of the Ufficio de Turismo, TURN RIGHT, walking down the pavement until you see an underpass with a sign for La Dolonne.
0.05 km - Go down one flight of stairs and TURN RIGHT, passing under the road and eventually, crossing a bridge.
0.40 km - After the bridge, you will come to a fork in the road. Continue STRAIGHT ON.
0.50 km - You will see La Dolonne ahead of you, on top of a hill. TURN RIGHT and follow the road until you see a pedestrian path leading up to La Dolonne.
0.70 km - You are now in front of La Dolonne. Take the cable car up to Plan Chécrouit to start your walk.
Start of your walk:
0.00 km – With you back to the Courmayeur Cable Car and La Dolonne Cable Car on in front of you on your right-hand side, walk STRAIGHT ON until you approach a right turn.
0.10 km – TURN RIGHT, following this road for approximately 1.1 km as it ascends. You will approach a series of houses and a sign.
1.20 km – You will see a sign for Rifugio Randonneur and a rock with the TMB path waymarked. TURN LEFT here, going in the opposite direction of the Rifugio Randonneur. Follow this road for about 400 meters until you see Maison Vieille in the distance, after you come to the top of a small hill. Walk towards it, crossing a dirt track and following a sign for Maison Vieille.
1.70 km – Once at the Rifugio, you will see a path winding up the mountain behind it – this is the TMB Path, and you will be following it for the foreseeable future. Continue STRAIGHT ON, following signs for the Lac du Combal. This is a nice play to have a coffee and enjoy the view, and a good last place to stock up on water before your climb.
3.20 km – When the footpath is crossed by a larger dirt road, continue STRAIGHT ON, following the TMB path. You will see markers on rocks as you follow your walk. Over the next couple of kilometers, there could be some snow on some of the paths. Make sure to take extra care here and to watch your steps.
6.10 km – As you approach the final climb, there are several paths that will take you to the top. Take whatever path is most comfortable for you and you will reach the top, where there is a nice place to take a breather, before you see the path descending.
6.30 km – Congratulations – that’s most of your climbing done for today! Follow the path STRAIGHT ON as it descends.
7.50 km – You will get to a crossroads signposted with a 9 in the familiar yellow TMB path paint. Ignore this path crossing over the river and continue STRAIGHT ON, descending into the valley.
7.80 km – As you approach the river crossing, make sure to take extra care and to put away any phones or cameras in case they get wet.
8.80 km – When you come down onto a larger road, TURN RIGHT, following signs for La Visaille. You will soon cross a bridge.
9.00 km – After the bridge, TURN LEFT, following signs to Lago Miage, following this path onto the Rifugio Combal.
9.20 km – As you pass the Rifugio, BEAR RIGHT as you ascend towards the lake.
9.30 km – After a short climb, you will approach several paths. TURN RIGHT and continue your short climb towards the lake. After approximately 200 meters, you will come see the lake in front of you.
9.50 km – BEAR LEFT and descend slightly towards the lake.
9.60 km – As you approach a fork in the road, BEAR LEFT, walking around a smaller lake until you come back to your previous point. Feel free to take some more time to explore the scenery here, and when you are ready to continue your walk, just head back the same way you came.
10.50 km – When you come back to the bridge you previously crossed, walk STRAIGHT ON towards La Visaille. This paved road will take you right up to La Visaille so keep following this road for about 3.2 km.
13.30 km – Stay on the main road and cross a bridge.
0.00 km – With you back to the Courmayeur Cable Car and La Dolonne Cable Car on in front of you on your right-hand side, walk STRAIGHT ON until you approach a right turn.
0.10 km – TURN RIGHT, following this road for approximately 1.1 km as it ascends. You will approach a series of houses and a sign.
1.20 km – You will see a sign for Rifugio Randonneur and a rock with the TMB path waymarked. TURN LEFT here, going in the opposite direction of the Rifugio Randonneur. Follow this road for about 400 meters until you see Maison Vieille in the distance, after you come to the top of a small hill. Walk towards it, crossing a dirt track and following a sign for Maison Vieille.
1.70 km – Once at the Rifugio, you will see a path winding up the mountain behind it – this is the TMB Path, and you will be following it for the foreseeable future. Continue STRAIGHT ON, following signs for the Lac du Combal. This is a nice play to have a coffee and enjoy the view, and a good last place to stock up on water before your climb.
3.20 km – When the footpath is crossed by a larger dirt road, continue STRAIGHT ON, following the TMB path. You will see markers on rocks as you follow your walk. Over the next couple of kilometers, there could be some snow on some of the paths. Make sure to take extra care here and to watch your steps.
6.10 km – As you approach the final climb, there are several paths that will take you to the top. Take whatever path is most comfortable for you and you will reach the top, where there is a nice place to take a breather, before you see the path descending.
6.30 km – Congratulations – that’s most of your climbing done for today! Follow the path STRAIGHT ON as it descends.
7.50 km – You will get to a crossroads signposted with a 9 in the familiar yellow TMB path paint. Ignore this path crossing over the river and continue STRAIGHT ON, descending into the valley.
7.80 km – As you approach the river crossing, make sure to take extra care and to put away any phones or cameras in case they get wet.
8.80 km – When you come down onto a larger road, TURN RIGHT, following signs for La Visaille. You will soon cross a bridge.
9.00 km – After the bridge, TURN LEFT, following signs to Lago Miage, following this path onto the Rifugio Combal.
9.20 km – As you pass the Rifugio, BEAR RIGHT as you ascend towards the lake.
9.30 km – After a short climb, you will approach several paths. TURN RIGHT and continue your short climb towards the lake. After approximately 200 meters, you will come see the lake in front of you.
9.50 km – BEAR LEFT and descend slightly towards the lake.
9.60 km – As you approach a fork in the road, BEAR LEFT, walking around a smaller lake until you come back to your previous point. Feel free to take some more time to explore the scenery here, and when you are ready to continue your walk, just head back the same way you came.
10.50 km – When you come back to the bridge you previously crossed, walk STRAIGHT ON towards La Visaille. This paved road will take you right up to La Visaille so keep following this road for about 3.2 km.
13.30 km – Stay on the main road and cross a bridge STRAIGHT ON. La Visaille will be just 400 meters ahead of you.
13.70 km – La Visaille is a small group of houses directly next to the road. You will also be able to see a roadsign with La Visaille on it.
Note
Public transport
Today, walk from Courmayeur to the traditional hamlet of Dolonne. From here, take the cable car to Plan Checrouit at 1,702m. Operating hours for the cable car can be checked here: http://www.lovevda.it/en/database/5/ski-lift-complex/courmayeur/dolonne-plan-checrouit-gondola-lift-and-plan-checrouit-maison-vieille-chairlift/4343
At the end of your hike, take the bus from La Visaille back to Courmayeur. From the beginning of July until the beginning of September, a bus operates between La Visaille and Courmayeur.
Buses leave about every hour and operate approximately between 8:00 and 21:00. You can purchase a ticket from the driver which will cost a few euros.
Timetables are available at the beginning of the summer season and can be found here:
Outwith the timetabled dates, the dial-a-bus service ‘Allo Bus’ will operate, the “Allo Bus” will replace the regular public transportation buses in Courmayeur. Please note that this is an “on call” bus and you will need to call this local number to make a reservation: +39 (0) 165 1854653 For more info please have a look here:
Coordinates
Equipment
Walking boots will suffice for this walk. If you feel more comfortable walking with walking poles, then we advise you to take these as well, especially since some of the path may be covered in snow and you will need to cross a river.Statistics
- 3 Waypoints
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