13 - Cross-country - Red - Lake of Mont Cenis

Val-Cenis

The famous tour of the Mont Cenis Lake! Between the landscapes, the marmots and the fortifications, you won't be able to resist. But remember to keep your balance! Grandiose, that's the word that sums up this tour.

Description

You can reach the Col du Mont-Cenis by car, or by taking the lifts at Val Cenis, which provide an easy 3 km link to the pass.
Ask about lift opening days and times.
High mountain ambience and wide open spaces for this route, on which you'll always be around 2000m altitude. You'll warm up on the Petit Mont Cenis road. This turns into a trail as you explore the wilderness around the lake. You'll pass under the Pattacreuse fort, the Malamot fort (look up, it's at 2917m) and next to the Variselle fort. You return to "civilization" by crossing the dam. Once you've crossed the road, you climb up the sentier des 2000 to Fort de Ronce. A short descent through the alpine meadows then takes you on a narrow single on a beautiful balcony! Keep your balance, though, as there are some vertiginous sections. Once you've reached the hamlet of La Buffaz, you can glide leisurely towards the Col du Mont Cenis. An unmissable tour of the Haute Maurienne Vanoise mountain biking area!
Departure point: Col du Mont Cenis.

Equipment

Mountain bike itinerary

Environments

In the mountains

Rates

Free access.

Opening period

From 01/06 to 15/10.

Subject to favorable snow and weather conditions.

Additional opening

Subject to favorable weather conditions
Subject to snow conditions

Location

By car, park at the Col du Mont-Cenis parking lot.
In summer, you can take the S53 bus (Modane - Bonneval/Arc) and get off at the "Télécabine du Vieux Moulin" stop; the bus is equipped with a bicycle trailer every day except Saturday. Then take the Lanslevillard lifts. You'll need to cross a mostly downhill run of around 4 km.

Itinerary