Snowshoeing

Arpettaz along the Ru d'Arc

At the start, immediately a great panorama

Details

Ronc

Departure location

Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses

Municipality

suitable for all

Effort

Difficulty

218 m

Ascent vertical drop

3h 0m

Total time

Description

Services in the surroundings

Estrabocon di Cerisey Julien

Saint-Oyen 1.291 m

Le Bacche di Gaia

Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses 1.624 m

Nearby attractions

Medieval castle of Bosses

Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses 1.064 m

Church of Saint-Rhémy

Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses 1.996 m

Details

Ronc

Departure location

Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses

Municipality

suitable for all

Effort

Difficulty

1h 40m

Ascent time

1h 20m

Descent time

3h 0m

Total time

1.750 m

Starting elevation

1.935 m

Arrival elevation

218 m

Ascent vertical drop

10.400 m

Total length

senza numero

Signposts

Dec - Jan - Feb

Best period

medium

Crowding

Overview

The hike to the Arpettaz chalets is suitable for everyone and is very pleasant because of the ease of the route, almost entirely along snow-covered roads. In the first part, the Ru d'Arc (an irrigation canal that runs below the road) is walked with a flat course, then we enter the fascinating Bois de Combette, which gives way to beautiful panoramic views especially of the Vallone del Citrin and then that of Serena. The uphill slope is well sunny, so the temperature will be pleasant even in the middle of winter. The arrival in Arpettaz, in the area of the Crévacol ski resort, offers the opportunity to refresh oneself in the refuges adjacent to the Arp du Jeux, and to enjoy the sun with views of the snow-capped mountains.

Reaching the start

From the Aosta East tollbooth, take the tunnel leading into the Great St. Bernard Valley and continue along it, passing the villages of Gignod, Etroubles and Saint-Oyen. Leave the road going up to the Great St. Bernard Pass on the right and continue on the E27 state road until the entrance to the village of Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses. Enter the village center by turning right onto the signs for the hamlets alte and Arp du Jeux. Follow the asphalt road until you pass under the viaduct of the Great St. Bernard tunnel, here there is a large parking lot where the road is kept clean in the winter period, just below the houses of the hamlet Ronc.

The route

From the parking area continue along the snow-covered road that in summer leads to Arp du Jeux, heading west slightly uphill. At 1825 m at a bend (be careful because you are crossing a ski slope) you cross the Ru d'Arc route on the right, which should be followed northward with a pleasant flat and sunny route. It can often be the case that the slopes are bare of snow, which resists on the road instead.With beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding peaks, go around a ridge and continue still parallel to the road viaduct leading to the Great St. Bernard tunnel, visible just below. Reaching the Henvy hut, just below the Ru d'Arc, and just before Chantel damon, you leave the Ru following the signs on the left for Arpettaz and Arp du Jeu (snowshoe trail).You totally reverse direction, entering the forest of large larches and conifers with an ever gentle ascent. At an altitude of 1900 m you meet a crossroads of trails (including a ski slope), cross it, and resume climbing in the forest following the dedicated snowshoe trail.Just beyond, the forest thins out, and the destination now appears not far away. This leads to a hotel-restaurant right at the starting station of a chairlift, with a beautiful alpine pasture below. Just above instead is the structure of the Arp du Jeux. Here the trail ends. To reach the nearby Arpettaz huts, one must cross the ski slope.