Grand Truc Walk | La Toussuire

information about the route

Duration

4.15 am

Difficulty

Difficult

distance

9.5 km

elevation gain

555 m elevation gain

Departure

Tourist Information Centre

Heading for the great outdoors The Big Thing

Fancy getting up high and treating yourself to a lovely ridge walk?

This walk takes you from the Col du Marolay to the Grand Truc, before following the ridge line to Crêt Morandet, with ever-changing panoramic views at every step.

A beautiful, challenging route that demands commitment but rewards you with some of the finest views in La Toussuire.

The route

From the Tourist Office, head up the main street along the RD78 to the base of the slopes. Then continue towards the Col du Marolay, passing through the Impasse de Bellard, then through the Ravières and Hauts Ravières areas.

Once you reach the Col du Marolay, turn right towards the Grand Truc. The path gradually takes you higher up and leads you through alpine pastures before reaching the summit.

From the Grand Truc, continue along the ridge towards Crêt Morandet. This section offers magnificent views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, and is the highlight of this walk.

At Crêt Morandet, leave the ridge and take the path on the right towards La Toussuire, passing through Sur la Lauze. The path then descends gradually until it joins the RD78.

Follow the road to the left for about 100 metres, then turn right to rejoin the “Au Fil de l’Eau” path. This final stretch takes you gently to the Tourist Office, where this lovely circular walk ends.

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good to know

Vertical rise

This walk is suitable for walkers who are comfortable with a steady climb and a ridge walk. Make sure you wear good walking boots: there is no shade along the route, so remember to bring a cap or hat to protect yourself from the sun.

Refuelling

With over 4 hours’ walking and a 555-metre elevation gain, please ensure you bring plenty of water and sufficient provisions, as there are no places to buy supplies along the route.

Watercourse

The final section of the walk follows the “Au Fil de l’Eau” trail: if you enjoyed this part of the walk, this shorter route – suitable for everyone – gives you the chance to enjoy it all over again, at your own pace.

Highlights of the walk

The Col du Marolay between Bellard and the mountain pastures

After leaving the centre of the resort, the path gradually climbs towards the Col du Marolay. Along the way, you’ll pass through the Bellard, Ravières and Hauts Ravières areas, where the landscape gradually opens up to reveal the vast high-altitude expanses.

The Col du Marolay, perched at 2,004 metres, marks a wonderful milestone on the hike. The first sweeping panoramic views come into view and you’re now ready to carry on towards the Grand Truc.

Keep your eyes peeled – you might spot some of the little marmots that live in this area!

Did you know?

The names of the localities also tell the story of the mountain. In Savoyard patois, ‘Bellard’ means ‘ram’ and ‘Marolay’ means ‘ewe ’. These two names refer directly to the flocks and pastoral traditions that still shape the landscapes of La Toussuire today.

The Big Thing a peak between several valleys

From the Col du Marolay, head towards the Grand Truc and continue your ascent through the heart of the mountain pastures. As you gain altitude, the view opens up and the sense of space becomes ever more pronounced.

At the summit, enjoy a remarkable view of the Belledonne massif, the Vallées des Villards, the Col du Glandon at 1,924 metres and the Maurienne Valley. It’s a veritable natural balcony where you can take the time to admire the landscapes and peaks that rise up all around you.

Where does the name ‘Grand Truc’ come from?

In the local dialect,‘Grand Truc’ refers to a mountain with no clearly defined summit: its rounded peak does not stand out distinctly from the rest of the massif. It’s a name that actually describes the gentle silhouette of this peak quite well, a world away from the jagged peaks found elsewhere in the valley.

The mountain pastures of Le Grand Truc a living mountain

Le Grand Truc is also renowned for its flower-filled mountain pastures. In summer, the meadows are ablaze with colour and are home to numerous herds of cows and sheep, which come to graze on the fresh grass during the warmer months.

It’s a wonderful opportunity to discover a living mountain, where the landscapes are maintained through pastoralism.

With a little patience, you may also spot the wildlife that shares this environment: marmots, mountain birds and birds of prey can sometimes be seen. If you come across a herd, simply keep your distance and let the animals graze in peace.

The ridges walking between the sky and the mountains

Once you’ve reached the Grand Truc, the walk continues along the ridge towards Crêt Morandet. This section is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular parts of the route: the path offers a succession of unobstructed views and allows you to fully enjoy that unique sensation of walking at altitude, with the valleys stretching out on either side.

Take your time – the scenery is well worth stopping regularly to look around, take a deep breath and capture a few memories.

Along the River a refreshing interlude to round things off in style

To complete the loop, the route joins the “Au Fil de l’Eau” trail. After this lovely walk through the hills, this final stretch offers a pleasant transition before returning to the Tourist Office.

The path winds its way along the Edioulaz stream, through a small woodland, bringing a touch of coolness and tranquillity to round off the walk gently. The murmur of the water accompanies your final steps into the heart of La Toussuire.