Snowshoeing route: Loop of the 3 villages

From the parking lot, join the foot of the trail leading to the Fer à Cheval restaurant and before taking it, turn left to the end of the parking lot. Following the snowshoeing markers, head towards the village of Giffrenant via a path that first descends, crossing the Giffre of Fer à Cheval, passing in front of a “ram” (a pumping system that brings water up to the village), then ascending to Giffrenant. Notice the authenticity of the hamlet’s farms and the breathtaking view of the cliffs of the Fer-à-Cheval cirque. From this point, descend by a wide path to the Giffre and the road which you cross. The route then climbs along a beautiful mountain forest and overlooks the cross-country ski trails until entering the second village, Le Pelly. You are at the foot of the imposing rock walls of the cirque stretching between 950 and 2989 m altitude at the Tenneverge peak, the highest point of the site. After crossing the hamlet of Pelly, the trail follows the left bank of the Nant des Pères before crossing it and then going up the right bank near the cross-country ski trails. Then you reach another stream, the Nant des Joathons, which borders the meadows of Frénalay. Following the snowshoeing markers, you arrive at the third village, Le Frénalay. It is a small authentic Savoyard village, with its stone foundations, shingle roofs, and small chapels. After crossing the hamlet, the path gently descends through a vast forest to a clearing and a small pond, then turns to join the left bank of the Giffre and the starting parking lot.