Arcalod
2,217 m
France
Also known as pointe d'ArcalodAlso known as
pointe d'Arcalod
- Elevation
- 2,217 m
- Prominence
- 1,713 m
- Difficulty
- 4/10
- Alpine hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Sep
- Routes
- 2
Routes
2Sources differ: F (VisuGPX topo (T4/F))
The standard way up the highest summit of the Bauges: a pasture walk from the head of the Bellevaux valley to the Chalets and Col d'Orgeval, then a waymarked but steep east face of ledges, two oblique chimneys and slabs with easy, sometimes exposed grade 2 moves. About 1,220 m of ascent; rockfall from parties above is the main danger.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 6.3 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,219 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 2,217 m
- Time Up
- 4h 52m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 3h 15m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From the Nant Fourchu car park (about 1,000 m) at the end of the Bellevaux valley road above École, follow the road a few hundred metres past the barrier and take the steep Gros Fayard path on the left through forest. It rejoins the alpine track and crosses the Orgeval pastures to the Chalets d'Orgeval (about 1,600 m; fountain, summer buvette), 1–1½ hours from the car. Continue north to the Col d'Orgeval (1,745 m), about 15 minutes further. At the col, turn left onto the level path heading south-west, pass the sign warning that this is an alpine route, and reach a small col between a rock spur and the foot of the Arcalod's east ridge (about 1,800–1,870 m). The east face is marked with yellow paint dots and older pink marks. Grassy zigzags give way to rock: ledges and gullies, a broad resting spot about halfway, then two chimneys slanting right to left that get through the big slabs. Several slab steps need easy climbing (grade 2), occasionally exposed. As the summit ridge comes into view the line turns right (north) to the narrow top. Allow 1–1½ hours from the col, 2½–4 hours from the car in all. Descend the same way, carefully: the first 20 m below the summit are best down-climbed facing in, and the face is loose and slippery when wet. Some parties return round the Banc Ferrand spur to the chalets. On fine summer weekends the face is crowded and stones knocked down by others are the main hazard, so start early and wear a helmet.
Start
Parking du Nant Fourchu1,004 m
- No practical public transport to Nant Fourchu; a car is needed for the 6 km Bellevaux valley road from École.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parking du Nant Fourchu → Pointe d'Arcalod | 6.3 | 1,219 | 6 | 4h 52m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Parking du Nant Fourchu1,004 m
- Feature: Le Gros Fayard1,135 m
- Waypoint: Chalets d'Orgeval1,600 m
Fountain; summer buvette
- Col: Col d'Orgeval1,744 m
- Summit: Pointe d'Arcalod2,217 m
Key Passages
- Steep Gros Fayard forest path above the car park
- Col d'Orgeval
- Two oblique chimneys through the east-face slabs
- Exposed grade 2 slab steps below the summit ridge
- Down-climb of the top 20 m on the descent
Equipment
0/6 packedDownloads
Route confidence 75%Overview
The highest summit of the Bauges massif (2,217 m), a limestone fin rising above the pastures of Orgeval inside the Bauges wildlife reserve. The normal route is a steep, waymarked east-face scramble with easy grade 2 slabs; the north ridge is a classic easy rock traverse.
The Pointe d'Arcalod is the high point of the Bauges, the limestone pre-Alpine massif between Annecy, Chambéry and Albertville, and stands on the border of Savoie and Haute-Savoie. Its summit crest is a band of Urgonian limestone on the eastern flank of the Chérel anticline, which gives the mountain its pointed profile and its slabby east face. With about 1,700 m of prominence it is one of the most independent summits in the French pre-Alps, and the view takes in Mont Blanc, the Vanoise and much of the Bauges.
The mountain lies within the Réserve nationale de chasse et de faune sauvage des Bauges, a wildlife reserve known for its chamois and mouflon; dogs are banned and bivouacking is forbidden. The usual ascent starts at Nant Fourchu at the head of the Bellevaux valley above École and climbs through the Orgeval pastures before tackling the east face. That last 400 m is a proper scramble rather than a walk: paint-marked ledges, two chimneys and slab steps, polished and loose in places.
It is a popular, sometimes crowded summit on summer weekends, and rockfall from people above is the main hazard. More experienced parties often climb the north ridge from the Col de Curtillet and descend the east face, a good introduction to moving roped on easy rock.
Climbing Notes
The normal route needs a fit hiker who is happy using hands on exposed, sometimes polished limestone: about 1,200 m of ascent and 5½–7 hours round trip from Nant Fourchu. No rope is needed in dry summer conditions, but a helmet is sensible because of stones knocked down by other parties; start early to beat the crowds and the afternoon heat on the east-facing slabs. Do not attempt the face in the wet or with snow on the ledges.
The north ridge (F, short grade 3 steps) is for parties who can move together on a short rope, place slings and down-climb exposed rock; allow a full day and descend by the east face.
There is a fountain and a summer buvette at the Chalets d'Orgeval. Remember that the whole area is a wildlife reserve: leave the dog at home, no camping or bivouacking, no drones, and do not pick the edelweiss that grow on the summit slopes.
History
A description of the mountain by R. Godefroy appeared in the Annuaire de la Société des touristes du Dauphiné for 1899 (cited by Camptocamp). No reliable record of the first ascent was found. Pierre Tardivel made the first ski descents of two steep lines on the east face, 'les Florianes', in 2000 and 2006.
Season
Best Jul–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Not advisable
- April: Not advisable
- May: Possible
- June: Good
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Good
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Winter; the east face is steep extreme-ski terrain with avalanche risk
- Feb
- Winter conditions
- Mar
- Snow on the face; ski tours to the Dessous de l'Arcalod and around the mountain only
- Apr
- Spring snow lingers on ledges and in the chimneys
- May
- Possible late in the month if the face is dry; snow patches in gullies
- Jun
- Good once the face is snow-free; dogs and off-path walking also restricted in forests until 30 June
- Jul
- Main season; very busy at weekends; afternoon storms
- Aug
- Main season; start early to avoid crowds and heat
- Sep
- Often stable and quieter
- Oct
- Good until the first snow; short days
- Nov
- Snow and ice on the slabs
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Rules
- Réserve nationale de chasse et de faune sauvage des Bauges: dogs are banned at all times, even on a lead
- Wildlife reserve: no bivouacking or camping in any form (including vans); fires, sound and light devices prohibited; drones and paragliders banned below 300 m above ground
- Bellevaux valley road is closed to traffic beyond the Nant Fourchu car park
- Edelweiss and other plants are protected: do not pick them
- Getting There
École (Savoie); Le Châtelard for shops and the tourist office
Chambéry-Savoie (CMF); Geneva (GVA) is about 1¼ hours by car
- Car: from École village take the Vallon de Bellevaux road (signed for Le Carlet) about 6 km to its end at the Nant Fourchu car park (about 1,000 m)
- École is reached from Chambéry or Albertville over the Col du Frêne via Saint-Pierre-d'Albigny, from Aix-les-Bains via Lescheraines and Le Châtelard, or from Annecy via the Col de Leschaux
- North ridge: drive from Jarsy to the Précherel car park (980 m)
- No practical public transport to the trailheads
Hazards
- Rockfall
- Exposure
- Weather