Route details
Route description
Discover a site with an exceptional geological, floral and faunal richness. Up there await you a lunar landscape and a sumptuous panorama. The Platé Desert is the largest lapiaz in Europe.
From the Praz-Coutant car park (Roc des Fiz Memorial, near the Le Fontenay Residence), take the Chemin du Désert de Platé which starts next to the Cross.
Relatively easy at first, the path becomes steeper towards the Charbonnière chalets. A footbridge allows you to cross the torrent (the Ugine) before turning right, due north, towards the Platé refuge.
This unique path zigzags through the forest then steepens and winds through a system of ledges which provides access to the exit chimney (a physical climb and some tricky passages).
Take a short metal footbridge to reach the plateau and admire the chalets. Continue north to reach the Platé refuge (2032 m), an ideal place to recharge your batteries.
Return by the same route.
Age-old formations, the lapiaz of Platé inspire respect for the forces at work since geological time. Stay on the trails and do not pick plants in these delicate environments.
Relatively easy at first, the path becomes steeper towards the Charbonnière chalets. A footbridge allows you to cross the torrent (the Ugine) before turning right, due north, towards the Platé refuge.
This unique path zigzags through the forest then steepens and winds through a system of ledges which provides access to the exit chimney (a physical climb and some tricky passages).
Take a short metal footbridge to reach the plateau and admire the chalets. Continue north to reach the Platé refuge (2032 m), an ideal place to recharge your batteries.
Return by the same route.
Age-old formations, the lapiaz of Platé inspire respect for the forces at work since geological time. Stay on the trails and do not pick plants in these delicate environments.
Topo / step by step
1) Praz Coutant car park on the Plaine-Joux road / Roc des Fiz Memorial
2) Take the Chemin du Désert de Platé next to the Cross
3) Start the climb by following the direction of Charbonnière
4) After crossing the Ugine and about 500m before Charbonnière, take the path which goes up to the right towards Platé
5) Passage des Egratz
6) Platé Refuge
Return by the same route