Orvielle

Aosta Ovest motorway exit. Take the road towards Courmayeur. When you reach Villeneuve turn left towards Valsavarenche. Drive up through the valley and just before Degioz, turn left towards Vers le Bois.

Take pathway (8) leading to Vers le Bois.
Take the wide Royal Hunting Road and straightaway you will come across the roadsigns that indicate the entrance to the Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso. The pathway starts off on level ground, then after 5 minutes it turns sharp left and starts climbing the slope that lies beneath the Fourquin de Bioula. You continue to climb gently through the fir woods. After about 25 minutes, the woods open out near a vast landslide that fell from the overhanging peaks in the distant past. This “fissure” allows us to catch a glimpse of the Fourquin de la Bioula and at the end of the valley Mont Fallère, the Costa Tardiva and the Pointe de Chaligne. You continue walking along this wide, easy mule-track which leads you southwards on a fairly even path, and it is not uncommon to bump into a chamois or steinbock along the way. You leave the woods and make your way across a dangerous section where avalanche couloirs are quite evident. Once past this crossing, you finally come into the level clearing lying in front of the Royal Hunting Lodge (now a Park Ranger Station), which you reach in a few minutes (2165 m.).