24. Tour du Corbeau - Sentier du Renard

FULL TOUR FROM THE CENTRE OF MORGINS (nr 24 on the winter map showing all the snowshoe trails in the Region Dents du Midi):

Tour: 6h30, 13km, +750m/-750m

This tour being a bit too long, we propose the following 2 variants:

VARIANT WITH THE CORBEAU CHAIRLIFT

Tour: 5h, 11km, +420m/-820m

Take the Corbeau chairlift to get up (opening and prices see www.pds-ch.ch)

From the top of the Corbeau chairlift: follow the round snowshoe signs "Les Ecottis" and go down for 300m until you cross the Ecottis ski lift. From there, follow the "Portes de Culet" snowshoe signs up to the pass Portes de Culet offering an exceptional panorama of the Dents du Midi, the Vaud and Valais Alps and Mont-Blanc.

Please note that on the short section between the pass Portes de Culet and the Lac de Conche, there are no markings (territory of the commune of Collombey). Then, on the French part of the tour, follow the purple snowshoe signs.

From the pass, go back down the other side, first taking the wide path and then across the field parallel to the double ski lift to the Chalet Neuf Restaurant where you can enjoy a break (www.restochaletneuf.ch). Go under the ski lift and walk flat to the chalets and Lac de Conche (border). Follow the pedestrian route to the upper station of the Super Châtel gondola lift and then descend to the arrival of the Portes du Soleil chairlift to reach the charming Lac de la Mouille.

Go up the path to "Sur le Bord", a nice viewpoint over the Abondance valley. Go back down a few steps and don't miss the crossroads to head for Morgins via the Refuge du Corbeau restaurant (www.corbeaumorgins.ch) for a little break (unless you prefer to go back down to the Lac de Morgins or the Lac de Vonnes).

Go down below the Refuge du Corbeau on the right by the wide groomed path following the snowshoe signs towards "Pas de Morgins Lac". After the last zigzags under the chairlift leading to a large square, take the "Morgins" snowshoe trail on the left to join the Sépaz road which takes you back to the centre of Morgins.

VARIANT WITH DEPARTURE FROM THE LAKE OF MORGINS

Tour: 5h30, 12km, +640m/-640m

Parking at the Pas-de-Morgins pass (border) or ski bus shuttle "Morgins Télécabine - Lac Morgins" (see timetable on www.pds-ch.ch under practical information/transportation).

From the car park, carefully cross the road to reach the start of the trail (purple French snowshoe markings, follow "Sur le Bord"). After a slight descent, at the first exit of the forest, continue on the forest track on your right to start the rather steep ascent of "Sur le Bord". After several hairpin bends, the path passes by the "Sur le Bord" alpine chalet before reaching the highest point a few hundred metres further on. After admiring the view of the Abondance valley, continue straight on to descend to the charming Lac de la Mouille.

After the lake, continue slightly left to pass the upper stations of the Portes du Soleil chairlift and the Super Châtel gondola. Follow the footpath to Lac de Conche.

Please note that on the short section between the Lac de Conche and the pass Portes de Culet, there are no markings (territory of the commune of Collombey).

From the Chalets de Conche, take the path that runs flat to the right to reach the double ski lift and the Restaurant Chalet Neuf, where you can have a gourmet break (www.restochaletneuf.ch). Go up parallel to the ski lift to reach the Portes de Culet pass offering an exceptional panorama of the Dents du Midi, the Vaud and Valais Alps and Mont Blanc.

From the pass, follow the round "Le Corbeau - Morgins" snowshoe signs to descend through the fields to the Culet and Ecottis ski lifts. Cross them (watch out for skiers) and go flat out to the Refuge du Corbeau restaurant (www.corbeaumorgins.ch) and enjoy a break with a view of the Dents du Midi.

Then go down under the Refuge du Corbeau on the right by the wide groomed path following the sign towards "Pas de Morgins Lac". After the last zigzags under the chairlift leading to a large square, turn right along the road to reach the Lake and Pas-de-Morgins.

(Unless you wish to go directly to the centre of Morgins, see the other map for the end of the route: in this case take the "Morgins" snowshoe trail on the left to join the Sépaz road which takes you back to the centre of Morgins).