The first snowfall of winter
Hiking through fresh snow in Vaudagne can mean only one thing - winter
Big fat snowflakes, thick white tree branches and dropping temperatures. Up in Vaudagne there is a winter wonderland to be explored. Starting off from the hiking signpost on Route des Bouchards take a sharp left onto the little track towards Charousse.
Heading upwards into the forest, climb a gentle path alongside a river until you reach the clearing where a little cluster of old chalets huddle together. It’s just as magical in winter as in summer, with icicles hanging from the eaves and thick blankets of snow covering the wooden beams.
Emerging from the other end of Charousse follow the path round to the right and continue climbing. Either take the next turn-off and circle back round to Vaudagne or head a bit higher, and follow the signpost straight on towards Les Baux.
From here the path widens out into a 4x4 track lined with big snow-laden pine trees on either side. After a few hundred metres the path is narrower and steeper, the forest becomes denser. Eventually after a couple of hundred metres the path levels out and you'll see a signpost proclaiming to be at the heart of the thriving metropolis of Les Baux: population = about a dozen trees and probably a lot of squirrels.
From here we'd recommend you turn around and make your way back down to just before the Charousse chalets and take the turn-off signposted for Col de la Forclaz and Le Grand Prarion. The path is a lot flatter by this point.
By following the signposts for Vaudagne you can circle back round to where you started in about 40 minutes or so, finishing up beside a field.
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Directions
Vaudagne is a tiny village in between Les Houches and Servoz. You can get to it by car by driving past the Prarion gondola in Les Houches and taking the second left at the mini-roundabout onto the cunningly named Route de Vaudagne. Just as you reach the outskirts of the village look out for Route des Bouchard on your left to find the signposted trail at the start of the hike.
If you're coming by train, Vaudagne train station is about a half hour walk from the beginning of the hike. Turn right out of the train station and follow the path through the woods until you reach the road. Turn left and keep following the road uphill until you reach Route des Bouchards on your right.
