Following the flow of hydroelectricity in La Coche
Retenue d'eau de la Coche
Retenue d'eau de la Coche - aptv_redac
LES AVANCHERS-VALMOREL

Following the flow of hydroelectricity in La Coche

Fauna
Lake and glacier
Viewpoint
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A surprising mix of educational farm, mountain pasture chalets and scenic viewpoints. The highlight of your ride: La Coche dam!
This route along a small woodland track offers up a wonderful mix of educational farm, mountain pasture chalets and scenic viewpoints. And a surprise awaits on your arrival: an impressive dam and its lake! There are various picnicking spots as well as a mountain restaurant along the way, so you'll have plenty of opportunities to rest and refuel.

Description

From the resort of Valmorel, head up towards Le Pas de Pierre Larron along an easygoing woodland trail. At the highest point of the route (1,800m), treat yourself to a break while admiring the breathtaking view. The next stretch takes you down towards La Coche dam. After cycling round the dam, continue through the woodland and climb up to Le Pas de Pierre Larron. You can then head back down towards Valmorel along the same route.

Follow the blue waymarks: La Coche.

E-bike rental shops:

La Trace Sports
Immeuble Les Pierres-Plates
hameau Crève-Coeur
73260 VALMOREL
+33 (0) 4 79 09 81 07

Sun Bike Shop
Bourg Morel
73260 Les Avanchers
+33 (0) 6 50 77 62 09

Valmo'Bike
Bourg Morel
73260 Les Avanchers
+33 (0)6 09 94 23 47

  • Departure : multi-storey car park P0, Le Bourg
  • Arrival : multi-storey car park P0, Le Bourg
  • Towns crossed : LES AVANCHERS-VALMOREL, LE BOIS, SAINT-JEAN-DE-BELLEVILLE, and SALINS-FONTAINE

Forecast

Altimetric profile

Recommandations

Rando Vanoise has been designed to help you pick and choose your outings, but cannot be held liable where they are concerned. The mountain offers up a wide range of routes and trails for cyclists of all levels, but remember, it is a living, unpredictable environment and it is important that you head out suitably equipped. Ask advice from cycle rental operators.
If in doubt, you can take an introductory lesson in how to ride an electric bike with an instructor.

If you see a herd ahead, slow down and go round it. If there is a patou, a guard dog, climb down from your bike and walk, pushing it alongside you. Avoid making any sudden or aggressive gestures towards the dog and move away from the herd slowly and calmly. The dog will only be checking that you do not pose a threat to its herd. Respect the parkland and close gates behind you after you've gone through them.

The mountain is living, please respect it by staying on the paths and tracks.

Information desks

Bourg Morel, 73260 Valmorel

https://www.valmorel.cominfo@valmorel.com04 79 09 85 55

Access and parking

From Moûtiers, take the RD95 road towards Valmorel.

Parking :

multi-storey car park P0, Le Bourg

9 points of interest

  • Know-how

    E-bike rental shop:Valmo'bike

    Valmo'Bike
    Bourg Morel
    73260 Les Avanchers

    +33 (0)6 09 94 23 47
  • Know-how

    E-bike rental shop: Sun Bike Shop

    Sun Bike Shop
    Bourg Morel
    73260 Les Avanchers

    +33 (0) 6 50 77 62 09
  • Know-how

    E-bike rental shop: La Trace Sport

    La Trace Sports
    Immeuble Les Pierres-Plates
    hameau Crève-Coeur
    73260 VALMOREL

    +33 (0) 4 79 09 81 07
  • La ferme Valmo'Bourricot
    La ferme Valmo'Bourricot - Scalp-OTVVA 7
    Pastoralism

    Valmo'bourricot Farm

    All sorts of animals live on this mini-farm - hens, geese, pigs, goats and rabbits ... Come and learn more about how they are reared in the mountain environment. You can even go for a donkey ride and take away some soap made from the milk of a jenny (female donkey). An ideal family outing!

    Open in summer.
    Price: €5. Free for under 3s. Admission included in the Pass'Aventure.
    Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

    Valmo Bourricot, 73260, LES AVANCHERS VALMOREL
    Tel: +33 (0)6.81.17.11.51 / +33 (0)6.77.61.49.65
    https://www.valmorel-ane.fr/la-mini-ferme-de-valmo-bourricot/

  • La ferme équestre du Bouc Blanc
    La ferme équestre du Bouc Blanc - aptv_redac
    Know-how

    Le Bouc Blanc equestrian farm

    Do make a point of visiting this little farm where Shetland ponies and Comtois draft horses are reared, as you can enjoy a ride on one of them while you're there!
    Plan Chevron - La Charmette
    73260 Les Avanchers-Valmorel

  • Le plateau de Plan Parc
    Le plateau de Plan Parc - CCVA
    Viewpoint

    Plan Parc Plateau

    Admire the stunning panoramic view over the Morel Valley and the whole of La Lauzière mountain range from this sweeping grassland dotted with picturesque chalets!
  • Le chalet des Bachals
    Le chalet des Bachals - CCVA
    Viewpoint

    Les Bachals Chalet

    In Savoyard dialect, bachal means a basin that is used as a trough or washing point.
    This is a lovely place to stop for a picnic with a wonderful view over the La Lauzière mountain range before you. It also lies along an easygoing circular walking route that the whole family can enjoy - "Les Bachals": Takes: 2.5 hours / Distance: 5km / Elevation gain: 360m

  • Belvédère du Pas de Pierre Larron
    Belvédère du Pas de Pierre Larron - CCVA
    Viewpoint

    Le Pas de Pierre Larron panoramic viewpoint

    For the best view, head a bit further down the road. There is a picnic table and from there a lovely view out towards La Lauzière, Les Bauges, Tournette, Aravis, Beaufortain, Mont Blanc, Alpes Grées and the lower and upper Tarentaise Valley towards the Col du Petit Saint-Bernard...with Aigueblanche below.
  • La retenue d'eau du barrage de la Coche
    La retenue d'eau du barrage de la Coche - CCVA
    Water

    La Coche dam

    This route culminates at the impressive La Coche dam, which is 33 metres high. Its major reservoir is supplied by 28km worth of galleries which capture the affluents of the Isère; water intake is particularly high during snowmelt season. The dam is connected to the lower Aigueblanche reservoir and La Coche hydroelectric power plant, according to the innovative principle of a STEP, which stands for Pumped Energy Transfer Station. The principle is straightforward: to generate electricity, the water from the lake upstream (La Coche) is channelled through turbines then delivered to another lake downstream (Aigueblanche). In low water periods, the water is pumped back up to the reservoir upstream thanks to reversible turbines. Potential energy reserves are thus re-established, which can be harnessed at any time to meet peaks in consumption.
    The new power plant, fitted with a Pelton wheel, the most powerful turbine in France, which was inaugurated in 2019, can increase its power by 25%. It has an annual output of about 100 GWh, the equivalent of 265,000 inhabitants' energy consumption (i.e. covering more than 60% of Savoie's population).