Run Termignon with a local

The must-run routes (valley & high mountain)

• The Petit Bonheur path (Termignon → Lanslebourg) — a gentle route between the villages, along the Arc and the larch forest; Haute-Maurienne's accessible signature.
• The Plan du Lac refuge from Bellecombe — an almost flat balcony facing the Vanoise glaciers, the great panorama open to everyone.
• The Vallonbrun refuge balcony — a sunny south-facing trail on the GR5, elevation rewarded by summit views.
• The Bellecombe lakes loop — a high-altitude loop between Lac Blanc and the Bellecombe lakes, for legs that like to climb.
• The Arc valley floor — a gentle run along the river, perfect for recovery or acclimatising to altitude.

Run like a local (high-mountain edition)

In Haute-Maurienne, everything comes down to the season, the weather and the altitude — which is exactly where a local changes everything. Your guide is a local amateur trail runner who knows which trails are open, the summer window, the elevation that suits you and the pace that holds on the climb. They'll pick the gentle, accessible Petit Bonheur valley floor, the flat but 2,300 m Plan du Lac balcony, or a real south-facing climb depending on what you're after. Many of our guides here are students and runners from the valley, Vanoise regulars who live the mountains every day. You discover the national park on your own terms, safely and at your pace.

Self-guided routes

Public, well-known routes you can run on your own — a solid plan B to get moving right away. But the best of TourMyRun is still discovering them with a local who takes you, at your pace.

• 1

  The Petit Bonheur path (Termignon → Lanslebourg)

  A gentle route between villages, along the Arc

  ≈ 6 km between Termignon and Lanslebourg (a section of the GR5E)Distance~50 minDurationEasyDifficulty+120 mElevation

  

  Start : Termignon, village centre (town hall / Baroque church)

  The most accessible section of the Petit Bonheur path (GR5E), linking the Haute-Maurienne villages along the Arc and the larch forest. Ideal for a first mountain run, with no big elevation.

  What you'll see

  1. 1Termignon Baroque church — the Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption church and its monumental Baroque altarpiece, at the start.
  2. 2Mélézet forest — larches and playful installations lining the Petit Bonheur path.
  3. 3Banks of the Arc — the river on the valley floor, bridges and footbridges.
  4. 4Lanslebourg — arrival in the village at the foot of the Mont-Cenis pass.

  Getting there

  Termignon village (Val-Cenis); Haute-Maurienne shuttle between the villages in season.

  Best time

  Morning in summer: larch shade and cool valley air.

  Water

  Fountains in Termignon and Lanslebourg; nothing reliable in the forest.

  Finish café

  Cafés and bakeries in Lanslebourg on arrival.

  Want to run it with someone local? Find your run →
• 2

  The Plan du Lac refuge from Bellecombe

  A balcony facing the Vanoise glaciers

  ≈ 2 km one way (~4 km out-and-back) from the Bellecombe car parkDistance~40 min out-and-backDurationModerateDifficulty+80 mElevation

  

  Start : Bellecombe car park (2,307 m), above Termignon

  The great accessible balcony of the Vanoise: an almost flat path leading to the Plan du Lac refuge (2,385 m), facing the glacier panorama — Grande Casse, Dôme de Chasseforêt, Dent Parrachée. A stage of the GR5 and Via Alpina. Respect the altitude, but the elevation gain is minimal.

  What you'll see

  1. 1Auberge de Bellecombe — alpine pasture and herds at the start of the plateau.
  2. 2Vanoise glacier viewpoint — a frontal view of the Grande Casse and the Dôme de Chasseforêt.
  3. 3Plan du Lac lake — a small altitude lake reflecting the summits, below the refuge.
  4. 4Plan du Lac refuge (2,385 m) — arrival facing the finest glacier panorama in Haute-Maurienne.

  Getting there

  Free shuttle from Termignon up to the Bellecombe car park (high-altitude road, in season).

  Best time

  Clear mornings: low light on the glaciers, pure altitude air.

  Water

  Water point at the Plan du Lac refuge; nothing on the plateau, carry water.

  Finish café

  Plan du Lac refuge refreshment stop on arrival (in season).

  Want to run it with someone local? Find your run →
• 3

  The Vallonbrun refuge balcony

  A sunny south-facing trail on the GR5

  ≈ 5 km one way, a sustained climb from LanslevillardDistance~1 h 15 of climbingDurationHardDifficulty+500 mElevation

  

  Start : Lanslevillard (Val-Cenis), Grattais side

  The sunny GR5 balcony that climbs to the Vallonbrun refuge (2,272 m), perched on the south-facing slope opposite the Vanoise glaciers. A sustained climb, rewarded by a plunging view over all of Haute-Maurienne. For legs that like to climb.

  What you'll see

  1. 1Vallonbrun balcony — the GR5 traversing trail, a plunging view over the Arc valley.
  2. 2Vallonbrun refuge (2,272 m) — a national-park refuge, facing the Vanoise summits.
  3. 3Saint-Antoine chapel — a small alpine-pasture chapel (2,290 m) above the refuge.

  Getting there

  Lanslevillard village, east of Termignon; summer Grattais car park.

  Best time

  Early on summer mornings: the south face heats up fast, the summit view is clear.

  Water

  Water point at the Vallonbrun refuge; nothing reliable on the climb, carry water.

  Finish café

  Lanslevillard cafés on the way back down.

  Want to run it with someone local? Find your run →
• 4

  The Bellecombe lakes loop

  A high-altitude loop between lakes and glaciers

  high-altitude loop, sustained elevationDistance~1 h 30DurationHardDifficulty+380 mElevation

  

  Start : Coêtet car park (2,061 m), Bellecombe road

  A high-altitude loop on the Bellecombe plateau, between Lac Blanc — where the Dent Parrachée is reflected — and the Bellecombe lakes. Rocky terrain, sustained elevation, a constant glacier panorama. Demanding: this is high mountain, check the weather.

  What you'll see

  1. 1Lac Blanc — the Dent Parrachée is mirrored here, the first lake after the Coêtet car park.
  2. 2Bellecombe lakes — a string of small altitude lakes on the plateau.
  3. 3Coêtet car park — start and finish of the loop (2,061 m).

  Getting there

  High-altitude road above Termignon; Coêtet car park (in the hairpin).

  Best time

  Summer, in clear weather: summits mirrored in the lakes at first light.

  Water

  Nothing reliable on the plateau: carry water.

  Finish café

  Plan du Lac refuge refreshment stop nearby (in season).

  Want to run it with someone local? Find your run →

Season & good to know

• •Summer (mid-June to mid-September): peak season for high-altitude trails and refuges; an early-morning start is recommended for cool air and light on the glaciers.
• •Spring / autumn: the valley floor (Petit Bonheur path, banks of the Arc) stays runnable; the high plateaus may still be — or already be — under snow.
• •Winter: the high mountains are out of season — favour groomed valley sections; passes and refuges are closed.
• •Altitude: Bellecombe and Plan du Lac sit above 2,300 m — even on the flat, your breathing changes; ease your pace and hydrate.
• •Vanoise National Park: a regulated park core (no dogs, controlled bivouac, protected wildlife). Every listing shows distance, elevation gain (D+), pace and level.

How it works

1. 1Search for a run in Termignon or Haute-Maurienne and pick a slot by elevation and duration.
2. 2Book in seconds — booking, chat, GPX track and payment handled in the app.
3. 3Meet your guide at the meeting point and run. Zero logistics — lace up, we handle the rest.

Upcoming runs in Termignon

• 
  11 km aller-retour en forêt · Chamonix

  📍 lakeside promenade, Chamonix · 57 min

• 
  Chamonix : aller-retour de 29 km au fil de l'eau

  📍 main square, Chamonix · 30 min

• 
  19 km aller-retour au fil de l'eau · Chamonix

  📍 marina, Chamonix · 36 min

• 
  Chamonix : boucle de 13 km au fil de l'eau

  📍 old town gate, Chamonix · 54 min

FAQ — Running in Termignon & the Vanoise