Lake Raty

A beautiful route that lets you discover three lesser-known lakes in Mont Avic Park: Raty, Vernouille, and Muffé.
The path follows the Dondena road for a short stretch, then climbs a steep rocky section to reach the large basin of Lake Raty. From here, with some ups and downs and crossing a small pass, the trail leads to the Muffé refreshment point, where a good meal can be enjoyed.
Near Lake Muffé, you can visit the "Garden of Sky and Time," an installation created by the Mont Avic Natural Park Authority in collaboration with the Verrès section of the Italian Alpine Club (CAI). It features objects for orientation, several sundials, and a device to track the Sun’s position among the stars.

From the Pont-Saint-Martin motorway exit, turn left toward Aosta. At the roundabout, continue to the left, still heading for Aosta.
Pass Donnas and reach Bard; after the town, take the roundabout to the left toward Champorcher. Continue through Hône and enter the Champorcher Valley. Pass Pontboset and continue toward Champorcher.
At the end of the village, turn right toward Dondena. Follow the road up the mountainside, passing Grand Mont Blanc and then Petit Mont Blanc. After a first car park, continue to the second one where the trail to Rifugio Barbustel begins.
From the Verrès motorway exit, turn right toward Torino, pass Arnad, and at the roundabout, take the right turn toward Champorcher.

From the car park, follow the Dondena dirt road until you find the turnoff on the right for Lago Raty. Continue along the dirt road to Alpe Tzaty, where the road ends.
On the right, the trail begins, crossing a meadow and then climbing steeply along the rocky slope. A small spring is reached before the path veers left into the Raty basin. The trail crosses the stream and follows it to Alpe Raty Dessous. Shortly after, take the left-hand path that leads quickly to the shores of Lago Raty.
After a short break at the lake, return almost to Alpe Raty Dessous, where a trail on the left climbs gently to the renovated Alpe Raty Dessus. Descend slightly, pass a small pond, then reach a hut and continue along a long traverse to a small pass, from where part of the Monte Rosa massif is visible to the left.
Descend through a beautiful little valley to Lago Vernouille, which is skirted on the right. At the fork, continue straight toward Alpe Vernouille, then follow a long series of ups and downs to reach the “Giardino del cielo e del tempo” and Lago Muffé, where the refreshment point is located.
From here, the trail descends steeply back to the car park.