Lac du Clou loop from Arêches – trail running in Arêches-Beaufort

Lac du Clou is a secluded lake, hidden deep in the forested hills high above Arêches. The rooty trail that winds through the trees and past the lakeshore makes for an adventurous run on undulating, technical and stunningly beautiful terrain.

This Tour starts in the centre Arêches village and gets straight into the climbing, weaving through the forest and gaining about 500 metres (1,640 ft) mostly on technical, rooty single-track. At the top of the climb, you’ll emerge from the trees into an open area of lush, alpine pasture at Plan Villard. This is a glorious spot for a break, with splendid mountain views and even a conveniently-placed bench. From here, the running levels out, following gently ascending forest tracks for the next couple of kilometres to reach the lake.

The next section is a gem, leaving the main tracks and running the twisty forest trails around Lac du Clou and its smaller neighbour. You might spot deer here, visiting the watering hole. The descent back into the valley starts off on narrow, winding forest trails, but soon opens out onto a fun, fast descent following wide zig-zags down steep fields back to the road.

This Tour is waymarked and easy to follow, with signs showing the route to both Plan Villard and Lac du Clou. The trails on the way up and around the lake are rocky, while most of the descent is grassy, so we’d recommend trail shoes with plenty of grip and protection.

The full Tour covers 12.3 kilometres (7.6 mi) with 800 metres (2,625 ft) of ascent. There aren’t any refreshments on route, so stock up with everything you need before you go. Arêches has a beautiful water fountain at its centre, where you can fill up your bottles, and plenty of places to buy snacks and refuel after your run.

Although this Tour stays on fairly sheltered trails, the running is seasonal and dependent on the snow. This Tour is described for snow-free conditions, which are usually between April/May and October/November.

The nearest train station is Albertville. The Alti 21 bus connects Albertville with Beaufort and Arêches. Between July and September, there’s also a free Nature Shuttle bus which runs along this route. If you’re driving, there’s parking in the centre of Arêches.