CESANA T.SE San Sicario Alto - Forte Seguin - Les Chalmettes - Soleil Boeuf loop

The route starts from San Sicario Alto, reachable from Cesana (6 km) by taking the provincial road towards Sestriere and turning left after a couple of kilometers; after starting the climb and passing San Sicario Borgo, you continue to a series of marked hairpin bends; just after the sign for the 4th hairpin, turn right to access the "La Sellette" lifts where you can leave your car in the large parking lot from which the hike begins at altitude 1,720 m. Facing the arrival of the "Ski-Lodge" cable car, take a path to the right heading southeast, an unmarked trail that comes out after about fifty meters, just above the 4th hairpin, onto a dirt road closed to traffic, indicated as Champlas Seguin. From here, proceeding constantly south for about 2 km, with a slight climb, you will reach the gates of Champlas. Along the route, you pass near a sports field down to the right and at Prà Carie near a reforestation of stone pines on the left, staying constantly in the woods which sometimes opens for a view towards Monte Chaberton. After about 2.2 km from the start, at the end of the straight, you reach a fork where you ignore the Monte Crouzore sign to the right downhill, and continue on the main road already in sight of Champlas Seguin; after a short and slight ascent, you reach altitude 1,780 m near the church of Sant'Andrea and Sant'Ippolito where there are two fountains. Between the church and the old oven, turn left onto an asphalt road marked Soleil Beuf, which climbs very steeply and soon becomes a dirt road that, at altitude 1,885 m, crosses a trail coming from the right which is ignored. Here the path eases and shortly after passes near a ruined barracks behind which a few minutes away you could reach an alpine pasture selling cheese. Continuing briefly on the dirt road, in a panoramic position are the remains of Forte di Champlas (altitude about 1,820 m, 3.6 km from the start). You continue climbing on the main road towards Chalmette/Refugio Chalmettes, ignoring the road on the left towards Soleil Beuf and the paths on the right towards Champlas Janvier and a little further ahead to Gro Bial; passing the refuge which is on the right and normally open even in summer, you reach a plateau at an altitude of 2,110 m where there is a characteristic frame and a picnic table; here the view is beautiful with Monte Chaberton in the foreground. Turn left onto the road coming from Monte Rotta, which is half asphalt and half dirt, and continue for about 1.5 km on gentle ups and downs until you reach at altitude 2,060 m the locality Soleil Beuf with a panoramic view of the Upper Susa Valley, where the homonymous refuge stands and the chairlift "Roccia Rotonda" starts. Leaving the chairlift on the left, the road bends to the right and after about ten meters, ignoring the fork to the left, a steep and very steep descent begins with sharp hairpins and straight cuts towards San Sicario (sign indicated San Sicario Ski Lodge); immediately you pass near a piste with snow cannons and then finally enter the woods up to altitude 1,740 m where you find the chairlift "Le Sellette" just above the parking lot where the car was left, reachable either by turning right and after 100 meters to the left, or by passing in front of the lift departure and then turning right towards the parking lot.

Wear clothing and footwear suitable for the environment and the season.

Between the Champlas Seguin village and Forte Seguin, a road open to vehicle traffic; be careful.

By car from Turin follow the signs for the Northern Ring Road towards Trafori - Frejus. Take the A32 motorway towards Bardonecchia and exit at Oulx -Monginevro-Sestriere.

Continue on SS 24 towards Cesana Torinese and then on SP 23 towards Sestriere.

After 2 km turn left at the San Sicario sign.

Pass the first village of San Sicario Borgo and after about 3 km park in the direction of the lift.

Parking available near the Ski-Lodge cable car lift

- Before undertaking any excursion, it is advisable to check the weather reports or ask for information at the local Tourist Offices.

- It is good practice not to undertake an excursion alone and always inform someone about your destination.

- Do not litter; carry your rubbish with you and possibly pick up any left by others.

- The indicated travel times are approximate and may vary depending on weather conditions and individual abilities.

Tasting of typical dishes at the refreshment points Les Chalmettes and Soleil Boeuf - check the opening times of the refreshment points and any booking requirements

Fountains in the village of Champlas Seguin