Sainte-Foy station

Car park above Sainte-Foy at the start of the Le Monal and Vallon du Clou tracks.

The road up isn't maintained through the winter, so don't count on reaching it by car once the snow arrives - winter routes to Le Monal generally start lower, from the D902. Check locally before driving up.

Bar and restaurant in Sainte-Foy station, on the Route du Grand Bois at Bonconseil Dessus, with its own brew house making beer on site.

Café through the day, takeaway available. Winter reservations open from 9 November — book ahead.

Not a winter walk. The Échaillon track isn't cleared, so from about December there's no easy way in — reaching Le Monal becomes a full snowshoe or ski-touring day: untracked, unsigned, crossing avalanche terrain, with no mobile signal in the valley.

It's a route for people with proper touring experience or a guide, carrying a transceiver, shovel and probe, and only after checking the avalanche bulletin. If that's not you, save it for summer — the walk from Échaillon is easy, and the hamlet is at its best in the sun anyway.