The Val St. Marcel is a highly mysterious place, full of surprises, and right from the start in Les Druges it bears the signs of a long history of intense mining activity: piles of rubble half-hidden by the triumphant wood, waste-heaps still rich in minerals and small lively-coloured torrents with ochre-coloured pebbles and turquoise in the water. The mining site recently restored is visible from the road and guided tours are organized for visits. The rest of the valley as you go higher is a reserve and private property: it is not forbidden to walk through but you are expected to act as a guest. As you go past the lake you reach the vast and impressive head of the valley with the large Chalet della Chaux which makes us dream of times-gone-by. The plantlife is certainly splendid and capable of holding its own and includes the delicate Linnea Borealis in the wood and the rare Eritrichium nanum in the hills.

From Saint-Marcel follow the directions to the Les Druges picnic area, situated in the hamlet with the same name. Leave your car in the car-park and turn into the long un-made road which enters the valley of Saint-Marcel and continues on into the magnificent Turatti reserve. Follow the un-made road as far as Petite Chaux. From here you take footpath no. 102 on the right which climbs up through the grassy slopes until you reach the Col Saint-Marcel.