JCParavy

Here is a short route in the Bugey with a ridge route, which can be done out of season (autumn-winter, for example), if necessary in half a day.

Discover the third highest peak in the Beaufortain, offering sweeping views of the Mont Blanc Massif, the Savoie Alps, and even as far as the Écrins.

This is a classic destination in the Combes des Aravis, allowing you to visit two pretty combes linked by a remarkable natural curiosity.

Climb up to the magnificent Moucherotte viewpoint by taking a circular route up the wild Pas de la Bergère and back down the 'normal' route to Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte.

A lovely circular route through little-known and little-visited parts of the Chartreuse, following old paths… which, sadly, are sometimes on the verge of disappearing.

This circular can be done in almost any season (except after storms or heavy rain) and allows you to discover some lesser-known parts of Chartreuse.

Ascent of the Dent de Cons, the easternmost peak of the Bauges, offering beautiful views of the Bauges, the Bornes, the Beaufortain, Mont Blanc... The route describes a circular loop starting from Marthod, which runs partly on very steep grassy slopes and on a sometimes exposed ridge.

A long loop taking in the various lakes in the eastern part of the Aiguilles Rouges Massif, with magnificent views of the Mont Blanc Massif just opposite, reflected in the waters of the lakes. ⚠️ The itinerary includes two tricky sections equipped with ladders and metal ramps.

This walk allows you to discover the village of Saint-Genix and climb to its heights to cross a rural area offering beautiful views of the Chartreuse, then follow a section of the Way of St James leading back to the village after crossing a forest.

This circular route takes place mainly in the forest and can be completed in any season in half a day, allowing you to visit the characteristic sites and viewpoints of this area crossed by pilgrims on the Way of St James.

Circular forest path starting from Fort de Montgilbert, following the belt of redoubts and batteries built along a ridge to defend the entrance to the Maurienne valley and passing through a sensitive peat bog site.

This circular loop can be completed in almost any season, even in half a day, allowing you to enjoy beautiful views, discover fossils and, when in season, a renowned site for lady's slipper orchids.

This circular offers beautiful views and allows you to visit Mont St-Michel, which dominates the Cluse de Chambéry, the Motte castrale de la Bognette and, if you wish, the Grotte des Fées.

Loop ascending through the pretty Vénétier valley and its lakes to the Cime de la Jasse, a beautiful viewpoint due to its advanced position between Belledonne and Sept-Laux. Return via the Crête de Bedina, on the Prapoutel resort side.

A loop trail that takes you to the highest point of the Vallée d'Abondance Chablais, offering exceptional views of the Alps. A fairly wild climb up the Montagne de Pertuis, followed by a more conventional descent via the Crête de Coicon. Caution: near (4), there is a ridge that is a little exposed. You are in a protected area! See the regulations in the practical information section.

A circular trail that showcases the many facets of Salève: climb up via the Orjobet Cave, pass through the Trou de la Tine, Vire de la Corraterie, viewpoint towards Mont Blanc and Rochers de Faverges, viewpoints from the Observatory over Geneva and Lake Geneva, descent via the Grande Gorge and return to the start by passing under the large rock climbing routes.

This circular forest loop is accessible in all seasons, even in snow, and takes you through several areas of the Miribel, Saint-Aupre and Rocharey forests, crossing two medium-altitude passes, the Mille Martyrs and the Pilori. You can also enjoy some unobstructed views along the route.

A circular with limited elevation gain, winding through mountain pastures, allowing you to visit three of the ridges that form the Grand Crêt d'Eau (including the highest point) and enjoy breathtaking views of the Genevois and the Alps.

Among the many possible combinations on the Plateau de Sornin, this circular route allows you to go around it and soak up this area of the Vercors, while also taking in sites offering unobstructed views. The route is accessible in almost all seasons, with snowshoes if there is heavy snowfall.

A varied but relatively long route up to the Grande Sure, favouring sections that are slightly steeper but above all wilder and less frequented than the usual routes: Pas de la Biche and Crête des Charmilles.

A marked trail allows you to explore several water-related areas (hillside, stream, marsh) around Glandieu and its waterfall. Some paths are not maintained, see notices.

A relatively long but technically straightforward walk in a peri-urban area, taking you through the Gros Bois and Notre-Dame forests, then down the Réveillon Valley, before returning via the Camaldules and Grange forests.

A mountain bike tour of Mont Outheran via the Col du Mollard, Col du Planet and Col du Grapillon, allowing you to explore its different sides with relatively limited elevation changes as the route never descends very far down.

Le Charmant Som is very busy due to the access road to its sheepfold coming from the Col de Porte. Its other sides, however, offer a wilder approach, particularly when coming from Valombré and Malamille. This route offers a relatively long but varied circular route, featuring ridge walks and crossings over slabs and sharp limestone pavements, whose wild character contrasts with the crowds at the summit arriving via the mountain pastures.

L'Étale (altitude 2,483 m) is a complex mountain in the Bornes-Aravis massif, renowned for its aerial ridge route. The normal route (with a few variations) allows you to climb up a relatively austere combe on the western slope, but the final stretch is well worth the effort for the purity of the ridge and the expansive view.

This circular route, suitable for all seasons, takes you along the ridge of the Montagne du Tournier, which runs from the Col de la Lattaz to Mont Tournier (877m), passing through various characteristic spots in the area, with unobstructed views of the surrounding mountain ranges.

The ascent to the plateau and the Grand Colombier ridge through the snow follows an easy route, though it is relatively long due to the low starting altitude. The Grand Colombier offers a magnificent view over the Alps.

A circular forest loop, which can be completed in half a day and is accessible for most of the year, passing by the Croix du Signal viewpoint overlooking the Cluse de Chambéry and the Échelles de Chateau-Richard with its views of Lake Aiguebelette.

The Crête de la Montagne du Chat route follows paths and tracks with little change in elevation, offering exceptional views at both ends.

A beautiful classic summer circular route in the Chartreuse, passing through several historic passes and mountain pastures and their huts. Most of the route follows good paths through forest or open mountain pastures. Warning: a tricky section to be attempted only when the snow is stable.

A beautiful circular loop with no technical difficulties, allowing you to traverse a varied ridge and climb Charmant Som in the process, with views of the main peaks of Chartreuse and Belledonne.

Among the many access routes to Mont de la Charvaz, this loop takes the most direct route to the summit, via its steep western face, and descends via gentler forest paths. The view from the summit over the Avant Pays Savoyard and the surrounding mountains is extensive.

This circular route, suitable for all, circles part of the Dreux Forest, sometimes along well-marked forest tracks, sometimes along the edge of the hillside above the Eure Valley, whilst avoiding any significant changes in elevation, and passes through some of the forest’s most characteristic spots.

Roche Veyrand is a peak that proudly dominates the two Saint-Pierre-d'Entremont villages. Its steep slopes have made it possible to equip a Via Ferrata. This route is a classic in the Entremonts: it climbs directly up a steep path close to the equipped cliff, then descends via a wide forest detour that takes you through several hamlets of Saint-Pierre-d'Entremont (Savoie).

Montagne du Banchet is very popular when the daffodils are in bloom: the proposed route runs along the flower-covered ridge and stretches to the ruins of the proud Château de Montbel.

A circular forest loop that is accessible in almost all seasons, running along the slopes of Grand Colombier and passing through an arch that you only discover at the last moment and a viewpoint over Culoz, Lac du Bourget and the surrounding mountains. In (6), be sure to stay away from the paths leading to the Romagnieux farm. See review dated 08/08/2022.

Circular route above Izieu, suitable for all seasons. The route is mainly through forest but offers some views of the Rhône valley and the surrounding mountains.

This long circular loop takes you across the slopes of L'Épine overlooking Lake Aiguebelette, between a rather tough and steep climb and a return to lake level. It can get hot here on summer afternoons, but it remains passable until late in the season, as long as the snow does not fall below 800m.

This circular walk can be enjoyed in any season, taking you up above Novalaise to the Sainte-Rose Chapel, then up to the former Villas Doria before crossing over to the site of the old Épine fortified castle and descending back into the valley.

Le Grand Carroz is at the centre of an area surrounded by a line of ridges, offering unobstructed and varied views. The proposed route climbs to the Col de la Drière, crosses Mont Pellaz or Lentille and the Col des Fontanettes, then climbs the Montfred ridge off-trail before returning via a forest path to the starting point. Caution: the ridge route is not technically difficult but runs alongside steep cliffs on the right-hand side.

Large circular route covering the main ridges delimiting the upper basin of the Portail de Beauregard: ascent via the wild Vachères (off-trail), passage through the Cols de Sonnaize, Pas du Loup and Tourniers, steep climb to Pas de la Pierre to cross the long and beautiful ridge of Montagne de Musan to Pas Pourceau, descent via the "Pré de Cinq-Sous", the Cols des Cordeliers and Marchands, finally the Ravin de Combins to the Passage du Tour and return to the village via the Portail.

Le Revard is a plateau offering magnificent views of both the Northern Alps around Mont Blanc and Lake Bourget at its feet. This circular route climbs from the edge of the old cable car station, ascending the very steep Pas du Rebollion off-trail, then, after a route passing through several bumps on the plateau, descends via the classic Pertuiset trail.Route modified on 3/07/2023 between (6) and (9) to avoid private land, then on 20/10/2025 between (4) and (5) to take into account changes in the equipment.

The Cirque de Saint-Même is very popular in summer, with most visitors content to picnic on the meadows or follow the marked waterfall route. The short circular route proposed extends this route with a climb to an additional waterfall and the Source du Guiers Vif, via the steep Pas Ruat passage with its astonishing under-rock passage leading out in front of the Grotte du Guiers Vif. (¹) See During the hike or nearby

This circular loop combines a crossing of a little-visited summit offering views of the Chartreuse and the Avant Pays Savoyard with historic or documented passages: ascent via the Route Sarde and the Sentier du Beauvoir, return via the route Béatrice de Savoie and the Voie Royale.

Les Rochers de la Balme offers the possibility of an off-trail ridge crossing, which is quite long but not very technical. Several combinations are possible depending on the access routes chosen. This circular route offers a complete traverse from Tête des Chaudières to Pas Ernadant, with a steep climb (partly off-trail) via Combe de Fer and a more conventional descent via Cabanne de Carrette and theGR® 91.

This circular aims to offer alternatives to the very busy normal route, allowing you to discover lesser-known aspects of Chamechaude, the highest point in the Chartreuse. Without being as technical as the Arnaud breach or as exposed as the Sangle du Jardin, this route is off the beaten track: it therefore sometimes requires a sense of direction and certain (short) steep passages require effort and attention. Please read the Practical Information section carefully.

This long circular route covers the different areas of the Font d'Urle Plateau and its pastures, mainly following the ridges that connect its two extreme peaks, the Puy de la Gagère and the Serre de Montué. It allows you to visit the main sites characteristic of this karstic landscape: the karstic cave des Cloches, the Double Arche, the Grotte du Berger and the Glacière de Font d'Urle.

Le Pinet is a viewpoint overlooking Les Entremonts. Less frequented than its neighbour, Le Granier, it is just as much a part of the Hauts de Chartreuse Nature Reserve and its access via the normal route is well suited to families, with a few variations possible.

The scree from the summer of 2024 makes this route extremely difficult and demanding. Brought back into the spotlight by Pascal Sombardier’s publications, the Sentier de la Baronne crosses the Petites Charances, a suspended balcony at the foot of the western face of the Dévoluy (stretching from the Grand Ferrand to the Obiou), above Tréminis. It is a long and demanding route, not necessarily very technical, but one where you must take great care with every step. The view stretches westwards, from the Chartreuse to Mont Ventoux, via the eastern face of the Vercors.

A circular route along the eastern ridge of the Hauts de Chartreuse, combining a variety of terrain (rocks, forests, mountain pastures) with stunning views across the Alps. Can be completed in half a day, preferably in the morning. Please note: read the information regarding the difficulties in the ‘Practical Information’ section carefully.