Ridges of the Grande Journée starting from La Ravoire

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A beautiful circular walk that takes you through the Bellachat mountain pastures, where Beaufort cheese is made, past the Croix de la Dormiaz and along the summit ridge with breathtaking views over the Albertville basin, before reaching the summit of the Grande Journée and its stunning 360° panorama. Return via Lac Sans Fond and the Lavouet Lakes.

Details

n°3773217
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.75 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 3,189 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 3,173 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 8,071 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5,023 ft
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Photos

View from the Col des Lacs
Lavouet Waterfall
Col de la Bathie, Pointe de Grande Combe
at the junction with the GRP

Description of the walk

To reach the start, go via the village of La Bâthie on the D990, near the N90 junction, south of the village of Tours-en-Savoie. Take the D65 and head up to the hamlet of Le Daru, passing through the hamlets of Fugier, Montesseaux, Lachat and Le Mondon. At Le Daru, continue towards La Ravoire and Bellachat. At the end of the tarmac road, carry on straight ahead along the track towards La Ravoire and park at the bridge crossing the stream.

(S/E) Take the path leading uphill on the right. After about thirty minutes, you’ll reach a plateau and a crossroads.

(1) Ignore the path on your right. Continue along the faintly marked path across the plateau. You’ll reach a second plateau; once there, keep to the right. After a short climb, you’ll join a track.

(2) Continue left along the track, passing the Chalets de Bellachat (where Beaufort d’alpage is produced). Take the path into the mountain pasture and, after about a hundred metres, turn right onto the path heading due north to reach another junction.

(3) At the crossroads, turn right onto the path heading due north. Head towards the Croix de Dormiaz, visible from the chalets.

(4) Continue on to reach the summit ridge. Follow it through a series of ascents and descents to reach the Col des Lacs pass.

(5) Ignore the paths to the right and left here; continue along the ridge, heading north-east, to reach the Pointe de la Grande Journée after a final steep climb.

(6) Take the ridge to the right, heading due east, and descend. Then veer right to reach Lac Sans Fond.

(7) Follow the bed of the stream, which is dry in summer, and head for the junction with the GRP® du Tour du Beaufortain near the Lacs de Lavouet.

(8) Head up to the right along the GRP® for a few metres, then turn left at the cairn onto the faintly marked path. The path is fairly flat. Follow the cairns and pass close to the Cascade de Lavouet. Descend a fairly steep slope, which levels off towards the end, to reach the track at the Col de la Bathie

(9) Cross the track and head left, following the path below it; the path is not very well marked for the first fifty metres. Follow the path until you reach the junction from the outward journey.

(1) Continue to the left, following the route in reverse to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 5,026 ft - La Ravoire
  2. 1 : mi 0.69 - alt. 5,732 ft - Junction on the plateau
  3. 2 : mi 1.06 - alt. 5,919 ft - Track
  4. 3 : mi 1.67 - alt. 6,198 ft - Junction
  5. 4 : mi 1.93 - alt. 6,572 ft - Dormiaz Cross
  6. 5 : mi 3.3 - alt. 7,375 ft - Col des Lacs
  7. 6 : mi 3.76 - alt. 8,071 ft - Summit of the - Pointe de la Grande Journée 2460m
  8. 7 : mi 4.31 - alt. 7,306 ft - Lac Sans Fond
  9. 8 : mi 4.67 - alt. 6,969 ft - GRP on the right - Lac de Lavouet
  10. 9 : mi 5.77 - alt. 5,948 ft - Crossing the track
  11. S/E : mi 6.75 - alt. 5,026 ft - La Ravoire

Notes

Please note: there are no markings on the ridge leading to the summit of the Grande Journée and Lac Sans Fond.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 3 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
gérard bruet
gérard bruet

Hello
Brilliant video – what a job!
Another route worth exploring is the wild ‘Grand Tour des Cornaches’.

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smashdc
smashdc

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

What a day on the ridges of the Grande Journée (2,460 m)! La Bâthie 👍 #savoie
Another top-notch hike that’s a real feast for the eyes 😎 Stunning panoramic views ❤️

🚀 Read the full account here: https://youtu.be/kxgCLG8vPTg

From the second third onwards, the climb gets tougher and ends in rocky terrain in the final third, where it gets a bit more challenging.
Part of the descent is therefore also over rocky terrain. It’s fairly gradual apart from a few sections.

► 12.1 km with 1,000 m of elevation gain
Car park: a very long, narrow track just wide enough for cars, which is a bit bumpy.

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Paderic
Paderic

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 31, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We went on a hike on a very misty day, but this actually created a rather special atmosphere, which did nothing to detract from the charm of the route – apart from the fact that the panoramic views were not to be seen.
Worth noting is a climb up to the Pointe de la Grande Journée, which requires you to use your hands, and a fairly steep descent towards Lac Sans Fond.

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roger73
roger73
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route starting from the La Ravoire car park; a beautiful circular walk, passing through Bellachat, then La Croix de Dormiaz; a slightly tough climb up the ridges of La Grande Journée; magnificent views over Albertville and La Bathie; back via Lac Sans Fond and back to the La Ravoire car park; a brilliant day

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