Walk at Col de Fouchy

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2026
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I stand by the‘Very good’ rating I gave your route, Karcheryves. But that is without relinquishing my right to offer you a firm rebuke. Others (Maminouxe, Demonfra, Nine 68, User 8197954, etc.) have done so before me, but I hadn’t noticed.
Towards the end of the route (7 to 1), there is a steep climb – which you must surely be aware of but have omitted – even though you mentioned the initial climb in section S/E. Yet that climb alone should have been enough, without anything else, to deter walkers with pushchairs right from the start… Whereas between points 7 and 1, once you’ve reached this climb, there’s no turning back.
In good faith, one does not choose the ‘Balade au Col de Fouchy’ on Visorando lightly, but relies solely on the information provided in the description: the header, the basic details, the reviews, not forgetting to examine the map at full zoom. Yet in your header, you’ve opted for dubious humour rather than any other warning to the public, other than the ‘oddballs’ with pushchairs… (and why not those wearing flip-flops or gladiator sandals?).
These warnings are, however, essential for safety reasons; they are useful, for example, depending on one’s state of health, to (real) families and to the elderly – even those in good shape – far more so than to Sunday dabblers!
Below, I’d like to show you how only a tedious, excessively thorough examination could have warned me, whereas you yourselves could have done so – if not in the introduction, then at least in point 7, where it was essential!
HERE IT IS:
I have no doubt that the map representations of Visorando walks aim to piece together extracts from IGN maps as carefully as possible. Here and there, from one extract to the next, the contour lines do not always ‘match’ perfectly, but according to these representations, to within plus or minus 5 metres, the elevation profile is reliable.
As for estimating distances (paths and routes): the window in the bottom left-hand corner representing ‘100 metres’ varies depending on the map’s zoom level. This estimate remains approximate but is nonetheless a fair approximation. However, dear Pythagoras, it is necessarily horizontal, and its actual length in three dimensions is therefore slightly greater.
Bearing this in mind: the route from point 7 to point 1 corresponds to a path running from approx. 590 m to 667 m in two sections: the first a pleasant long descent, the second an ascent. It is this latter section that interests me: according to the map, it begins – let’s try to be precise – at 555 m and ends at point 1, which is said to be at 667 m, representing a 112-metre elevation gain.
On my screen now: the distance from 555 to 667 is 110 mm. And in the window at the bottom left, ‘100 m’ = 26 mm. Based on this data, the 110 mm corresponds to 110/26, or 4.23 times 100 metres. But these 423 metres are the horizontal length of the path. According to Pythagoras, 4232 + 1122 = 437.58 metres. The actual length of the climb is therefore approximately 438 m.
So, what is the gradient percentage for a 438-metre path climbing to an altitude of 112 metres?
Gradient = (438/112) × 100 = 25.6. The path therefore has an average gradient ofapproximately 25.6 per cent.
This corresponds to an incline of approximately 14.4°.
Of course, there’s the ‘adventure’… Of course, I could have carried out the tedious calculation above before setting off…
I urge you, Karcheryves, to amend your listing no. 19017345 as a matter of urgency: we found this surprise only… moderately enjoyable; and, following other unexpected features of the terrain – irregularities that sometimes required sustained attention – it completely spoiled the genuine pleasure of the ‘Walk to the Col de Fouchy’.

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Date of your route : Jul 13, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A walk in the shade, with several places to stop for a picnic. As we’d already done the route described in point 6, we opted for the Yellow Circle route, which is a less strenuous climb.

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Date of your route : Aug 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We enjoyed this hike in the shade of the forest during the August heatwave. The hike is very pleasant and not particularly difficult, except for the last climb, which is quite steep.

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Date of your route : Apr 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Easy-to-follow route to the Rougerain Pass.
From there, follow the red cross before finding the green disc.
But with the help of the map, you'll find your way without any trouble.
Otherwise, it's a very pleasant trail.

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Date of your route : Feb 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk in the forest with impressive geological formations to discover. An easy route to follow and lots of people out and about on this Saturday afternoon.

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Date of your route : Aug 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

r
A pleasant hike to get back into shape

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Date of your route : Aug 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello
While hiking, we arrived at the Rougerain Pass.
We followed the description but came across a red cross trail on the left after 5 minutes (100 m), but there was no sign of the green disc. However, we saw that there was a Guichat boundary cross 2 minutes away, which was nice to look at. Then, as the only signpost was a bend on the right, we turned back and took the wildlife disc, which leads to the Col de Fouchy, the destination of which is indicated.
This part of the description needs to be improved.
Best regards

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Date of your route : Jul 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant hike. Nice trails. Viewpoint at the Salière rock.
I can confirm that there are no green circles after the Rougerain pass. You have to follow the red crosses until you come to the green circles a little further on.
Indeed, the last climb is uninteresting.

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Date of your route : Jun 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The return journey is less precise than the outward journey, and a fairly steep climb back to the starting point of the circular may be signposted.

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Date of your route : Mar 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful, easy family hike...
The signposting does not match the description at the end of the route (green disc not present at the Rougerain pass) but this is not a problem with an IGN map, which allows you to find your way back.

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About ten years ago, we hiked from Col de Fouchy to Fouchy in one morning, via Rocher de la Salière, Roche du Cheval Tombé, Col de Rougerain and Fouchy. The weather was foggy, but it was a beautiful route
without any particular difficulty. We did not go as far as the Col du Petit Haut.

With the aim of repeating a one-day route in this area for our programme next year, we are looking to adapt the hike so that we can have lunch at the Col de Fouchy inn. We hike with a lunch break at a farmhouse inn.

B. Wachenheim

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Date of your route : May 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

At point (6) in the description – Departure from Col de Rougerain – there is no green disc marking the descent to the left. Follow the red cross until you reach a path where you will find the green disc. At this point, do not continue downhill (red cross-green disc path) but climb to the left (green disc only).

In my opinion, this part of the hike starting from the Col de Rougerain is of little interest except for the "sporting" aspect. After point (6) described above, you descend a path and then climb a steep slope. From the Col de Rougerain, the path marked with a yellow disc (shown on the map) leading back to the start seems more accessible.

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Date of your route : May 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk through the woods with beautiful rocky spots such as La Salière and Le Cheval Tombé. However, the last short section between points 7 and 1 was quite a climb. You could perhaps avoid it by taking the yellow circle trail...

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