Walk in the Geneva countryside

An easy walk offering beautiful views of the Alps and the Jura. Border crossing, so please bring your ID card.

Details

75226
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.68 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 66 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 64 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 513 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 458 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Grilly (01220)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 46.330094° / E 6.115537°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3327ET, 3429OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Description of the walk

To get to Grilly from Divonne-les-Bains, take the D15 towards Versonnex and turn left at the traffic lights in Grilly. Parking spaces on both sides of the road.

(S/E) Continue along this road on foot towards "Chavannes des Bois and Pont Bugnon", leaving the fountain on your left and following the road straight ahead. Further on, follow the road as it curves to the left and you’ll reach a fork in the road.

(1) Take the right-hand path. At the next fork, turn left.

(2) Cross the Versoix via the Pont Bugnon or Pont de Grilly. You will cross into Switzerland; continue straight on until you reach the next road.

(3) Take it on the right and turn right again onto the next path, the Chemin des Mouilles. You will come to a road.

(4) Continue straight ahead along the road, then, when it bends to the right, carry on straight ahead onto the Route de la Bourdonnière. Continue straight ahead for about a hundred metres and, at the junction with a track, continue along the road that branches off to the left. At the next junction, turn right to reach the hamlet of Le Château.

(5) Turn right onto the road, take the second path on the left, then the first path on the right, and you will come out onto a road.

(6) Take the road on the left for a few metres, then, at the crossroads, follow the road on the right (D15E) to cross the Versoix again and return to France. Continue along this road to the village of Sauverny.

(7) At the fountain, turn right onto Chemin du Moulin, towards “En Munet”. At the fork, continue left. This path branches off to the left further on.

(8) At the next fork, continue to the right and then, further on, turn left. Walk past a riding school and, after its car park, continue to the right to reach the first houses of the village of Grilly. Turn left to return to your vehicle (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 509 m - Grilly
  2. 1 : km 1.02 - alt. 478 m - On the right
  3. 2 : km 1.68 - alt. 465 m - Crossing into Switzerland - Crossing the - Versoix ou Divonne (rivière)
  4. 3 : km 2.2 - alt. 484 m - On the right
  5. 4 : km 3.19 - alt. 473 m - Straight ahead
  6. 5 : km 3.9 - alt. 466 m - On the right
  7. 6 : km 4.69 - alt. 459 m - Turn left, then right
  8. 7 : km 5.35 - alt. 485 m - On the right
  9. 8 : km 6.35 - alt. 501 m - On the right
  10. S/E : km 7.68 - alt. 509 m - Grilly - View over the basin of the - Lac Léman

Notes

Paths may be very muddy as they are used by horses.
Dogs allowed but must be kept on a lead.

Worth a visit

Geneva Observatory.
Divonne-les-Bains spa resort, racecourse, lake.
Equestrian centres.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
3.8 / 5
User 26026208

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk with little elevation gain and lovely surroundings. I’d recommend doing the walk in the opposite direction to the one indicated, for those who prefer to start with the tricky bit (the dirt track) and finish with the easier section up the concrete steps.

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Christophe M 74
Christophe M 74

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 15, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

We had a bit of trouble finding a parking space at the starting point, but it didn’t matter. We set off a little way outside the village.
It was great fun crossing the French-Swiss border across open fields, crossing a stream that marks the boundary between the two countries.

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jomaclane78
jomaclane78

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

I was expecting more. I enjoyed crossing the Versoix on the bridge at the Swiss border post, the two or three fountains along the route, the view of the Alps and Mont Blanc, and the view of the Jura Mountains, where you can make out La Dole and the Petit and Grand Montrond.
I’ve rated it as disappointing because, as far as the countryside is concerned, there isn’t much to see. Fortunately, I did this walk in glorious sunshine under a deep blue sky. I wouldn’t recommend doing it in misty or cloudy conditions, as the views could be obscured and the walk might then turn into a bore.

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blanckf1
blanckf1

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 06, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk, very rural
easy, but pleasant

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blanckf1
blanckf1

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 16, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

a walk that is anything but boring
and which does indeed offer beautiful views of the Mont Blanc massif
(and also of the Jura, particularly La Dôle)

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