Between the Châtoux and the Joncin mountain passes

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A scenic walk between the mountain passes of Col du Châtoux and Col du Joncin.

Details

n°56140
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.17 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 709 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 715 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,851 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,129 ft
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Photos

Passage through the forest
beautiful views from the path
beautiful view from the pass
beautiful view

Description of the walk

(S) Set out from the car park at Col du Chatoux (the information panel says Col du Chêne) on the D116.

(1) Take the path to the left until you reach the “Fontaine des ânes” spring. Carry straight on along the path opposite you (GR76) which climbs up and becomes increasingly stony as it goes through the woods. After a slightly difficult passage, the view broadens until you have a beautiful panorama at Bribéral viewpoint (orientation board).

Continue along the path which starts out flat, and then begins a 200 metre descent, which is very stony.

At Le Bribéral, carry straight on towards Saint-Cyr-le-Chatoux.

(2) After the picnic table, take the path to the left, which takes you on an easier descent down to the Col de Joncin.

(3) Walk 50 metres down the tarmacked road, then take the path to the left.

(4) Then take the road which will lead you easily back to Col de Châtoux.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,316 ft - Path to the donkey fountain
  2. 1 : mi 0.47 - alt. 2,457 ft - Fontaine des Ânes
  3. 2 : mi 1.82 - alt. 2,815 ft - Le Bribéral
  4. 3 : mi 2.29 - alt. 2,648 ft - To the left, path leading downhill
  5. 4 : mi 3.78 - alt. 2,287 ft - Col du Joncin (698m)
  6. 5 : mi 4.72 - alt. 2,228 ft - Return route to the Col du Châtoux
  7. S/E : mi 5.17 - alt. 2,313 ft - Col du Châtoux car park or - Col du Chêne (704m)

Notes

Orientation board and picnic tables at the Bribéral viewpoint.

Worth a visit

Restaurant-Inn at Chatoux: Le Châtoux Fleuri.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 75 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.1 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Nezdanslevent
Nezdanslevent

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 26, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I really like this forest walk that takes you along the ridges. This walk offers some lovely views, both towards the Val de Saône and towards the wooded hills of the Beaujolais, which stretch westwards into a pretty, undulating landscape. A few peaceful cows and sheep, more or less indifferent to our passing, birdsong, and some beautiful golden-stone buildings towards the end. Ideal for getting a breath of fresh air in the morning before a light family meal. Alternatively, if you’re short on time or it’s raining, once you’ve passed the orientation table, you can shorten the circular route by turning left earlier towards the Col de Joncin (black or dotted pink trails on the map).

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User 19877931

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 28, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk, really enjoyable up in the hills. Like others after point 4, we walked through the village and headed up to the left past the pretty stone house, which meant we didn’t have to walk along the main road!
We happened to be right in the middle of a hunt, but it all went very smoothly!
There was hardly anyone around for this third weekend in September

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VincentSSL
VincentSSL
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely little walk with some beautiful views.
We had a bit of a problem from marker no. 4 onwards – perhaps with the GPS – which meant we had to make a short detour.

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User 17271854

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

Couldn't find the bench at point 3 to turn left. The final stretch on the road was a bit dangerous.

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User 25949435

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very nice walk in the Beaujolais region. However, the walk was longer than described: more around 11km than 8km. No difficulties, the tour was done with children aged 7 and 12. Duration about 4 hours.

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alinou69
alinou69

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice walk with lots of distant views.
the route passes through moorland at an altitude of 800m

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toposrandos
toposrandos

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

pleasant walk with beautiful views

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gerou
gerou

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant hike, with beautiful views. Easy but crowded at WE.

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Anthouane
Anthouane

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Next time I'll do it the other way round to enjoy the view!

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Julien VR
Julien VR ★

Hello G.Maq,
Thanks for taking the time to rate the walk.
Sorry to hear that the situation was so stressful.
I talked to the French team about it and they said that Farm dogs are indeed very present in the Alps. Therefore a specific warning about it is quite rare in the information sheet.
Your comment will allow others to be aware of it.
Best regards,
Julien

Content Manager & User support

G.Maq
G.Maq

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route itself is great—not difficult, with beautiful panoramas and several places to stop for a lunch break. However, my biggest concern was farm dogs. Since I hiked it in the winter, I didn’t encounter them where the warning signs are posted, but I did meet them at the end of the route and had to take a detour to avoid them. These dogs are very territorial and can be dangerous, especially if you’re hiking with your own dog. Thankfully, nothing happened to us because I heard them barking and spotted them while we were still far enough away. They didn’t chase us, but the situation was extremely stressful and could have ended badly. Additionally, there was a loose dog near the parking area.

Marcelle01
Marcelle01

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I followed the GPS track, which was very good and gave me no trouble finding my way around.
It's a beautiful walk, between forest and panomaras.
Thank you very much!

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Philippe Bonnefoy
Philippe Bonnefoy

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lack of details. We scrupulously followed the Visorando signs. Between points 2 and 3, the change of path was not clear and we followed the red and white markings: the result was 14.5km instead of the planned 8.3, and a 3.5km return by road to get back to the starting point. What a shame!

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nathalie
nathalie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant and fairly easy walk.
A section on a track is a little more monotonous.
I agree with some of the comments: after point 5, follow the road down to the right and through the village, then turn off onto the track that climbs up to the left. This avoids the section on the road and takes you back to the car.

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Lindknud
Lindknud

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A fairly easy and varied walk, with perhaps just a little too much monotony on the part that takes a wide forest road, about halfway along the route. But you have to get back to the car!

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