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The route starts from Saint-Benoît, which can be reached from Ambérieu via the D19, from Morestel via the D33 and the Pont d’Envieux, or from Belley via the D10 and D19. As there is no parking in the hamlet itself, please park near the boules court or the cemetery so as not to cause any inconvenience.
(S/E) Walk up the road to the hamlet of Les Bonards and turn left onto Rue du Bonnard. Pass the Creux de Faroud forest track on your right (return route) and, 100 metres further on, turn right onto a path winding its way between the houses.
It heads towards the cliffs and begins to climb increasingly steep slopes, skilfully using ledges and crevices in the rock to haul itself up to the edge of the Granges plateau.
After a flat stretch, it continues uphill, crossing a few fields before joining a good path coming from the left.
(1) Take this on the right, pass by a spring and, when it makes a sharp left-hand bend as it climbs, continue straight on along a well-marked path. It climbs above the Roche du Midi until it joins a path coming from Les Granges on the left.
(2) Do not stay on this path but turn immediately right onto the one that begins a steady descent to the Route Forestière du Creux de Faroux. Follow it downstream, due south, for about 400 metres.
(3) Just before a significant change of direction, take a path on the left that heads south and climbs towards the Picotin cliff. The slope steepens and becomes more precipitous. After a few rockier sections, it follows a well-defined, ascending ledge from right to left – which is therefore relatively exposed – overlooking the main cliff.
(4) Follow this route right to the end before turning right to cross the final steep sections of the Picotin; the slope then gradually levels out and the path becomes an old forest track as it enters the wooded side of the Graye plateau.
(5) At the first junction, turn left to continue on level ground. The path, which is more or less well marked depending on the vegetation, gradually veers to the left and begins an ascent that might be pleasant with its moderate gradient, were it not so overgrown with brambles.
This climb leads onto a wider forest track coming from the nearby Route Forestière de Saint-Julien.
(6) From this point, it is possible to make a round trip (25 mins there and back) to a viewing point set up on the edge of the eastern cliff. Head down onto the forest road, then follow it back up to the left until you reach a pass. Turn onto a path branching off to the right and descend a hilly stretch that has been damaged by recent logging. Gradually veer to the right to rejoin a path marked with old red dots leading to the viewpoint.
(7) From the viewpoint, retrace your steps to the junction you left earlier.
(6) Take the forest track again, which climbs slightly and winds through the forest to reach the foot of the highest point of the Graye massif.
(8) The small rocky ridge at the summit is climbed off-track to the right, over moss-covered rocks.
There are several routes back down to the Creux de Faroud, but they are relatively steep. The easiest way down is to follow the forest track eastwards and then south-eastwards, which leads back to the road to Saint-Julien.
(9) Turn left onto this road to descend to the Saint-Julien viewpoint, which offers unobstructed views of the Alps. On the circular route following the viewpoint, the Route du Creux de Faroud branches off to the left.
(10) Take this road southwards. It climbs slightly to cross a ridge, after which it descends into the Creux de Faroud, first via two hairpin bends, then straight on. You rejoin the section you took earlier during the descent.
(3) Just after the junction with the start of the Pas du Picotin footpath, the road changes direction abruptly, heading north-north-west towards Saint-Benoît. This long stretch alternates between flat sections and descents before reaching the first houses in Les Bonards.
At the junction with Rue du Bonnard, turn left, then 100 metres further on, turn right to head down to the cemetery (S/E).
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Moderate 
Easy 
