Circular loop of the Roulave and Allondon gorges

This circular route, just a few kilometres from the city, immerses you in nature in a surprising way, allowing you to discover two rivers in the Canton of Geneva, then the vineyards of Dardagny. It can be done in either direction.

Details

12532726
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.59 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 341 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 341 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,526 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,181 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Park on the right-hand side of Route de Malval at the start of the descent towards Les Essertines (space for 4 to 5 cars).

(S/E) Walk down the road to the Roulave bus stop on bus 74.

(1) Turn right onto the path that descends into the gorge of the wide and wild Roulave stream, cross the wooden bridge, then follow the gorges without stopping. Join Route de la Côte.

(2) Turn right and cross the bridge. Do not cross straight ahead towards the Côte car park. About 30 metres after the bridge, take the path on the left towards the wild banks of the Allondon (the path is not very visible at first, but it is well marked). Follow it, sometimes through woods, sometimes across meadows, sometimes along the banks, until you reach the footbridge that crosses the fish stream on the right.

(3) Cross the footbridge and, once you have crossed, walk a few metres and then turn left to follow a wide farm track until it makes a sharp right-hand bend uphill.

(4) Just at the start of the bend, take the footbridge on your left, which crosses the fish stream again. Follow the path downhill until you reach the tarmac road at Pont de l'Allondon.

(5) Follow the Mandement road on your right to the crossroads, then turn left onto the Plaine road. Opposite the stadium, cross the car park, then climb steeply to the right of the vineyard to the aptly named Chemin de la Corniche.

(6) Turn left and follow Chemin de la Corniche through the vineyards until you reach a public bench overlooking La Plaine station and the Firmenisch-DMS perfume factory.

(7) At the bench, turn right and climb the steep concrete vineyard maintenance road until you reach a bicycle shelter decorated with a fox. Then follow the route along the tarmac farm roads to the Dardagny inn.

(8) Shortly before the inn, take Chemin de Bertollier on the left and then, at the bend, take the path on the right. Continue along the staggered route until you reach a large span between the vineyards on your right.

(9) Take the crossing on your right and, at the exit, turn left onto the Malval road to quickly reach the starting point (S/E), at the bus stop or your car.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,522 ft - Parking on the side of the road.
  2. 1 : mi 0.04 - alt. 1,506 ft - Roulave stop on bus 74
  3. 2 : mi 0.93 - alt. 1,316 ft - Pont de la Route de la Côte. Towards the - Allondon (rivière)
  4. 3 : mi 1.94 - alt. 1,211 ft - Wooden footbridge over the fish stream
  5. 4 : mi 2.28 - alt. 1,198 ft - New wooden footbridge over the stream
  6. 5 : mi 2.56 - alt. 1,198 ft - Exit the trail at the bridge over the Allondon.
  7. 6 : mi 2.75 - alt. 1,207 ft - Chemin de la Corniche junction
  8. 7 : mi 3.2 - alt. 1,257 ft - Public bench at the bottom of the concrete path
  9. 8 : mi 4.38 - alt. 1,394 ft - Crossroads just before the inn in Dardagny
  10. 9 : mi 5.09 - alt. 1,509 ft - Crossing between vineyards on your right
  11. S/E : mi 5.59 - alt. 1,522 ft - Parking on the side of the road.

Notes

You can get to the starting point by taking bus 74 to the Roulave stop.

As the route is circular, you can also park your car at the Côte car park on the banks of the Allondon and start from there. You will then finish on the banks of the Roulave stream. Please note that on nice weekend days, it can get very busy.

Worth a visit

In the warmer months, bring your swimsuit for a dip in the Allondon (shallow but with a current).

On your way, you will pass by some excellent Geneva wine cellars offering wine tastings. Dardagny wines are renowned.

The Auberge de Dardagny is the perfect place to combine sporting activities with good food.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Crideva
Crideva

Hello,

Did you follow the GPS? It's easy to take a false fork into a false parallel track. And it becomes cluttered with branches.
PS: In summer there are quite a few people who come to enjoy the banks of the Alandon and no doubt the path is clearer.

Have a nice day!

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User 10760704

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,

We were unable to continue along the path on the banks of the Alondon. It is overgrown with scrub and fallen trees. We therefore had to join a tarmac road.
In addition, the description is not always precise or even comprehensible.

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xine
xine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I'd recommend parking at the Dardagny multi-purpose hall, from where a path leads to the circuit at the end of the car park, or at the La Plaine stadium, just before the climb through the vines. The route is marked with yellow C.A.S. (Swiss Alpine Club) signs, except before La Plaine. Dogs must be kept on a lead for most of the route.

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Normann74
Normann74

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Charming half-day walk, best done in autumn for the colours.

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jperino
jperino

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice circuit. Description a bit difficult without the GPX. Thanks for posting it.

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Crideva
Crideva

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,

I've just redone the route and found a small diversions that avoids the dangerous short section on the Route du Mandement. So I've corrected the route. I also took the opportunity to adjust a few GPS coordinates that were inaccurate at the bottom of Allandon.

It's still a magnificent hike, even if you know it well, and swimming in the Allandon is a great way to cool off.

Yours sincerely, Crideva

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Crideva
Crideva

Hello,

Thank you for pointing out the shift in the map crossing points. I have to admit I don't understand why they were out of place, especially as no-one reported it before (computer bug?). Anyway, I repositioned them all in the right places. PS: The layout was always right.

I'd like to take this opportunity to point out that the 2nd part in the vineyards is best done in summer, and especially in autumn, when the vines have their leaves.

Yours sincerely, Crideva

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randocops
randocops

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very nice walk, admittedly a little muddy because of a lot of rain the previous days... but the rivers with lots of water and currents are magnificent! You forget the mud...
Beautiful views of the Alps, the Jura...
It just seems to me that numbers 3 to 7 are not in the right places on the map...
My girlfriends and I really enjoyed this walk and can't recommend it highly enough!

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Charles 59
Charles 59

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The 1st half of the route along the Alondon is magnificent. The second half, on a tarmac road through the vineyards, is less interesting. It's winter and this spring the vineyards will be full of colour. So do it again. Especially as in summer you can enjoy a swim.

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