Circular Route around the Glières Plateau

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A magnificent hike passing through four passes around the Glières Plateau. You can enjoy views of the Bauges massif and Mont Lachat on the ascent, then on the other side, of the Montagne des Frêtes. At the end of the hike, you’ll look out over the Glières Plateau. A wide variety of landscapes.

Details

n°95645909
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.43 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,264 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,283 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 5,594 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 4,442 ft
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Description of the walk

Park your car in the car park at the entrance to the Glières car park near the first restaurant.

(S/E) Take the track towards La Mandrolière, then turn right towards the Col de Spée. Follow a fairly wide, straight track, which passes several guesthouses and a mountain refuge.

(1) At a place called Fréchet, take the path that climbs to the left towards the Col de Spée and the Col du Freu.

(2) After the Outan junction, take the path on the left towards the Col de Spée, passing the refuge of the same name, a charming little place in the middle of a grassy meadow that’s perfect for relaxing!

(3) From the Col de Spée, follow the path downhill to change valleys. Caution: the path is slippery in early spring with numerous snowdrifts. Follow the signposts with yellow arrows on a green background and reach a junction of paths at the Tinnaz chalets, situated on the right.

(4) Head towards the Col du Freu and the Crêt de l'Ébat on the left. Cross a stream, then follow the signposts across a grassy plain and take the path climbing up to the right to reach the Col du Freu.

(5) Follow the path on the left heading towards Col du Câble.

(6) At the junction, you can make a quick detour to the right to the Col du Câble: views of La Roche-sur-Foron. Otherwise, continue left towards the Crêt de l'Ébat, descending and then climbing a grassy meadow.

(7) Pass the Crêt de l'Ébat and follow a wide, sun-exposed track overlooking Champ Laitier below and the Montagne des Frêtes to the left. Pass the Grand Soquet.

(8) Directly opposite an alpine farm, take the path furthest to the left to descend towards Champ Laitier.

(9) Pass in front of the Chalet du Plan, then reach a three-way junction. Continue along the left-hand path towards the forest to reach Champ Laitier.

(10) Take the path on the far left across the meadow, towards the Plateau des Glières. Follow the edge of the woodland to reach a viewpoint overlooking the peat bogs.

(11) Cross the footbridge over the Nant des Brassets and take the path that climbs quite steeply into the forest. Follow the trail: the GPX track may prove useful on this section.

(12) Head left to enter the Montagne des Frêtes Biological Reserve (a reserve for black grouse) and then leave it, staying on the same path. You will then be overlooking the Plateau des Glières, directly opposite the Glières monument. Reach the plateau at the car park.

(13) Take the wide track on the left which forms part of the GR®96 (marked in white and red) and return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 4,573 ft - Car park
  2. 1 : mi 1.26 - alt. 4,459 ft - Fréchet
  3. 2 : mi 1.88 - alt. 4,537 ft - Junction, turn left
  4. 3 : mi 3.01 - alt. 5,459 ft - Col de Spée
  5. 4 : mi 3.37 - alt. 5,092 ft - Tinnaz chalets
  6. 5 : mi 4.11 - alt. 5,564 ft - Col du Freu
  7. 6 : mi 4.57 - alt. 5,522 ft - Col du Câble junction
  8. 7 : mi 4.98 - alt. 5,594 ft - Crêt de l'Ébat
  9. 8 : mi 6.95 - alt. 4,862 ft - Junction, turn left
  10. 9 : mi 7.26 - alt. 4,610 ft - Chalet du Plan
  11. 10 : mi 7.6 - alt. 4,449 ft - Champ Laitier
  12. 11 : mi 7.78 - alt. 4,446 ft - Nant des Brassets stream bridge
  13. 12 : mi 8.29 - alt. 4,997 ft - Entrance to the nature reserve
  14. 13 : mi 9.31 - alt. 4,777 ft - Return to the plateau
  15. S/E : mi 10.43 - alt. 4,570 ft - Car park

Notes

The path is regularly marked with yellow arrows on a green background on trees or posts.

Worth a visit

Monument to the Glières Plateaus.

Maison du Plateau: a key site of the Resistance.

Notre-Dame des Neiges.

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.

Downloads
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Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.