Circular des Roches and Crêt de la Garde starting from La Fargère

Come and explore the paths of the commune of Colombier-sous-Pilat as you pass through some of its hamlets.

Details

4886534
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.19 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 382 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 383 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,070 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 884 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park of the "L'Instant" wellness centre in La Fargère.

(S/E) Head north towards Colombier, following the road for 1 km until you reach the D8, Route de Colombier.

(1) Take the D8 on your left, towards Graix/Le Bessat, for about 200 metres. Pass the cross on your right and shortly afterwards, turn right onto a dirt track. Continue straight on for 100 metres until you reach a Y-junction (not shown on the IGN map).

(2) Turn left onto the steeply ascending path. Once at the top, continue straight ahead downhill until you reach a paved road near Font Nevouse. Continue for about 40 metres to the right.

(3) Take the first path on your left, perpendicular to the road. Follow it for a while until you come to a wider, stony path.

(4) Go up to your right, then leave this path and turn right onto a track that leads into the spruce forest. At the Y-junction just after, keep left until you reach Route de la Loge at Croix du Prince.

(5) Cross this road and descend onto the road opposite, heading towards the Ferme du Prince charcuterie.

(6) Pass in front of the farm and continue along the path on the right. Continue straight ahead, leaving the path to Batrenon on your right.

(7) At the three-way junction, keep left to reach the hamlet of Les Roches. Pass between the first two houses and return to the road.

(8) Cross it and take the path opposite, slightly to the right. Turn right at the first junction and go down to a four-way crossroads.

(9) Turn right and climb up to the road, keeping to your right.

(10) Turn left onto the road and follow it to a place called Goutagout. Pass the house where the road turns into a track. Climb up to the sharp right-hand bend.

(11) Take the path on your left and descend to a crossroads. Turn right onto the paved path, continue climbing and take the path on the right.

(12) Do not continue towards the Adret house, but turn left to go around Crêt de la Garde.
Stay on this path until you return to the starting point.

(2) Continue straight ahead, then turn left onto the D8 and continue to the cross. Leave the main road and take the road on your right, following it until you reach a crossroads.

(13) Do not follow the road leading to the houses of Puits de Lusinas, but take the path on your left at the bend. Follow it and turn off as soon as you come to a path on the left. Be careful, as there is a tendency to stay on the main path.

Head into the woods and descend until you reach the road you started on. Continue to the right and you will be back at the car park of the "l'Instant" wellness centre (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 910 m - L'Instant Wellness Centre
  2. 1 : km 0.99 - alt. 959 m - D8
  3. 2 : km 1.51 - alt. 982 m - Fork: L/ left - R/ straight ahead
  4. 3 : km 2.48 - alt. 1,031 m - Path on the left
  5. 4 : km 3.86 - alt. 1,000 m - Stony path, on the right
  6. 5 : km 4.63 - alt. 1,070 m - Croix du Prince
  7. 6 : km 5.04 - alt. 1,029 m - Le Prince du Vernay
  8. 7 : km 5.92 - alt. 990 m - Three-way junction, left
  9. 8 : km 6.51 - alt. 938 m - Les Roches
  10. 9 : km 6.93 - alt. 884 m - Mizérieux crossroads
  11. 10 : km 7.63 - alt. 949 m - Road junction, left
  12. 11 : km 8.4 - alt. 984 m - Bend, path on the left
  13. 12 : km 8.93 - alt. 985 m - Start of the Crêt de la Garde path
  14. 13 : km 11.12 - alt. 990 m - Crossroads, left
  15. S/E : km 12.19 - alt. 910 m - L'Instant Wellness Centre

Notes

(7) You can shorten the route by turning right to arrive directly at point (10).

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
rios
rios

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with stunning views. We followed the GPS and had no difficulty whatsoever. It was a complete change of scenery. Many thanks to the author.

Machine-translated

DDx
DDx

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice trail, varied landscape, beautiful views of the Alps.
Thank you for the trail that can be followed with the app, rather than the (poor) signposting.

Machine-translated

Huglou
Huglou
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike with stunning, varied landscapes and plenty of shade. We will definitely do it again as we had a wonderful time. Thank you to the author.

Machine-translated

pallandre chantal
pallandre chantal

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We have just finished this hike: no overheating despite the temperature because it was almost entirely in the woods, with varied, relaxing and very beautiful landscapes. It was a real treat without much difficulty; perhaps we will do it again in the autumn.
Thank you to the author.

Machine-translated

cathyferrer
cathyferrer

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

To keep myself busy all day, I combined it with the "Double circular de Thélis" route.
A breath of fresh air in the forest.
Thank you for the route.

Machine-translated

LMo
LMo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A lovely circular loop with no particular difficulties, varied landscapes, and precise descriptions.

Machine-translated

guy pagat
guy pagat

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk on this sunny weekend, hilly but nothing too strenuous. Some sections could be a little more challenging in hot weather.
Don't miss the three-way junction to the left at point 7 to enjoy a magnificent view of the Alps (the weather was clear). Before arriving at 8, where we had to search a little for the path.
According to the Visorando principle, do not rely on the markings on the ground.
Thank you for this route.

Machine-translated

hiker38
hiker38

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful winter's day, warm sunshine, no wind and no background noise: bliss!
The route is tracked by GPS. We reach a total elevation gain of 550 metres through a series of short climbs and descents.
This walk is a condensed version of the landscapes of southern Pilat.
From the car park at the start, there is a magnificent view of the Alps from Mont Blanc to Grand Veymont.
The beautiful valley of the Ferme du Prince du Vernay (herd of Highland cattle).
Thank you for this very enjoyable route.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

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