Grand Roc Circular Trail

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The Grand Roc, situated in the Bauges Massif Nature Reserve, boasts a wealth of wildflowers that are particularly striking in May: daffodils and narcissi in abundance all along the path. A steady path leads to the Col de la Fougère after a long climb.
You reach the Col du Haut du Four via a narrow path, then follow the ridge path with its breathtaking views over the Albertville valley, before finally reaching the Grand Roc with its splendid views of the surrounding peaks.

Details

n°10032151
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.86 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 8h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 4,439 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 4,429 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 5,951 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,349 ft
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Photos

Daffodils
Viewpoint
Daffodils
Chalet D’Orisan

Description of the walk

Head to the village of Cléry, above Frontenex; pass through the hamlet of Vers le Stream and take the road on the right towards Le Raffort. Park in the car park alongside the track (signposted ‘Réserve Naturelle des Bauges’).

(S/E) Take the track southwards for about a hundred metres to reach the start of the track on the right (signposted ‘Col de la Fougère’). Follow this track for 150 m to reach the bend.

(1) Follow the path, which climbs quite steeply atfirst but levels out afterwards. Ignore the path branching off to the right; follow the winding path and, after a long climb, you’ll reach the Chalets Forestiers de la Balme.

(2) At the Chalet de la Balme, take some time to rest and recover, then continue northwards, still following the switchbacks, to reach the Col de la Fougère.

(3) Ignore the path on the left and head towards the Chalet du Haut du Four and the Chalet d’Orisan.
Follow a descending path, passing beneath the Grand Roc, to reach a crossroads at La Monêt du Haut (signpost).

(4) Continue to the right, keeping in the direction of the Chalet du Haut du Four, until you reach a track that is currently under construction.

(5) Follow the track for about 400 m, then continue along the path on the right-hand side (the start is not very clearly marked due to the new track) and reach the Col du Haut du Four, passing below the chalets of the same name.

(6) From the pass, turn right onto the footpath towards the Grand Roc and reach the La Charmette junction.

(7) Stay on the ascending path, pass Mont D’Orisan and arrive at a three-way junction.

(8) Continue straight on to reach the summit of the Grand Roc via a flat path.

(9) Retrace your steps to reach the previous fork.

(8) Follow the clearly visible descending path to the right, pass by some ruins, take a hairpin bend to reach the Chalet D’Orisan – clearly visible from above – and head to the cross to enjoy the view.

(10) Head back to rejoin the path leading down to the left and, after a long descent, cross the track to meet up with it again further down.

(11) Continue along the track which leads directly back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,349 ft - Raffort car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.12 - alt. 2,402 ft - Start of the trail
  3. 2 : mi 2.46 - alt. 4,672 ft - Chalet Forestier de la Balme
  4. 3 : mi 3.34 - alt. 5,522 ft - Col de la Fougère
  5. 4 : mi 4.37 - alt. 4,797 ft - Monêt du Haut
  6. 5 : mi 4.74 - alt. 4,734 ft - Junction with the new forest track
  7. 6 : mi 5.2 - alt. 4,990 ft - Col du Haut du Four
  8. 7 : mi 5.54 - alt. 5,312 ft - La Charmette
  9. 8 : mi 6.46 - alt. 5,771 ft - Sommet junction
  10. 9 : mi 6.82 - alt. 5,951 ft - Le Grand Roc
  11. 10 : mi 7.77 - alt. 5,187 ft - Croix D’Orisan
  12. 11 : mi 9.33 - alt. 2,687 ft - Track suitable for vehicles
  13. S/E : mi 9.86 - alt. 2,349 ft - Raffort car park

Notes

Chalet Forestier de la Balme, water source nearby.
Shelter and overnight accommodation available for those with their own equipment.

This route passes through multiple protected areas, which may be subject to special regulations:

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 3 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
Marie-Christine P.
Marie-Christine P.
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A magnificent, challenging hike (straight up the slope, as the Baujus say) amid a festival of autumn colours

Machine-translated

Marie-Christine P.
Marie-Christine P.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A magnificent, challenging hike (straight up the slope, as the Baujus say) amid a festival of autumn colours

Machine-translated

EVERUN
EVERUN

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route just a stone’s throw from my house... brilliant

Machine-translated

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