Parmelan loop from Dingy via the Col du Perthuis

Le Parmelan, via a slightly less traditional route.
At the summit, sharp limestone pavement, Grotte de l'Enfer (and other caves), Mont Blanc range.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.19 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 916 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 942 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,848 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,036 m

Description of the walk

Park in the Blonnière car park in Dingy Saint Clair (just drive straight up until the road ends).

(S/E) Take the path on the left (sentier du Parmelan). This path is quite steep and takes you above the Chalet Chapuis (there is another slightly less steep path that leads to the Chalet Chapuis; to take it, simply go back down the road for 200-300 metres and then take thefirst path on the right).

When you reach the pass, continue along the path that climbs towards Parmelan (the path that descends will take you to Chalet Chapuis).

From there, follow the classic Parmelan route: Grand Montoir (be careful, this climbs straight up the cliff) or Petit Montoir if you prefer, which is flatter but much longer.

Once you reach the top of Parmelan, enjoy the view (don't forget to take a look at Lake Geneva).

(1) The descent is simple: just pass the refuge and follow the path. There is only one fork with a path that goes down into the plateau; take the other path that runs more or less along the cliff.

The path takes you through sharp limestone pavement and scree, with a few small climbs and quite a few small gullies.

Eventually, you will come to grassy ground. Continue along the path for 5-10 minutes until you reach a large clearing with a series of pools and another intersection. The best-marked path (and the only one with signs) goes to the left, but do not take it; instead, go to the right. Pass to the left of the pools and you will come to a well-marked path.

Follow the path until you see a chalet with another intersection. Take the path on the right that goes to the bottom of a small valley.
Continue along the path and pass the Perthuis pass. You will come to a carriage road, which you should follow for 5 minutes. After a left-hand bend, you will see a small path leading down to the right (just after a tree stump) with a sign for Blonnière.

Just follow it to the car park:/A.

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 1,069 m - Blonnière car park
  2. 1 : km 3.47 - alt. 1,824 m - Tête du Parmelan
  3. E : km 9.19 - alt. 1,043 m - Blonnière car park

Notes

This is a fairly demanding hike for the knees and quite long. Bring good shoes, possibly walking sticks forextra support on the descents.
There are quite a few streams but no drinking water.

To do the route in the opposite direction: https://www.visorando.com/randonnee-le-p...

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 27 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
User 6656498

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you very much for this route description! I did it on a Sunday in the middle of summer, setting off early.

I did it in reverse as recommended in the comments, and I recommend it: the climb through the forest and then the small scree slope before Parmelan is very steep and not much fun to descend, in my opinion.

There were a lot of people on the descent from the Grand Montoir, but no one else on the path back to the car park.

In short, it's a good summer alternative to the classic route, and the car park isn't far from the Fier river for a dip afterwards

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User 8014714

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It is important to be careful during the descent, as it is easy to follow the track and end up too low, near the "Grosse pierre" point, which adds 45 minutes and a lot of elevation gain that you don't need! Very beautiful section on the Parmelan and the mountain pasture. The descent from Parmelan along the tricky stony path.

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Olivier742
Olivier742

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very accessible and pleasant hike, but BE CAREFUL to bring crampons in your bag if you are hiking this trail after mid-November and the first snowfall, as the eastern slope is completely covered in snow and the snow stays for weeks. The steep sections can be icy and dangerous without crampons.

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jcbrunetannecy
jcbrunetannecy

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I followed a tip that recommendeddoing the hike in the opposite direction... and I'm glad I did!
The directions are clearly marked from the car park, so it's impossible to get lost The climb via the Col du Perthuis is varied, very pleasant and not very busy – at least it wasn't when I was there. The view from the Tête du Parmelan is well worth the effort. The return to Le Saugy via the Grand Montoir is much busier, but this descent is much easier on the knees than in the other direction.

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Blin
Blin
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with a steep climb through the forest before reaching the Perthuis pass, followed by some steep sections to reach the plateau, but the effort is rewarded at the top with a beautiful panorama.
You can descend via the Grand Montoir (aerial), which saves time.
Best done during the week to avoid people coming from the other side, which is less steep and shorter, especially at the top.

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SE VE RI NE
SE VE RI NE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb hike
Steep and physically demanding climb at the end, but it's doable if you take it slowly and don't suffer from vertigo

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benom74
benom74

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a very pleasant loop trail that is not very busy if you go via the Col de Perthuis on the way there, as there are a lot of people at the refuge. The descent via the Grand Montoir is a little vertiginous but very doable with lots of chains and safety barriers. The view from the ridges is as splendid as ever. The descent after the Grand Montoir is a little monotonous to get back to the car park.

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Nelly bsw
Nelly bsw

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A lovely walk in the woods with a great view... Quite challenging but accessible

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christian74600
christian74600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I absolutely loved this hike
it was my first time doing it from DINGY

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elwood123
elwood123

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

a very beautiful hike, best done in the direction of the Col du Perthuis on the way up, which is a little more difficult but superb once you reach the plateau. The passage through the lappiaz is both fun, as you have to use your hands a little, and very pleasant due to the diversity of the landscapes. The return via the Petit Montoir is very easy and suitable for families
five and a half hours is a very accurate estimate of the time needed to complete this beautiful circuit
pS: part of the return route is strongly discouraged in the presence of snow or ice

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hlinfrigg
hlinfrigg

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Be careful to go in the right direction. Due to a lack of information, I went the wrong way (I first climbed up to Permelan and then descended via the Perthuis pass.
The descent was really very steep on the rocks.
Magnificent, but not for beginners!

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jlbertret
jlbertret

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 15, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very enjoyable hike. Magnificent and varied landscapes. Sublime views. Highly recommended.

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vincent lemaire
vincent lemaire

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

a beautiful route and an original way to discover another side of the Parmelan. It should be noted, however, that the climb up the sharp limestone pavement after the Col du Perthuis is sometimes impressive. I did the route in the opposite direction to the one suggested and, to be honest, I prefer climbing up the sharp limestone pavement rather than descending it. Not for the faint-hearted!

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kinkin74
kinkin74

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

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sylvietrouvel
sylvietrouvel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike with plenty of variety (both in terms of the landscapes and the trails, which vary in difficulty).
The paths are steep and sometimes slippery on the rocks in the sharp limestone pavement, so make sure you wear good shoes.
A hiker we met on the trail told us that he preferred to do it in the opposite direction (climbing via the Perthuis pass), as it is easier to climb than to descend. Worth trying.

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