Val Montjoie circular

Circular route starting from La Gruvaz, suitable for mountain biking, running, walking or snowshoeing.

Details

n°14627701

Creation:
10 Sep 2021

Last update:
23 May 2024

Last review:
05 Mar 2024

Activity: Walking
Distance: 6.49 mi
Average duration: 4h 20
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 1,519 ft
Descent: - 1,512 ft
Highest point: 4,114 ft
Lowest point: 3,100 ft

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Mont-Blanc (Massif)
City: Saint-Gervais-les-Bains (74190|74170)
Start/End: N 45.845993° / E 6.73924°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3531ET, 3531ETR, 3531OT, 3531OTR
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Description of the walk

Park in the La Gruvaz car park (start of the Miage route).

(S/E) Cross the bridge, head up the wide path, pass between two buildings in a clearing, then past another one a little further on. Follow the signposted path carefully towards Le Chosal. Ignore a private track on the right and go well round the private building on the left. In the forest, you’ll come to a junction with a path on the right.

(1) Take this small path and follow it towards Le Crêt.

(2) When you reach the Crêt clearing, leave the houses at Le Crêt on your right and, about fifty metres further on, take the path on the left. Continue on to Le Crêt, which lies behind you.

(3) Head up to the left, then keep to the right a few dozen metres further on, heading towards Le Crêt, straight ahead. Keep to the right all the way until you reach the edge of the forest, near a house. Carry on along Impasse du Priey, then turn right at the junction to follow Route de la Frasse. About thirty metres after a multi-way junction, take a narrow path on the right which serves as a shortcut. Head straight on along Chemin du P’Tou and descend towards the church in Les Contamines.

(4) Once in the village, take the road on the left, then turn immediately right to go round a block of flats and reach a car park. Turn left to follow the stream and stay on the right bank. Once on the tarmac road, turn left.

(5) After the sawmill, veer right, then keep right at the next three-way junction to follow the tarmac road to Les Hoches.

(6) Walk through the hamlet and then take the path on the right. Keep to the right until you reach the tarmac road at Le Quy. Walk down the road until you reach the marked bend to the right.

(7) Leave the road and take the path on the left before the bridge.

(8) Once at Bon Nant, veer to the right and carry on straight ahead to the Saint-Gervais recycling centre. Then turn right to cross the stream.

(9) Cross the main road with care, walk for about a hundred metres to the left, then take the path that climbs to the right (Chemin du Sous-Bois).

(10) At the Villette fountain, take the tarmac road almost directly opposite on the left.

(11) At the farm, turn left towards the centre of La Gruvaz. Then continue straight on to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,645 ft - La Gruvaz car park
1 : mi 0.37 - alt. 4,003 ft - Path on the right
2 : mi 0.62 - alt. 3,720 ft - Le Crêt, on the left
3 : mi 1.22 - alt. 3,865 ft - Cret derrière
4 : mi 2.34 - alt. 3,819 ft - Church of Les Contamines
5 : mi 3.36 - alt. 3,471 ft - Turn at the sawmill
6 : mi 3.7 - alt. 3,478 ft - Les Hoches
7 : mi 4.19 - alt. 3,353 ft - Quy bend
8 : mi 4.59 - alt. 3,369 ft - Bon stream, on the right
9 : mi 5.32 - alt. 3,107 ft - RD902
10 : mi 5.87 - alt. 3,442 ft - La Villette, fountain
11 : mi 6.23 - alt. 3,520 ft - Farm
S/E : mi 6.49 - alt. 3,648 ft - La Gruvaz car park

Notes

(4) Drinking water points in the village of Les Contamines and at La Villette.

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Réserve naturelle nationale des Contamines-Montjoie - more information

Worth a visit

(5) The village of Les Contamines.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5

Based on 3 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.7 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5

Route interest
4.7 / 5

fanfanmarie

05 Mar 2024 at 14:53 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very varied, undulating and well-signposted route as far as the hamlet of ‘Crêt Devant’, where we turned back to head for Champelet Derrière and then Champelet Devant.
The final stretch of the route along the ‘discovery trail’ beside the stream, Le Bon Nant, is magical and very pleasant.

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Mylen

04 Sep 2023 at 09:09 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

At number 3, after passing the house at the top of the hill, carry on into the woods on the left even if the app alerts you that you’re not on the correct route; there’s no other path and you’ll rejoin the route a little further on.
When you reach Les Frasses to take the Impasse du Priey, access is blocked by the owner of the house; you need to follow the small path on the right just before that and cross the meadow to rejoin the route a little further on;

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OlivierH59

06 Aug 2023 at 18:20 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

For my part, I started this walk at the car park near the St Gervais recycling centre. It’s more accessible and it’s easier to find a space at this time of year. The route is mainly through woodland, so it’s nice when it’s hot but not great for the views. It’s a straightforward walk suitable for families. At point 2, the path climbs up a freshly rebuilt flight of steps on a slope. The path is barely marked around Champelet.

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