Circular: Le Chanay - Argis - Évosges

On the D102a between Évosges and Tenay, a little north of Chanay, park in a small car park for hikers (Plateau de Jargoy hiking sign), near the antennas.

Yellow markings

(S/E) Set off down the road, heading south-east. After about 400 m, take a path downhill on the right, which joins Le Chanay.

No markings

(1) Follow the road to the right, then take Chemin de Chavanay on the right. The tarmac road ends at a wash house on the right. At the next fork, keep left, ignore a vague path on the left, then keep right at the next fork.

(2) At a bend in the path on the right, leave it and take a grassy path on the left. It is not very well marked, so shortly afterwards, turn left onto the grass and do not enter the undergrowth. It then turns into a more obvious path to follow, which runs along the top of the ridge. Then begin a long descent through the undergrowth. When you reach a wider, gravel path, follow it to the right until you reach a crossroads.

(3) Turn right and continue downhill through the woods. The path becomes increasingly steep. During the descent, you will see yellow markings.

Yellow markings

(4) You will arrive at a crossroads with a path. Continue straight ahead on the marked trail. Be careful, as the trail becomes very steep, overgrown with brambles and rutted by wild boars.
Further down, at the first house in Argis, pass a barrier blocking the path (designed to scare off wild boars) and join a street, which you follow straight ahead until you reach an intersection shortly afterwards.

(5) Walk straight ahead to a footbridge over the Albarine and, if you wish, explore the village.

(5) Back at the fork in the road, follow Chemin du Château to the left. Further up, at the intersection with a street, go straight on along the path towards Évosges. Further on, at a crossroads, turn right towards Roche de Narse. The stony path climbs gradually to the foot of the rock (climbing site).

(6) Continue along the path that runs along the bottom of the rock on the right. Shortly afterwards, you will see a spring trickling from the rock. The path continues, climbing steadily through the undergrowth. Look out for a path that branches off sharply to the left about 500 m after the spring. The markings are not very visible at this point.

(7) Turn onto this path, which continues slightly uphill through the woods. Be careful, as it is narrow in places. Reach the top of the plateau and a path.

(8) Follow it to the left. You will come to a road on the outskirts of Évosges, near a cross. Follow it to the right and you will soon come to a junction with a path, where there are directional signs.

(9) To explore the village, continue along the street.

(9) On your return, follow the path towards Le Chanay and Tenay. Further on, the path, which generally follows the top of the meadow, becomes less obvious. Keep to the left, along the edge of the bushes, until you reach a wooden post at the Vert summit, which also has yellow markings.

(10) Continue along a clear path through the undergrowth and join the D102a road at another signpost. Follow it to the right to return to your parking spot near the antennas (S/E).

(4) According to the map, at this crossroads, it is possible to follow the path either to the left or to the right to reach Argis after a hairpin bend: untested route, longer in distance but not necessarily much longer in time.

Difficulty: Moderate to difficult. Take care on the descent from Chanay to Argis, especially the last part (see description). Stony paths, steep in places.
Standard hiking equipment, walking poles useful.
Caution! There is a difficult section when arriving at Argis, see the description.

Discover more hikes in this area with a description or the Visorando app here

Photo album here

Traditional architecture in the villages, beautiful damp undergrowth.