Circular via the Col de Chavannais and Col de Vésinaz from Sommand

Access by car: in Mieussy, take the Col de la Ramaz road to Sommand, at the Les Roches hotel-restaurant. Turn right and park in the large car park.

Markings: Yellow and red plus yellow.

(S/E) Join the Col de Ramaz road, take it to the left, carefully for about a hundred metres, then take the small road on the right. At the first junction, in the hamlet of Crêt Roti, take the road on the left until you reach a fork.

(1) Take the path on the left to the Col de Cordon.

(2) Take the path opposite, which descends, and join a track at the Alpe des Charmettes.

(3) Turn right towards Col de Chavannais. Follow the track that runs alongside the Eau Froide torrent. Leave it when it reaches a right-angle bend. Continue northwards and begin the climb towards the small Col des Charmettes.

(4) Turn right and take a ridge path to the Col de Chavannais.

(5) Opposite, take the path that descends towards the Refuge de Chavan. Walk over a scree slope, then descend into a small valley before climbing back up a little to reach the Refuge de Chavan.

(6) At the refuge, turn right towards Col de Vésinaz. After a path through the woods, take great care on two fairly steep passages over rocks that may be slippery (the first passage is equipped with a chain). Then continue to a crossroads.

(7) Keep to the right and you will easily reach the Col de Vésinaz.

(8) Start the descent towards Sommand on the left, south-east. Shortly before the Chalets Blancs farm, turn right and you will come to a track.

(9) Take it straight ahead, south, and arrive at the Col de Ramaz road. Cross it carefully, turn right and head for the Pierres Rouges chairlift car park.

(10) Descend towards the chairlift station, follow the track to the right, heading west, and walk along the edge of the Foron. Pass a ski lift and continue to the junction with the Chemin de Farquet.

(11) Turn left onto this path and head to the car park (S/E).

Equipment: Good hiking boots and walking sticks.

Difficulty: at the Chavan Point refuge (6), a sign indicates that the trail has some tricky sections on the climb to the Col de Vésinaz. Two sections may be difficult and require some caution. Avoid this trail in case of rain or if there has been heavy rain in the previous days. Both passages cross slippery rocks, the first is equipped with a chain but the second is not.

Hike completed by the author on 7 October 2025.

• Col De Chavannais.
• Col de Vésinaz with a superb view of the Mont Blanc massif.