Circular route on the Retord Plateau

de fr

Starting from Les Bergonnes, a circular route with an ascent to the Crêt du Nû via the GR®9 to La Charnay. The first section is wooded with beautiful beech trees. At the Croix de Terments and the Crêt du Nû: climb up to the viewing points for views of the Rhône and the Alps.

The second part of the ascent takes place on the plateau. You then reach the Ferme du Retord. After the farm, head back down via the yellow-marked path towards La Grange à Lucien. Continue the descent towards Pré Brachet, then Gros Frêne and Les Granges Charpy, before finally returning to Les Bergonnes.

Details

n°95559566
Creation:
Last update:
–
Last review:
–
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.91 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 988 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,010 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 4,409 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,678 ft
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Description of the walk

(S/E) From the Bergonnes car park, turn right onto the path to join the GR®9, and follow it towards the Croix des Terments.

(1) Continue straight ahead (panorama sign) and, at the Fork in the road, take the right-hand branch, off the GR®, to reach the Beauregard viewpoint.

(2) Carry on to rejoin the GR®. Head up to the right along the path through the beech forest. Go round the Angoulot (elevation 1338), and arrive at the Crêt du Nû crossroads,

(3) Head up to the right, towards the viewpoints.

(4) Turn back.

(3) Continue to the right on the GR®, heading due north, until you reach Le Tumet.

(5) Stay on the GR® and head towards La Charnay.

(6) Leave the GP® and turn left onto the path towards the Ferme de Retord lodge (where you can stop for a picnic or a drink).

(7) As you leave the farm, join the track and head off to the left; then, at the junction, go down to the left, behind the building. Follow the track. Yellow markings (on the ground or on trees and posts) indicate that this is a PR® route. Continue southwards and, at the 1246 mark, ignore the path on the left and carry on straight ahead to reach the Grange à Lucien.

(8) On your right, as you head downhill, the barn is 50 m away, with the inscription on the pediment. Continue downhill, due south, across the meadow (dotted with daffodils and narcissi in spring). Continue the descent towards the forest to the south-west to reach Pré Brachet.

(9) Walk down along the edge of the forest to the Gros Frêne crossroads.

(10) At the junction, turn onto the path on the left and continue to the next crossroads.

(11) Head downhill to the right, towards a group of buildings: Granges Charpy.

(12) Continue down the road for about 200 m.

(13) Turn left onto a dirt track towards Les Bergonnes. Walk to the Route des Terments.

(14) Walk up this road on the left to reach the Les Bergonnes car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,757 ft - Les Bergonnes car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.49 - alt. 3,934 ft - Les Terments
  3. 2 : mi 0.9 - alt. 4,127 ft - Panorama - Belvédère de Beauregard
  4. 3 : mi 2.31 - alt. 4,396 ft - Junction
  5. 4 : mi 2.47 - alt. 4,377 ft - Crêt du Nû
  6. 5 : mi 3.94 - alt. 4,049 ft - Le Tumet
  7. 6 : mi 4.82 - alt. 4,127 ft - La Charnay
  8. 7 : mi 5.46 - alt. 4,154 ft - Ferme du Retord
  9. 8 : mi 6.7 - alt. 4,035 ft - Grange à Lucien crossroads
  10. 9 : mi 7.91 - alt. 3,878 ft - Pré Brachet
  11. 10 : mi 8.21 - alt. 3,757 ft - Le Gros Frêne
  12. 11 : mi 8.74 - alt. 3,868 ft - Towards Les Granges Charpy
  13. 12 : mi 9.03 - alt. 3,799 ft - Granges Charpy
  14. 13 : mi 9.2 - alt. 3,724 ft - Path towards Les Bergonnes
  15. 14 : mi 9.64 - alt. 3,678 ft - Road junction
  16. S/E : mi 9.91 - alt. 3,750 ft - Les Bergonnes car park

Notes

At the Plans d’Hotonnes resort (Tourist Office), continue along Route des Bergonnes until you reach the last houses. Park in the car park. At the Ferme de Retord: bag drop service for €2.

Worth a visit

Panoramic views from the Beauregard viewpoint and the Crêt du Nû.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Other walks in the area

Walking Panorama of Beauregard and Combe Danoi across open fields and paths.

Visorando Member
Panorama de Beauregard et Combe Danoi à travers champs ouverts et chemins
↔5.96 mi ↗+837 ft ↘-820 ft ◔3h 30 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Hotonnes (Ain)
A varied route with beautiful views of the Alps and karst formations characteristic of these limestone plateaus. Best done in winter when the barbed wire fences are removed. If there is enough snow, the route can be done on snowshoes without any problems.

Walking A walk on the Retord plateau

Visorando Member
Une balade sur le plateau de Retord
↔8.96 mi ↗+883 ft ↘-876 ft ◔4h 55 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Hotonnes (Ain)
A gentle walk on the Retord plateau.

Walking The Crêt du Nu / Retord Plateau

Visorando Member
Le Crêt du Nu et le Plateau du Retord
↔9.02 mi ↗+1,211 ft ↘-1,207 ft ◔5h 10 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Hotonnes (Ain)
An easy loop along Retord Plateau taking you past the "Gouffre de la Bauche" sinkhole and the "Crêt du Nu" viewpoint.

Walking La Charnay - Chalet d'Arvière

Tourist office
↔13.14 mi ↗+1,512 ft ↘-1,762 ft ◔7h 20 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Billiat (Ain)
Open from 1 April to 30 November ( subject to there being no snow). Fifth stage of the Grande Traversée du Jura walking route: from La Borne au Lion to Culoz, in 6 days. The GTJ links Mandeure (Doubs) to Culoz (Ain) in 15 to 20 days, crossing the Jura Mountains and the Haut-Jura Regional Nature Park. The route suggested here covers the second half of the itinerary.

Walking La Charnay - Chalet d'Arvière

Tourist office
La Charnay - Chalet d'Arvière
↔13.14 mi ↗+1,565 ft ↘-1,814 ft ◔7h 25 ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from Billiat (Ain)
The section from La Charnay to Chalet d’Arvière is the fifth stage of the six-day walking tour “La GTJ from Mijoux”. The GR®9 enters the Ain department via Mijoux, before following the spectacular ridges of the Monts-Jura, passing through the Crêt de la Neige, the highest point of the range. It then descends towards Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, crosses the Retord plateau and climbs the Grand Colombier. The trail continues its route to Culoz and the Rhône Valley, before leaving the Ain to reach Savoie and continuing southwards. Part of the route passes through the Haute Chaîne du Jura National Nature Reserve, which is subject to specific regulations: dogs are prohibited, even when kept on a lead, as is camping in tents. Please respect these rules to preserve the richness of this exceptional environment.

Walking La Ferme du Retord - Giron

Tourist office
La Ferme du Retord - Giron
↔15.59 mi ↗+2,415 ft ↘-3,274 ft ◔9h 15 ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from Billiat (Ain)
Open from 1 April to 30 November – subject to there being no snow. Second stage of the GRP® de la Valserine. Starting from the Ferme de Retord, the route crosses the open and wooded landscapes of the plateau before beginning the descent towards Lalleyriat, with a viewpoint overlooking the Autoroute des Titans. In Saint-Germain-de-Joux, a detour is a must to discover the impressive Marmites de Géant, carved out by the Semine. The stage ends on the northern slope, in Giron.

Walking Bugey Valromey - Secret valleys in Haut-Valromey

Visorando Member
Bugey Valromey - Combes secrètes en Haut-Valromey
↔8.16 mi ↗+1,033 ft ↘-1,043 ft ◔4h 40 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Songieu (Ain)
Overlooking Valromey, the wide open spaces of the combes and ridges overlooking the Rhône are enchanting in all seasons, whether on foot or snowshoes. An easy circuit. Please note: this hike should only be undertaken outside the animal grazing period.

Walking Retord Maquis Trail

Visorando Member
Sentier du maquis de Retord
↔11.40 mi ↗+1,834 ft ↘-1,808 ft ◔6h 50 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Hotonnes (Ain)
This is a very beautiful hike, featuring landscapes of pastures and beech and fir forests, along easy paths. Created in partnership with the Museum of Resistance and Deportation in Nantua, it passes by five farms where the maquis settled in 1943-1944, on the Retord plateau between the village of Hotonnes and the Plans d'Hotonnes resort. Five panels describe the history of this maquis.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.