Chapeau Mont Benoît

A short, easy hike at the foot of the Dent d'Arclusaz.
Along the way, you will pass a few hamlets that are still very much alive and enjoy beautiful views of the Lauzière, Belledonne and Chartreuse mountain ranges.

Details

518869
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.21 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 254 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 254 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 683 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 429 m

Description of the walk

Park in the car park of the Frontailles gymnasium in Saint-Pierre-d'Albigny, located at the crossroads of Rue des Écoles and Rue des Aubépines.

(S/E) Head north up Rue des Écoles, cross Route du Col du Frêne to enter the hamlet of La Noiriat.

(1) In this hamlet, turn left (direction sign) to go up Chemin des Communiers, cross a path and take a dirt track to the intersection (direction sign).

(2) At the sign, turn right and continue up the path.

(3) At the crossroads, turn left (marker) and continue climbing.

(4) Turn right (no signpost), follow the path eastwards between two fences and soon begin the descent towards the hamlet of Le Chapeau.
In the hamlet, turn right at the statue of Saint-Benoît and descend to the hamlet of Le Mollard, cutting across the winding road via a good path.

(5) In the hamlet, turn right (signpost) to take the path that descends to Col du Taccon. On the descent, go through a double chicane.
At Col du Taccon (signpost), follow the steep path down to Saint-Pierre-d'Albigny. Cross the Miolans road and return to the hamlet of La Noiriat.

(1) Return to the route at the start of the hike and head back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 429 m - Frontailles gymnasium car park
  2. 1 : km 0.33 - alt. 457 m - Hamlet of La Noiriat
  3. 2 : km 0.74 - alt. 548 m - Turn right at the intersection.
  4. 3 : km 1.22 - alt. 638 m - Turn left at the intersection.
  5. 4 : km 1.61 - alt. 681 m - Path to the east
  6. 5 : km 2.48 - alt. 624 m - Le Molard
  7. S/E : km 4.21 - alt. 429 m - Frontailles Gymnasium car park

Notes

Yellow markings and directional signs.

Worth a visit

In the hamlet of Le Chapeau, note the statue of Saint-Benoît, who is missing an ear.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
User 3066842

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

beautiful view

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User 3858059

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short hike that's excellent for getting back into shape. It's quite steep at the beginning, so it's more moderate than easy.

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User 12860568

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Not a great hike for me

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edelbea
edelbea

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant walk with a beautiful view of Arclusaz and even a glimpse of Mont Blanc.

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SDB73
SDB73

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant stroll with the mysterious wooden statuette of St. Benedict with only one right ear. It seems that there is a statuette at Tamie Abbey with the same representation: Listening...to be verified!

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castelred
castelred

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Lovely view at the highest point

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siskin
siskin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 23, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A pleasant hike with a little sweat at the beginning; it was very hot and we needed to stretch our sixty-year-old legs.
Beautiful views of the surrounding mountains, a little appetiser to get us back into the swing of things...

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Varenne Annie
Varenne Annie

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 15, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A bit of a steep descent from the Tacon Pass. The rest was perfect.

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