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Park in the village of Armix, which can be reached from Rossillon, in the Cluse des Hôpitaux valley from Ambérieu or Virieu-le-Grand.
As there is little parking space in the village, it is best to drive through it and head down to the lake, where you can enjoy a picnic.
(S/E) To avoid climbing up to Égieu by road, take the marked path that starts to the right of the lake. Descend to the Chana stream crossing, near the water catchments (the stream crossing can be very wet: cross above the path to reach the path on the left bank). Climb a little way up opposite until you reach a good path, then descend slightly to the fork with the marked path that climbs up from Nivolet.
(1) Take this good path, which climbs up to the left. Leave the first forest path on the left, which disappears into the woods. After a few hundred metres, take the path on the left towards Égieu. Climb up the hillside of the "Crêt" to reach Égieu, passing by its small chapel.
(2) When you reach the road in the village, climb as straight as possible (yellow markings) to take a path that becomes a trail. It starts between hedges and continues diagonally northwards. Climb steadily with a view of the valley until you approach the ridge where the path flattens out. Do not turn right prematurely, but stay on the flat edge of the wooded ridge until the path begins its descent to Armix.
(3) Then turn sharply right to approach the top of the ridge and, just before reaching it, veer left to take a gently sloping path heading north-west.
From there, the long route along the edge of the ridge begins: first a forest track, then a path and finally a simple trail. The trail disappears but the route remains very clear as it follows a cleared path through the forest. Pass a few high points with some views to the west (Armix, Massif de Portes, Chartreuse in the distance).
(4) About halfway along the ridge, pass by a relay antenna, clearly visible from below, but which is actually behind a wooded area that is difficult to cross.
Gradually, the path begins to descend to a pass at a place called Champ Carraz, where forest paths meet.
(5) Turn right onto the forest track that winds along the edge of the plateau until it joins a gravel forest road.
(6) Turn left onto this road and follow it, almost flat, to the D53b road near the Col de Ballon. You will cross a high-voltage power line, the gap in which offers the only view of the route to the east and the Grand Colombier.
(7) Take this road on the left, pass Col de Ballon and descend towards Prémillieu. Leave two paths on the left that climb towards the forest. (If you have time, you can go around the village of Prémillieu by taking a path on the right just after the pass, then return by the road to join the path down to Armix).
(8) Take the third path on the left at a bend: it climbs slightly to pass a ridge before beginning the steady, signposted descent towards Armix. The path gradually becomes a forest road and then a paved road as you approach the village.
(9) Pass near the cemetery and cross the village, passing in front of the church and the small town hall to descend back to the starting point (S/E).
, which can cause some confusion. A signpost quickly reassures stressed hikers.
Visorando member
Easy 
Difficult 
