Circuit of the Refuge de l'Oule and the Chalet du Bout

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful route, starting with a steady climb through the woods. The Gleyzin torrent accompanies us for much of the way. Panoramic views of Les Bauges, Le Granier and the Chartreuse mountains. A few tough climbs after crossing the Gleyzin take us to the Pierre du Pin, where the scenery is well worth the effort. Detour via the Lac de Léat, then return to the Chalet du Bout via a path that is quiet at first but joins the Croix du Léat trail. There are some steep descents in places, passing by the Henri IV fir trees. Don't miss the huts at Lac du Léat and the Chalet du Bout, which are very well maintained by the Tous à Poêle association, which, as they say in their presentation, really "pampers" them. Many thanks to these members. It is up to us to respect both the place and the spirit. The descent after the Chalet du Bout needs no further comment other than those already written and... experienced.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Many families stop at the first waterfall (which is quite low).
After this waterfall, the path climbs steeply, the landscape is splendid, and you don't see many people (less than 10).
The view from the summit is incredible.
Be careful, even in dry weather, the narrow path can be muddy and slippery due to the numerous streams. Good shoes are essential.
After the last chalet, I agree with the comments: you need to stay motivated. Fortunately, it's only a short part of the route.
It's a superb hike – definitely worth doing 😉

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Oct 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This is a beautiful loop, very well marked with magnificent scenery. We didn't climb up to the Oulle refuge, but instead descended to Lake LEAT for lunch and then climbed back up to the LEAT cross to complete the loop. This hike is not recommended after heavy rain, as the section after the refuge to the LEAT cross is narrow, steep and can be very slippery. There were few people on the trail, with around 10 people seen during the entire hike.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Sep 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike under beautiful sunshine with snow-capped peaks following last week's precipitation.

Climb up to L'Oule through the woods and then onto more open terrain.
Access to the Oule refuge (or Antoine Cros) was a little steep but not very long. The refuge was no longer manned, so no blueberry tart! Beautiful view of the cirque, in theory, because around 9:30-10:00 a.m., the sun is directly above the ridges and the peaks are backlit. Don't hesitate to cross the stream in front of the chalet to go to the small spur opposite (beautiful waterfall).

Return to L'oule and from there to La Pierre du Pin via a path that is very steep at the beginning and even steeper at the end!
On the way, turn around regularly to admire the scenery of the cirque and the Pointe du Gleyzin.
At the Pierre du Pin, the magnificent panorama is well worth the effort!
The descent (very steep at first) leads to the Croix du Léat, then to the Lac du Léat and its small, well-restored stone and wood chalet.

Return to the hamlet of Gleysin via a path mainly through the woods. Very pleasant at first, then the slope becomes a little steeper before reaching the Chalet du Bout. From there, it's a real ordeal for your feet, knees and thighs! An endless, very steep track over unstable stones. What's more, there are hardly any clearings in the undergrowth, which makes this part of the hike particularly unpleasant!

In any case, apart from the end, this route is still a very beautiful loop.
My track recorded on Visorando shows 13 km and a little over 1,100 m of cumulative elevation gain...

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I loved this hike because it offered such a variety of things to see and do.
First in the cool forest, then passing by a beautiful waterfall. You arrive at a first plateau in the mountain pastures with a beautiful view of the valley all the way to the Dent du Chat. The detour to the refuge is a must for me because of the excellent blueberry tart and a small beer, but above all because of the 360° view (the valley on one side and the peaks and waterfalls on the other). There's something to feast your eyes on in every direction. However, according to the refuge warden, I was lucky because the mountains are quickly shrouded in clouds, even in good weather.
Then there's a pleasant balcony trail to Lake Léat, which is small but beautifully situated, followed by the descent to the refuge at the end and the enormous fir trees, estimated to be 400 years old.
Technically, it wasn't too difficult, just some steep climbs and descents, but nothing dangerous (perhaps slippery in wet weather, but it was dry when I was there)

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jul 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike that is not very busy in June.
Be careful, the climb between points 2 and 3 is challenging and should be taken into account when assessing the group's abilities. Some sections on dirt or rocks can be slippery in wet weather, especially for those walking in the opposite direction. The time of 50 minutes is more realistic for a trail runner than a hiker carrying a heavy load
The area between the Croix du Léat (point 4) and the junction with the GRP Tour du Pays d'Allevrard (point 5) is probably closed because it is a biosphere reserve. This change means you will need to return to Lake Léat and then rejoin the GRP at point 5.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jul 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Great tour
stop at a friendly refuge, good tart. The accommodation makes you want to come back and stay longer to explore further afield.
The descent is fairly gentle and very pretty, with two enormous fir trees as a highlight.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Sep 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

a pleasant walk. At the Oule refuge, you can enjoy a blueberry tart with a good cup of coffee before heading back down to take the path that leads to Lake Léa and the refuge at the end. This section is a little slippery, even in good weather, but not dangerous.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Sep 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

a pleasant walk. At the Oule refuge, you can enjoy a blueberry tart with a good cup of coffee before heading back down to take the path that leads to Lake Léa and the refuge at the end. This section is a little slippery, even in good weather, but not dangerous.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike. However, the path between the refuge and the Leat cross required a lot of caution, and the time estimated on the sign (50 minutes) seems a little short. It took us 1 hour and 30 minutes...
Very steep climbs and descents, but superb views

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jul 13, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

nice hike

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jul 05, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The climb begins in the forest, which provides shelter from the sun if you start this hike a little late. The climb is steady. At point 2, identified as L'Oule (1,662 m), you can already enjoy a beautiful view of the Chartreuse and Les Bauges. With a little more effort, you will be rewarded by the warm welcome at the Oule refuge. Here you reach the high mineral mountains and their snowfields. Be careful not to relax too much at this stage, as the climb to the Pierre-du-Pin is tough and requires you to save some energy. But what a view when you get there, between the Bréda and Gleyzin valleys! Lake Léat, which you can see just below, is well worth a detour. The descent through the forest is pleasant until you reach the Chalet du Bout, then steeper to the finish.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

It's a beautiful loop, very well marked with magnificent scenery. The blueberry fields are a real bonus!
The only slight downside is the last part of the circuit between the Chalet du Bout and the car park, which has a steep path that isn't very pleasant, but fortunately it doesn't last too long. This is definitely a hike to recommend.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very pretty loop, varied landscapes. We weren't eaten by the sheepdogs guarding the flock below the refuge at this time of year, but hikers with dogs should be careful.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Nov 16, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

night climb to the refuge to spend the night. Very pleasant refuge, in very good condition and clean.

The final climb to the refuge is a little steep and there were patches of ice, so take care in wet/cold conditions.

The same applies to the climb to the Croix du Léat, a narrow path on a slope in the middle of arcos, which can be very slippery at times and in places.

The descent from the Léat cross to the car park is quite steep, so be careful if you have weak knees

But the view is superb and you can easily spot chamois, foxes and some birds of prey.

Machine-translated