Route around La Chapelle-d’Abondance via Les Mattes

To reach the Plan des Feux car park by car via the D22 from Thonon, drive to the roundabout by the church in La Chapelle d’Abondance. Go round the roundabout, then take the first right onto the Route des Contamines, cross the Drans bridge and you’ll arrive at the chairlift station. Turn right, then right again onto the Route des Oursons to reach Le Plan des Feux, about 2 km away.

(S/E) From the Plan des Feux car park, head east towards Sur Bayard and the Chalets de la Torrens. Take the track suitable for vehicles (Piste Pastorale de l’Auberraz). When it turns south, it meets a track coming from the left from Sur Bayard.

(1) Leave this track on your left – this is the return route – and continue south for a few hundred metres until you reach the signpost for La Louennaz (Alt 1310 m).

(2) Take the track leading uphill across the meadow (electric fence), towards La Pare Midi and Chalet de la Torrens, to reach the junction at the sign for La Pare Midi (alt. 1,551 m).

(3) At the junction, continue straight ahead, ignoring the track to the right, and head towards Les Crottes and Chalet de la Torrens. You’ll reach the junction with the^GR®5at the Les Crottes alpine chalet, in front of the sign for Les Crottes Alt 1529 m.

(4) Turn right onto the path climbing through the woodland towards the Chalet de la Torrens and Les Mattes. This section is quite steep and stony until you reach the junction at the Chalet de la Torrens. When you reach the sign, take care on the damp section to the right.

(5) At the signpost near the Chalet d’alpage de la Torrens, turn right towards Les Mattes along a path through the meadow. Once you reach the Col des Mattes and then the Plaine des Mattes, continue to the^second signpost for Les Mattes (Alt 1930 m), with the alpine chalets on your left.

(6) Take the path slightly to the right towards the Le Pron and L’Étrye chalets. This is a dangerous downhill section. Pass the Le Pron chalets and continue along the path branching off to the right. Caution: wet section. You will reach a junction with a track suitable for vehicles, at the sign for Ruisseau de l’Étrye, Alt 1660 m.

(7) Take the track to the right towards the L’Étrye mountain chalets. There is a drinking fountain by the chalets. Continue along the track towards Lenlevay via the^GR®5to the Crête de Coicon (alt. 1,840 m). This is the furthest point on the route.

(8) Turn round and head back down the track in the opposite direction, passing the Étrye alpine chalets once more. Continue along the same track, passing the sign for Étrye (alt. 1,694 m) and rejoining the junction with the Ruisseau de l’Étrye.

(7) Leave the^GR®5and continue to the right towards Sur l’Arête and Cornillon until you reach the ‘Sur l’Arête Alt 1658 m’ sign.

(9) Ignore the tracks to the right and left and carry on straight ahead towards the north-east, towards Chalet Cornillon. After a left-hand bend, you’ll arrive in front of the chalet and the ‘Cornillon Alt 1777 m’ sign.

(10) Turn right onto the track towards Les Québales. Pass the ‘Alt 1760’ sign and head towards Les Québales, continuing until you reach the ‘Les Québales Alt 1790 m’ sign.

(11) In front of the sign, take the track on the left towards the Chalet de la Torrens and return to the junction and the sign for the Chalet de la Torrens 1,735 m.

(5) Turn right onto the^GR®5path; be careful of a damp section on the left. Continue in the opposite direction along this section, which you already took on the way there, following the path through the woodland – a fairly difficult section – until you reach Les Crottes.

(4) In front of the alpine chalet and the ‘Les Crottes’ sign, leave the path you took on the way up and continue straight on along the^GR®5. Head down into the woodland – a fairly difficult section – until you reach the wooden sign pointing towards Sur Bayard.

(12) Leave the^GR®5and take the straight dirt track across the meadow, then continue past the sign for ‘Sur Bayard Alt 1230 m’. Take the track, which is partly uphill, then cross the bridge. Continue along the path to the left across the meadow until you reach the sign for ‘Les Ravières Alt 1281 m’ and the junction marking the end of the circular route.

(1) Turn right towards Plan de Feux along the track used on the way out, until you reach the car park (S/E).

Parking is available at the Plan des Feux car park.
Water point at the Étrye mountain chalet
Signposts are in place along the entire route.

REGULATIONS:

This route passes through the Mont de Grange protected natural area. To avoid disturbing wildlife and to preserve its habitat, please respect the regulations in force.

Permitted:

• Dogs on a lead
• Camping is permitted between 7.00 pm and 9.00 am.

Prohibited:

• Picking plants
• Collecting plants
• Littering
• Motor vehicles

During your walk, you may also come across herds grazing in the mountain pastures; please respect the following rules of conduct:

• Close gates and fences
• Keep your dogs on a lead and pick up their faeces
• Do not wash, bathe or clean any objects in the drinking troughs
• Do not approach the herds
• Stay on the paths

Here, as elsewhere, nature deserves your respect

Further information: Protection Biotope (APPB) – Pays d’Evian Vallée d’Abondance

There’s a beautiful view from Chalet Cornillon, to the right of the cross.
Don’t miss the waterfall at Sur Bayard.