Col de la Cochette circular from Saint-Offenge-Dessus

Head to the car park above the hamlet of Les Combes in Saint-Offenge-dessus.

(S/E) Take the forest road that climbs straight up towards the mountain. You’ll reach a junction.

(1) Follow the forest track on your left until the next junction at the hamlet of Le Rosset.

(2) Take the track on the right and continue along the forest road to reach the Pierre Bouvard refuge: viewpoint.

(3) Continue along the forest road.

(4) Keep to the left, ignore a path branching off to the right about fifty metres further on, and negotiate the bend to the right.

(5) Leave the small forest track and take the path on the left: marked with a yellow stripe on a green background. Reach the Col de la Cochette.

(6) Follow the path on the right and continue to the next junction as you emerge from the forest.

(7) Take the faintly marked path on the left which goes round the hillock and leads to the Pernet chalet: take a moment to stop and admire the view.

(8) Carry on straight ahead to reach the top of the hill, then head down to the left to the junction below. Follow the well-marked path on the left, which joins a forest track. Continue to the Chalet de la Plate

(9) Take the track to the right, heading south. At the sharp bend to the left, head straight on along the GR®96, which follows a small valley and leads to the Mermet chalets.

(10) Take the hairpin bend on your right, heading due north to reach the forest. Follow the path that runs along the mountainside. At the Chalet des Turres junction, this path becomes a forest track; follow it straight on to return to the starting junction.

(1) Turn left and head down the forest track to the car park.

Please remember to close the gates to the fenced-off areas behind you.