Col de la Cochette and Château de Larron

Route from Saint-Offenge-Dessus via the Col de la Cochette and Château de Larron
An easy hike, mostly through woodland, with a short stretch across mountain pastures.

Details

10284598
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.63 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 694 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 694 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,432 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 751 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the Parking des Combes car park, the terminus, at Les Combes in Saint-Offenge-Dessus.

(S/E) Follow the yellow markings on a green background and the signs for Col de la Cochette, heading due east.

(1) At the fork, turn left, heading due north.

(2) At the next fork, continue to the right. Pass the Pierre Bouvard Refuge and continue along the marked path until you reach the fork at an altitude of 1083 metres.

(3) Turn left twice, following the yellow markings on a green background, to reach the Col de la Cochette.

(4) From the pass, follow the red and yellow markings ofthe GR® de Pays du Massif des Bauges - Boucles des Bauges, towards Creux de Lachat and Château de Larron.
At the fork, continue straight ahead on the GRP®. At the next crossroads, turn left, heading north, still on theGRP®, and continue to the fork towards the Refuge du Creux Lachat.

(5) Follow theGRP® opposite, towards Château de Larron, using the signposts.

(6) At the Stèle du Creux de Lachat, turn left, leaving theGRP®. At the next fork, turn left, then right at the next fork. Continue in this manner until you reach the fork at elevation 1239.

(7) For Château de Larron, turn right and continue to the towers of Château de Larron.

(8) Turn around and return to the fork.

(7) Turn right and descend the marked path.

(9) At this fork, turn left and follow the signs to the fork you passed on the way there.

(2) Turn right and follow the path, in the opposite direction to the outward journey, back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 753 m - Les Combes car park, Saint Offenge Dessus
  2. 1 : km 0.68 - alt. 872 m - Les Daudes (880 m)
  3. 2 : km 1.09 - alt. 920 m - Le Rosset (925 m)
  4. 3 : km 1.99 - alt. 1,084 m - Les Grangettes (1,085 m)
  5. 4 : km 2.75 - alt. 1,315 m - Col de la Cochette (1310m)
  6. 5 : km 3.89 - alt. 1,350 m - Fork. Return to - Refuge du Creux de Lachat (1361m)
  7. 6 : km 4.42 - alt. 1,315 m - Creux de Lachat memorial stone
  8. 7 : km 4.98 - alt. 1,272 m - Access to Larron Castle
  9. 8 : km 5.38 - alt. 1,264 m - Larron Castle
  10. 9 : km 6.82 - alt. 1,045 m - La Place (1,040 m)
  11. S/E : km 8.63 - alt. 751 m - Les Combes car park, Saint Offenge Dessus

 Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
bouzizi9c
bouzizi9c

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

quite a steep climb in the upper half

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Thomas73
Thomas73

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route with a beautiful climb up the Col de la Cochette, a ridge walk with stunning views, a descent to the Lachat valley through meadows and a return via a forest track that is a little unpleasant but efficient.
A lovely half-day hike (completed in 2 hours 45 minutes). The car park is easily accessible and spacious.

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Denis26
Denis26 ★

Thank you, Midep, for pointing that out. I have just corrected it.

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Midep
Midep

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Indicate at point number 3 that the trail becomes very steep until you reach the Cochette Pass (not Clochette!).
Provide a brief explanation of the origin of Château-Larron, a geological feature similar to the Tours St Jacques, located a few kilometres away.
Furthermore, Château-Larron is said to have got its name from the fact that it was used as a hideout by bandits...

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Geugeu
Geugeu

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike in warm weather as the route is mostly shaded, with three-quarters of the trail being a forest track. Beautiful views from the summit over Lake Bourget, as well as the entire Bauges and Tournette mountain ranges.

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Kakikakou
Kakikakou

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Still very satisfied with Visorando for its choice of routes, descriptions and invaluable assistance during specific hikes.

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dth74
dth74

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike, superb scenery in the mountain pastures and at Château Larron.

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nivolet
nivolet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike. We had a lot of fun discovering Château Larron, which we didn't know about before.

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Leloup88
Leloup88

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Excellent route, certainly difficult in terms of the climb... but well worth it.

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michel_fontaine
michel_fontaine

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

From the Combes car park, you can go back down the Chemin de la Cochette, turn left and, 30 metres further on, turn left again to go up the Chemin du Thuroz, which passes just to the left of house no. 48. When the path joins the forest track, turn left to return to point 1 of the route. I find this alternative more pleasant.
After point 3, when the route leaves the track to climb the path on the left (yellow mark on a green background), the slope becomes steeper and steeper as you approach the Col de la Cochette; this is the only difficult section of the route.
Stop for a snack at the Creux de Lachat chalets (below the refuge) where the water flowing into the large trough is drinkable (according to the refuge warden who gets his water supply there); I drank it without any problems.
At point 7, the round trip to Château Larron is worth the detour (impressive rocky spurs).
Between points 7 and 9, the very stony track sometimes descends very steeply, which is not always comfortable. The descent between points 9 and 2 is much more pleasant.
A good route completed at a reasonable pace in 5 hours with a lunch break in complete tranquillity.

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