Col de la Perche and Col de l'Arbarétan

Date of your route : May 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Perfect
It should be noted that the forest access road is long and rather uncomfortable.
Otherwise, it's great. As everywhere in the mountains, you have to be quite careful to follow the right route because there are many trails everywhere.
Thank you

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The hardest part of this hike is getting to the car park via a rough track (25 minutes in an SUV, sometimes impassable depending on the season): once you arrive, you will have the privilege of being almost alone... A beautiful climb through the woods. Between 1 and 2, at the burnt wood, I couldn't find the indicated path, so I took the yellow/green marked trail. At the Col de la Perche, I climbed up to Chapotet, with a magnificent view of the Mont Blanc massif and the Bauges. Do not systematically follow the route, which sometimes passes through sensitive natural areas (between 6 and 7), as the paths are well marked. The descent is easy on the knees. Overall, a beautiful, uncrowded hike, with several unmanned and well-maintained refuges awaiting hikers.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Be careful when climbing up to the fork (Rocher de la Croix to go to the Grande Montagne refuge) because on the lower path you have to take a small, very steep path on the left that is very poorly marked, with posts and about twenty metres further on, hidden by bushes!

Otherwise, it's a very nice walk, but for a better view, climb up to Chapotet and then descend to the right along the fence to Lac des Grenouilles.

Machine-translated

Road blocked 4 km from the start at PRODIN, change of starting point towards St Alban des Hurtières at La Teppe Verte towards Chalet d'Arbaretan, Col de la Perche, Le Chapotet, Col d'Arbaretan, Sommet du Grand Chat, Col de Champet.LE GRAND LEYAT, return to TEPPE VERTE, total 12 km with an elevation gain of 800 m, recorded with GPS.

Machine-translated

Hello,

There was a moment when I found myself lost.

Finding your way in specific snow and mountain conditions is not easy, as it can sometimes be difficult to match the map to the terrain. In this specific case, in addition to the description and map, it is advisable to use a GPS or GPS application.

The aim is not to be glued to your GPS or smartphone, but to have a tool that allows you to validate waypoints and thus remove any doubts about your orientation.

Orientation in specific snow and mountain conditions

Quote from the above document:

Methods are also indicated for cases of very poor visibility, but unless you have trained very often, and
in these truly appalling conditions (poor visibility is often accompanied by wind, cold and snow), these
methods will be very difficult to implement (especially since in these poor conditions, the brain works
more slowly!).
In these cases, the use of a GPS as a supplement is a decisive advantage (described in another document).

GPS: use in addition to traditional methods (map, compass, altimeter)

A+

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hello,
I attempted this hike at the end of April. The conditions were not ideal, as there was snow on the ground. I was unable to drive to the start of the hike, so I left my car 4 km before the starting point.
The map route isn't very reliable, and at one point I found myself lost.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jul 19, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant walk with beautiful panoramic views and no vertigo. Views of Mont Blanc, varied vegetation. Access via the trail is easy in dry weather at least. I recommend this easy and attractive walk.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello,
A magnificent route at the start of summer, with snow still on the peaks, numerous rhododendron bushes in bloom, a wide variety of other mountain flowers (blue gentians, pansies, etc.) and a strong scent of spruce at the start and end of the route (recently cut) which makes you forget the slightly steep slope.
Only the Plan refuge was open that day, but it was possible to refill our water bottles in front of the Grande Montagne refuge. A local hiker we met at the Plattières refuge explained that it was currently closed due to vandalism inside...
The hardest part was for the car: 1 km of paved road in poor condition followed by 5 km of stone path with no parking to stop before the end... (the only option was to turn around at a crossroads after about 2 km).

Machine-translated

Hello, everyone.
We have added waypoints to this route to help you find your way around.
Enjoy your walks!

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very beautiful hike, with many unmanned mountain huts along the way.
Quite a steep climb but a fairly gentle descent.
Thank you for this route.

Machine-translated

Thank you, TIQUET.
Here's another old hike that could do with an update. Let's hope the author reads this post and gets on with it. As for the guidebook, it would be great if you could scan it and send it to us. Feel free to send me a private message.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

There are no landmarks on the map, but fortunately the route is well marked.
It should be noted that the first 1,500 metres from the chapel have an average gradient of 20%.
This hike is part of a guidebook featuring 15 hikes published by the Val-Gelon tourist office.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Sep 14, 2013
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

I just submitted a similar itinerary, but travelled in the opposite direction and with a short climb to "Chapotet" at 2,076 metres.
It's a shame I didn't look for this guidebook before I left!
In any case, it's a very pleasant area with generous panoramic views.

Machine-translated