Cressin-Rochefort walks

A peaceful hike on the border between Ain and Savoie. From the start, there is a beautiful view of the Rhône riverbed. Further on, you will see Lac de Barterand, bordered by unexpected sculptures in the rock. A short climb towards the flag reveals a beautiful view of the lake.

Starting from Lac du Lit au Roi, passing by Lac de Barterand and then through the wine-growing villages of Bugey, Flaxieu, Pollieu, Vongnes, Ceyzerieu and its hamlets, and Saint-Martin de Bavel.Views of the Grand Colombier and the Lavours marshes.Circular with return to Lac du Lit du Roi for a quick dip.

Parves and a few other villages are nestled between the old Rhône and the canal (actually the canalised Rhône): you could say that this area forms an island. The suggested walk takes place at low altitude through woods, forests, agricultural landscapes, villages and hamlets that have preserved or enhanced the typical buildings of the Bugey region. There is also a beautiful view of the Savoyard foothills.

This circuit runs along a sunny hillside. It takes you to the heritage sites of the commune of Lucey and offers a beautiful view of the Jongieux vineyards dominated by the Saint-Romain Chapel.

An easy walk in the Savoyard foothills starting from the curious Church of Saint-Pierre-de-Curtille. The walk provides access to a pretty viewpoint over the Rhône river developments.

A pleasant, easy hike through the Mont Landard forest and the Montagnin vineyards.

A short walk for a half-day outing from the tourist village of Chanaz. In the village, directional signs clearly indicate the Circuit de Pierre Noire. Lovely viewpoint over the village and its canal, the Rhône river developments, Mont Colombier, etc.

An autumn walk in the Avant Pays Savoyard, to see something other than mountains, even if Mont Colombier is omnipresent throughout the hike.

An easy walk with beautiful views of Chanaz, then Lac du Bourget on the Chemin de Pomey.

An easy route to discover the Bas Bugey. Pass by Lac de Barterand, a small, refreshing lake (fishing and swimming), Marignieu with its wines, honey and an almost 800-year-old chestnut tree, and the nearby Marais de Lavours with its discovery trail. Not forgetting Vongnes, its Bugiste wine cellar and the Ecomuseum on the trades of the vine and wine.

Tour of the vineyards of the Savoyard hinterland.

A pleasant, varied walk, with sections through vineyards, others through forest and some beautiful panoramic views.

This hike takes you to the remarkable site of Hautecombe Abbey, starting from the Belvédère d'Ontex, which offers a magnificent view of the site. The route is more difficult than it appears, with a somewhat uneven path above the lake and a fairly challenging final climb.

A short walk to discover this Sensitive Natural Area, with 2 km on stilts. Numerous information panels and superb views of the Grand Colombier.

Pleasant, shaded hike Few markings at the start of the route, yellow markings in the undergrowth, cairns to cross the stone plateaus.

Circular trail exploring the Lavours Marsh and its nature reserve, via the boardwalk, then along the Séran river before climbing the Courbettes hill to return to Ceyzérieu.

Among the many access routes to Mont de la Charvaz, this loop takes the most direct route to the summit, via its steep western face, and descends via gentler forest paths. The view from the summit over the Avant Pays Savoyard and the surrounding mountains is extensive.

A medium-altitude hike in the Avant Pays Savoyard. Ideal for spring or autumn when there is still or already snow elsewhere. The yellow markers and directional signs at the main intersections leave very little room for doubt.

This circular walk starting from the village of Billième in the Savoyard foothills allows you to explore the region’s vineyards and take in some panoramic views.In autumn, along the path there’s a chestnut tree here, a walnut tree there – your pockets won’t be big enough for all the fruit you’ll gather. In the vineyards, the grape-pickers will surely have left a few grapes behind. If a hiker tries to slip off the path discreetly, follow them – it means they know a spot for mushrooms.

A lovely walk through the Chautagne State Forest (poplar groves), heading for the Mollard de Vions and the Port of Chatillon. The short, steep climb up to the Mollard de Vions offers panoramic views from the Canon de Vions site over the Rhône, the Grand Colombier and the Lavours Marshes plain. During the descent towards Vions, there’s a viewpoint overlooking Lac du Bourget and the Croix du Nivolet. From Vions, it’s possible to continue on a round trip to Chanaz and the lock on the Canal de Savières, but the entire section along the Rhône has very few shaded areas.

Short midday route, with the Croix de Beauvoir viewpoint and the Rochetaillée pass.

The Montagne de Parves is a promontory of the Bugey region, wedged between the Rhône diversion feeding the Belley waterfall and the route of the bypassed section of the Rhône passing through the Pierre-Châtel gorge. Its modest altitude makes it accessible all year round; the suggested route starting from Yenne offers a wide variety of landscapes and views, ranging from the banks of the Rhône, the site of Fort les Bans, the limestone plateau of Mont Chevreaux and the rural landscape of the commune of Parves-et-Nattages.

This is a half-day outing and the route is dotted with points of interest with information panels. Until the Pré Cevin intersection, shortly after the Croix de Chevru, the route follows theGR® trail, which is part of the Way of St. James. Then follow the yellow markings until you reach your destination.

Near Belley, the Rothonne Forest offers pleasant, well-maintained and marked trails. The Chevreuil trail presented here is 9 kilometres long. It is a lovely, peaceful walk with a view of the Dent du Chat at the top. The elevation gain of approximately 200 metres is not significant, allowing everyone to enjoy themselves. The trail is entirely shaded.

A hike in partial shade and partial sun on the heights of Yenne, offering beautiful panoramic views of Mont du Chat and the Rhône plain. Beautiful views of the Gorges de la Balme, the Château de Pierre Châtel and Fort les Bancs.

Les Tours de César offers a variety of routes suitable for all seasons. The circular route follows the cliffs of Mont Laval as closely as possible: at the foot of the cliffs on the way out, along the edge of their summit on the way back.

A loop above lake Bourget for a late afternoon walk. A walk amid historical sites and beautiful viewpoints.

This hike takes you to the summit of Mont Laval and then follows a circular route via the Tours de César to return via the Col de la Chambotte. Beautiful views of Lac du Bourget and the surrounding mountains.

A circular forest loop that is accessible in almost all seasons, running along the slopes of Grand Colombier and passing through an arch that you only discover at the last moment and a viewpoint over Culoz, Lac du Bourget and the surrounding mountains. In (6), be sure to stay away from the paths leading to the Romagnieux farm. See review dated 08/08/2022.

The ascent to the plateau and the Grand Colombier ridge through the snow follows an easy route, though it is relatively long due to the low starting altitude. The Grand Colombier offers a magnificent view over the Alps.

The hike starts in Béon and aims to reach the summit of Grand Colombier (1,534 m) with a quasi-circular route. It can be classified as somewhat challenging due to the elevation gain and distance covered. The ascent includes a few fairly steep slopes overall. Otherwise, there are no major difficulties (at most, it should be noted that orientation can be a problem around point (9) and that the markings are less precise at the end of the route).

This is a challenging route that will take you to Chanduraz, a remarkable viewpoint over Lake Bourget, the Rhône and the entire panorama around Culoz, passing through La Roche Percée. However, you will have to tackle a climb of over 1,000 metres, which is as difficult going up as it is coming down, to earn it.

This circular route goes up the Ruisseau d'Armaille, passes La Roche Percée de Corne Bœuf and runs alongside the marshes and Lacs d'Armaille, before descending through the forest. Remaining at low altitude, it can be done in any season, with only the water levels of the lakes and streams potentially complicating certain passages.

This is an unmarked and little-used route that is best taken in the middle of winter if you want to have enough snow, as the altitude remains modest (between 800 and 950 metres). The views of Lake Bourget are magnificent. In summer, it is possible to follow a marked route called "le tour de la montagne du Sapenay" (the Sapenay mountain tour), which does not, however, take the section directly overlooking the lake.

A short walk on the Cessens mountain, with views of the lake and the Bugey.

A hike mainly through woodland with beautiful views of Lac du Bourget.

This walk is a circular route starting at Notre-Dame de la Salette (Cessens) and ending at La Chambotte. It passes by the Tours de César and the castle ruins before descending towards the hamlet of La Chambotte, following the ridge.

This loop starts in Brison and climbs to the Croix de Meyrieu, then follows the ridge line to La Chambotte and returns to the starting point via a path through old vineyards. This walk offers numerous views of Lake Bourget.

A lovely hike at the foot of Mont Colombier, with panoramic views from the start and of Mont Blanc at the summit. Picturesque landscapes and pastures. ⚠️ 19/05/2026: Take care at this point (4)! Dangerous hike. Not recommended for children or those prone to vertigo. Read the reviews.

This hike will allow you to discover the natural site of the Grande Cuve and then take you to the summit of Mont Clergeon and its orientation table. You can also discover the traditional habitat of these mountains in the hamlet of Montclergeon.

A pleasant ride on an electric mountain bike.Waterfall, Marmites des Géants, lake and castle are all on the agenda.

A pleasant hike in the Savoyard foothills. Vineyards are still very much present. Yellow markings and a few directional signs help you follow the description.

From Saint-Jean-de-Chevelu, a circular route to the Maison Forte viewpoint above Vernatel offers a superb view towards the Chevelu Lakes. It is possible to climb to the Dent du Chat via the Col de la Vacherie.

A circular route allowing you to walk along the wild ridge that runs from the Col du Chat to the summit of Mont de la Charvaz, returning to the foot of the mountain. Much of the ridge route is off-trail but presents no real difficulty other than orientation.

In the Savoyard foothills, in the Chambéry Pre-Alps, a walk of less than two hours around the magnificent Chevelu Lakes.

This walk in the Savoyard foothills runs alongside the vineyards of this region. Vineyards are synonymous with well-exposed plots.

A hike not to be missed: the 18 wonders! You’ll discover the Ferlioz massif, with the Madone and its sharp limestone pavement. You’ll enjoy an incredible view from the Cerveyrieu Waterfall, follow the River Séran and marvel at the Thurignin potholes. And if these wonders aren’t enough, head towards the village of Vieu and its beautiful church. Cross another lovely forest before turning off at the source of the Adoue and admiring the curiosity that is the source of the Groin. Finally, you’ll discover a beautiful castle upon arriving in Artemare.

Mont Clergeon, with its summit at over 1,000 metres, is not one of the most popular peaks in Savoie. However, it offers a 360° view of the Rhône valley and the Bauges, Aravis and Mont Blanc mountains. The route is mostly shaded.

This is a lovely half-day hike with beautiful views of Lac Du Bourget, Aix-Les-Bains and the Chambérien basin, the Belledonne massif and Mont Blanc on one side, and the Savoyard foothills (Yenne, Belley, Grand Colombier) on the other. Please note: Those who are afraid of heights may be affected by some technical sections equipped with cables or ladders.

A lovely little walk with lots of views of the lake. Much of the route is in the forest, making this hike ideal on a hot day.

A fairly challenging walk on the first section with an average gradient of around 20%. Some quite vertiginous sections, but well secured with cables and ladders.On the descent, part of the path is poorly marked or unmarked; it is best to have some basic orienteering skills. At the top, superb views of Mont Blanc, Belledone, the Chartreuse, the Bauges, etc.

This is a fairly long hike, which starts off easily along the Arène but quickly becomes more challenging when you leave the D53 to reach the Sérémond viewpoint. The beautiful view at the top is well worth the climb. The second part is easy and descends back to the village, partly following the same path used on the way up.

This loop allows you to visit several characteristic sites in this area where the folds of the Jura meet the alluvial plain: the sharp limestone pavement of Fierloz, the Cerveyrieu waterfall, the Turignin Gorges on the Séran, the sources of the Groin and the chasms it forms. In high water, the route can be slippery but it is impressive.

This hike follows little-used paths and avoids other routes as much as possible. You will leave many paths behind. The idea is to make you want to return to discover the many possible variations and to create your own route. In the final section, the Sérémond viewpoint offers a magnificent panorama of the Rhône. Finally, the Clairefontaine Waterfall provides a moment of relaxation and refreshment.

Exploring the Cat Tunnel via the safety gallery. This gallery, running parallel to the road tunnel, serves as an emergency exit in the event of an incident. Normally, this passage is used by many cyclists as well as pedestrians to get from the Lac du Bourget side to the Yenne Valley and the Chevelu Lakes. The tunnel has been converted into the “Musée du Chat” and features an impressive collection of murals created by contemporary artists, inspired by Savoyard tradition. In my opinion, it is unique in France. A note on the route: you will see an elevation gain of 732 m, which is incorrect, as the software includes the mountain height above the tunnel; you must therefore subtract 321 m, bringing the route’s total elevation gain down to 455 m.

Here is a good route connecting Bourdeau to Hautecombe Abbey. The outward journey takes you above the wild shores of Lake Bourget with numerous viewpoints, all on a somewhat rugged route. After climbing a little higher, the return route takes you in the shadow of Mont de la Charvaz before coming back via the Col du Chat.

This hike takes place in a setting dear to Lamartine. The first part, which runs alongside Lac du Bourget, offers beautiful views, and a good climb leads to the Chapelle Notre-Dame de l'Étoile. Be sure to linger around the building and take advantage of the facilities to admire the panorama. On the way back through the forest, there are other viewpoints over the Savoyard countryside. Finally, the descent to Bourdeau also offers some sought-after views. 19/09/2023 Message from the moderator: the section between (2) and (3) is very steep and slippery on the way up and requires a good level of fitness for around 500 m. Some sections between (8) and (9) are also slippery on the way down. This route should be attempted in dry weather. Not recommended for young children.