Places of interest around the Hautes Combes de Septmoncel – Lac de Lamoura – Lajoux

The start is planned from the church at Septmoncel, which overlooks the village. To get there, take a small road on the left as you leave the built-up area (heading towards Lajoux and Lamoura).
Parking is available near the church.

(S/E) With your back to the church, turn left and follow the “Tour de la Vie Neuve” route: shortly afterwards, continue left until the^second junction.

(1) Continue left onto a small road. The route then follows a track, and at a hairpin bend, carry on almost straight ahead (follow the red-and-white^GR®9markings). At a football pitch, turn right onto the small road and continue to the fork a few metres further on.

(2) Turn right, following the signs for Col de la Tendue (yellow markings).

(3) At the end of the road, you reach the Belvédère du Replan (you can make a round trip to admire the view of Saint-Claude). Take a path on the right heading downhill.
The path then climbs slightly.

(4) After passing beneath a farmhouse, you’ll come to a fork at a place called “Sur la Roche”; take the path on the left (towards Col de la Tendue – yellow markings). After a short climb, the path runs above the farmhouse, then continues uphill to a lovely viewpoint.

(5) From the well-marked Pointe de la Roche viewpoint, you can see Saint-Claude and the Queue de Cheval waterfall. Continue along the path for a short while and, along the way, you’ll come across the^GR®9route, which you’ll follow for a short stretch.

(6) At the Col de la Tendue (as indicated on the sign), you can enjoy a lovely view. Continue straight on, following the yellow markings towards the Grotte du Clary (leaving the^GR® route).

(7) A little further on, at La Magnine (as shown on the map), go straight on at a fork to take an unmarked section. Follow the main track all the way to its end, then turn right to reach a path not far away, which you should follow to the left.

(8) After a short while, you’ll reach a fork; turn left towards the Grotte du Célary

(9) Grotte du Célary: from here, you can access the cave via a staircase and enjoy a lovely view from the viewpoint.
Retrace your steps.

(8) Head left towards the Porte de la Chaux Berthod.

(10) After crossing a meadow, join a small road at a place called "Les Baumette" and continue to the right.

(11) At the end of the road, join another road at the place known as Porte de la Chaux Berthod.
Cross the road (D304) with care and continue straight on along a path towards La Serra (yellow markings).

(12) After a descent, you’ll reach a fork (signposted Combe Arbey): continue straight on for about 100 m, then turn left onto an unmarked section. Once you reach a fork, continue to the left (yellow markings), then at the^second fork, head right towards a building, the Refuge des Adrets.

(13) Continue along the small road until it ends. Then turn right onto the D25 road and proceed with caution for about 400 m.

(14) Just past a football pitch, turn left towards the car park, then take a path (yellow markings): the route then follows a footbridge on stilts and, after a left-right turn, follow the path towards the shores of Lac de Lamoura. Come to a fork (signposted ‘Rives du Lac’) and turn left onto a path heading uphill (towards ‘Sur le Lac’).

(15) At the spot marked ‘Sur le Lac’ on the sign, you can visit a nearby viewpoint, then continue to the right towards Lajoux

(16) At the fork at the place called "Le bas des Thoramys", continue left towards Lajoux, then turn right at the^first fork.

(17) A little further on, you’ll come to a junction; continue left towards Crêt de La Vigoureuse on an uphill path and reach it.

(18) Le Crêt de La Vigoureuse (the highest point of the route) is a lovely, relatively open spot offering views mainly to the south. Continue straight ahead, following the downhill path. Once you reach a track, follow it to the right towards Lajoux.

(19) Once you reach some buildings (Chez Gauton), continue straight on towards Lajoux.
At the end of the path, turn left onto the D436 road towards Lajoux and walk for about 200 m (take care).

(20) Near the town hall, you will see a cheese shop on the right. Turn right onto the track, carefully following the red-and-white markings (from here, you will follow the new route of^{the GR®9}to Septmoncel).

(21) At the buildings visible on the right, you’ll rejoin the D436 road. Continue left along the path^, following the^GR® markings^. After passing by a house (Le Goulet), join a road and continue along it to the right (D292 ^E4) for about 500 m. After passing by houses (on the right and left), look out for the start of a path on the right. Take this path downhill to reach a road further down (white-and-red markings visible).

(22) At Sous la Cerna, as indicated on the sign, continue left along the road towards the Belvédère de la Luette for about 60 m. Continue right along a path towards the viewpoint (follow the red-and-white markings).

(23) From the Belvédère de la Luette, there is a lovely view of Septmoncel. Then continue to the right, following the markings.

(24) At the D436, at the spot known as “Le Gyps”, turn immediately left off the road towards Septmoncel (white-red^GRP® markings).

(25) After a short while, you’ll come to a few buildings. Turn right at the fork, then a few metres further on, you’ll cross a road at a place called La Couronne. Continue along the path (red-and-white markings towards Septmoncel), which then descends gently to join a road further down.

(26) Turn right, then, near the buildings, turn right again onto Chemin des Épines to reach the village of Septmoncel.

(27) Once back on the road, turn left then right onto Rue Désiré Dalloz. Continue to the right to return to the church (S/E).

Alternative route:
(17) It is also possible to continue straight on to reach the (19) directly.

Good walking boots are recommended.

The starting point can be seen here.

Take your rubbish away with you and nature will thank you.

The quality of the route is generally quite good:
From (S/E) to (1): Follow the yellow markings,
From (1) to (2): Follow the yellow markings, then^{the GR®} (white-red),
From (2) to (7): Yellow markings + regular signposts. Similar to the Col de la Tendue, follow a short section of^{the GR®9}.
From (7) to (9): Unmarked section, but finding the right direction should not be a problem,
Once you reach the path leading to the cave, the markings are very faint. They become more visible as you approach the Grotte du Célary (with signposts),
From (9) to (12): Yellow markings + regular signposts,
From (12) to (14): Unmarked section, but finding your way should not be a problem,
From (14) to (20): Yellow markings + signposts.
From (20) to (27): Red and white^GR®9markings + regular signposts,
From (27) to (S/E): Yellow markings.

Traffic:
Overall, visitor numbers are low.
From (S/E) to (7): Moderate footfall overall,
From (7) to (14): Less frequented areas,
From (14) to (15): Lake Lamoura is fairly busy. It should be quieter further on,
From (15) to (20): Less frequented areas. It may be a bit busy around the cheese dairy,
From (20) to (26) : Quiet areas,
From (26) to (S/E): Generally low visitor numbers,

Septmoncel: read more here

Célary Cave: a beautiful local attraction worth visiting

Lac de Lamoura: read here

Lajoux: read more here

In the vicinity of (22), the route follows the Sentiers des Lapidaires trail in the opposite direction and passes numerous information boards. For more information, click here.