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

The walk starts at the church in Septmoncel, which overlooks the village. To get there, as you leave the village (heading towards Lajoux and Lamoura), take a small road on the left.
Parking is available near the church.

(S/E) With your back to the church, head left following the “Tour de la Vie Neuve” route: not far on, continue left until the^second junction.

(1) Carry on to the left along a small road. The route then follows a track suitable for vehicles, and at a hairpin bend, carry on almost straight ahead (follow the white-and-red markings for^{the GR®®9}). When you reach 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 the Col de la Tendue (yellow markings).

(3) At the end of the road, you’ll reach the Belvédère du Replan (you can make a round trip to admire the view of Saint-Claude). Take a path on the right that leads 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”; turn left onto a path (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 clearly signposted Belvédère de la Pointe de la Roche viewpoint, you can see Saint-Claude and the Waterfall de la Queue de Cheval. Continue along the path for a short while; along the way, you’ll come across the^GR®®9route, which you’ll follow for a short distance.

(6) At the Col de la Tendue (as indicated on the sign), you can enjoy a lovely view. Carry on straight ahead, 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 short distance further on, a path 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 flight of steps, and you can also enjoy a lovely view from the lookout point.
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 a place called Porte de la Chaux Berthod.
Cross the road (D304) with care and carry on straight ahead 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 metres, 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. You’ll come to a fork (signposted ‘Rives du Lac’); turn left onto an uphill path (towards ‘Sur le Lac’).

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

(16) At the fork in the road at the place known as “Le bas des Thoramys”, head left towards Lajoux, then turn right at the^first fork.

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

(18) The Crêt de La Vigoureuse (the highest point of the route) is a lovely spot with relatively unobstructed views, mainly to the south. Continue straight on, following the path as it descends. Once you reach a track, follow it to the right towards Lajoux.

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

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

(21) When you reach the buildings visible on the right, you’ll join 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. Carry on to the right along a path towards the viewpoint (follow the red-and-white markings).

(23) From the Belvédère de la Luette, you can enjoy a lovely view of Septmoncel. Then carry on to the right, following the markings.

(24) At the D436, at the place known as ‘Le Gyps’, turn immediately left off the road towards Septmoncel (white-and-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 (white-and-red signposts towards Septmoncel), which then descends gently to join a road further down.

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

(27) Once you’re 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 carry on straight ahead to reach (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 route is generally in fairly good condition:
From (S/E) to (1): Follow the yellow markings,
From (1) to (2): Follow the yellow markings, then^{the GR®®} (white and red),
From (2) to (7): Yellow markings + regular signposts. Much like the Col de la Tendue, you follow a short section of^{the GR®®9}.
From (7) to (9): Unmarked section, but finding the right direction shouldn’t be a problem,
Once you’ve joined 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 and 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.

Footfall:
Overall, visitor numbers are low.
From (S/E) to (7): Moderate footfall overall,
From (7) to (14): Less frequented areas,
From (14) to (15): Lamoura Lake is quite busy. It will be quieter further on,
From (15) to (20): Less-frequented spots. It’s possible there might be a few people around the cheese dairy,
From (20) to (26): Less-frequented areas,
From (26) to (S/E): Generally low visitor numbers,

Septmoncel: read more here

Célary Cave: a lovely local attraction well worth a visit

Lac de Lamoura: read more here

Lajoux: read more here

Near (22), the route follows the Sentiers des Lapidaires trail in the opposite direction, passing numerous information boards. To find out more, click here.