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Author's update on 29/10/2024: descriptive correction of point (16).
The starting point is located in Béon, from a small car park overlooking the Chemin de Chanduraz.
NB: please note the addition of an alternative route: see below in the Practical Information section.
(S/E) From the car park, join the Chemin de Chanduraz and continue along it to the right. Continue along a slightly uphill dirt track until you reach the junction of the circular.
(1) Leave the forest track and continue straight ahead towards La Roche Percée.
You will soon come to another fork.
(2) Take the path on the right towards La Roche Percée (yellow markings) with a steep slope in a wooded area (the yellow markings are discreet). Arrive at La Roche Percée. This unusual place is a natural arch in a rock that only appears at the last moment.
(3) In a wooded area, continue along the path and its ascent with some fairly steep slopes (one of the passages even has a short ladder). You will come to a fork at a place called "Cote 672".
(4) Go straight ahead towards Champ Duraz (the right-hand path leads to Romagneux). The path continues to climb quite steeply. After a good walk, the slope levels out just before you reach a plateau and a fork in the path (a place called Planapose).
(5) Continue straight ahead towards Chanduraz and Izéna. Quite quickly, turn right at the next fork (towards Izéna) and you will arrive at Granges d'Izéna.
(6) Continue straight ahead towards Chanduraz and the Col du Grand Colombier. The good path with a moderate slope leads to another plateau and a fork in the road.
(7) Take the right fork towards Chanduraz (10 minutes according to the sign). Shortly after a geodetic marker, you will see the Pierre de Chanduraz.
(8) From here, you can enjoy a beautiful view (including Lac du Bourget). Please note: access to the rock is blocked by a gap and is relatively difficult. A path on the left (slightly downhill) leads to the foot of the rock, where you will need to do a little climbing on the left (take care if you do this).
Retrace your steps to the fork you passed earlier (do not take the path on the left).
(7) Continue straight ahead towards the Col du Grand Colombier.
(9) Go right towards Fivole uphill, then continue left following the signs. After a short descent, continue right at a new signpost (do not go down to the bottom of the valley). Follow a moderately visible path horizontally, then downhill to the left (following the yellow markings) towards a gate. After a descent through wooded countryside, you will pass a spring: take a good downhill path and you will come to a fork (called Montoux).
(10) Turn right towards Col du Grand Colombier on a good uphill path and arrive at the D120 in a sharp bend.
(11) Continue along it on the left, heading downhill. Shortly afterwards, take a path on the right (towards Col du Grand Colombier): this follows the road parallel to it, joining it a little further up. Continue along the road uphill: at a fork, head straight towards some buildings (leaving the road).
(12) The buildings in question are called Les Granges du Colombier. Continue straight ahead for 100 m, then turn right towards Col de Charbemènes.
(13) On a clear day, you can enjoy a view of the Mont Blanc Massif.
Keep to the right towards the Croix du Colombier via theGR®9: the path climbs steeply at times to reach the clearly visible cross a little higher up.
(14) There are some beautiful views to be seen.
Continue along the path towards the Col du Grand Colombier, which is not far away: this place is well known to many cyclists.
(15) Cross the road towards the summit of Grand Colombier, following the red and white markings ofthe GR®9.
(16) The Grand Colombier (altitude 1,534 metres) is thefirst peak you will reach (a relatively discreet and unprominent spot). A little further on, you will reach asecond peak topped with a geodetic survey marker. Continue along the ridge; be careful on some slightly tricky sections.
After a short stretch through the forest, the trail runs parallel to the road, joining it at Pierre Amion (marked in white and redby the GR®9).
Continue along the D120, straight on towards Culoz until you reach the Virage de la Frappe.
(17) Continue almost straight ahead after leaving the road (towards Culoz). Follow the route through numerous meadows for a short while. Once you reach the forest, the path descends towards Pré Sauvage.
(18) Just after arriving at La Cornalle: turn right towards Culoz on the GR®. The path joins the end of a road at a place called Fenestré (nice view).
(19) Continue towards Culoz and follow the path downhill for quite a while, with a few bends (and a relatively gentle slope). You will arrive at a multiple crossroads in Romagneux.
(20) Continue right towards Béon via the middle path (when I passed through, some signs were on the ground). Go straight ahead into the meadow, avoiding the path climbing to the right. You will soon reach the forest: continue down the sloping path, following the signs for Béon: please note that the IGN map is inaccurate in some places and there are almost no markings (pay attention to the direction in some places). You will reach a forest track, which you should follow for a short while. You will reach the crossroads of the circular route that you passed on the way there.
(1) Continue completely to the left downhill and return to (S/E).
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