From Bernex to Les Chalets de Bise

Yellow markings

(S) Opposite the oratory on Route du Télésiège in Bernex, take Voie Communale n°13. Ignore a path on the right and, opposite a relay antenna, turn left. At the crossroads by the quarry, continue straight ahead up the path on the edge of the Bois de l'Envers (south-east) until you reach a crossroads (hairpin bend).

(1) Leave the path towards Les Esserts opposite and climb up to the right (west). Ignore a path that descends to the right towards Langin and continue climbing (south-west). Cross a stream and reach a clearing.

(2) Ignore a path that descends to the right. Climb west, then south and finally south-east. Leave the Bois de l'Envers via a steep path. Follow the edge of the forest until you reach a cross. Climb up to the right into the mountain pasture for about 20 metres (south).

White and red markings

(3) At the crossroads, turn left (east-southeast). At the fork, continue straight ahead and reach a grassy pass. Ignore the trailheads on the left (Mont Baron) and reach the Col des Boeufs (elevation 1,432 metres).

(4) Climb up opposite (south-east). Cross a grassy plateau and ignore a path branching off to the right. At the edge of a wood, turn south and continue along the ridge. After the Arête ski lift, descend to the Col de la Crouaz (altitude 1,508 metres).

(5) Take the path on the right through the woods. Climb a steep slope and reach a small pass near the Petit Combet chairlift. Turn right (south), climb a grassy ridge, then through the woods (steep slope) and reach the Tête des Fieux.

(6) Turn left and follow the ridge (east). Ignore a path that descends to the left and reach an orientation table. Continue along the ridge and reach a ski slope. Follow the ridge to the right for 200m, which climbs to the summit of Pointe de Pelluaz.

(7) At the Haute-Savoie Departmental Council signpost, descend the path on the left (north-east), pass under the Pelluaz chairlift and reach a crossroads. Continue straight ahead and reach the Chalet Vert. Descend below the chalet, then climb the grassy slope. Ignore a path on the right, continue along the ridge (north-east) and reach the Col de la Casse d'Oche.

(8) Descend along the path on the left and reach the Lacs de la Case (where the^GR®® Balcon du Léman trail branches off to the left towards the Chalets d'Oche).

(9) Go around the lakes on the left towards the Portes d'Oche, then climb up the path on the left of the valley. Ignore the paths on the left towards the Dent d'Oche and the Château d'Oche and reach the Portes d'Oche.

(10) Follow the signs for Col de Pavis. Ignore a path on the right that descends to Lac de Darbon and continue along the left flank in a scree slope below the cliffs of Château d'Oche. Ignore a path on the left that climbs up to Château d'Oche, as well as a path on the right that descends to Lac de Darbon. Climb up the grassy ridge of Col de Pavis.

(11) Ignore a trail that climbs to the right and descend opposite into the mountain pasture towards Col de Bise (north-east). Ignore another trail that climbs to the right. At the fork (altitude 1,870 m), leave the path that descends to the Neuteu chalets and take the path on the hillside to the right. It overlooks Lac de Neuteu and reaches a junction (where it joins the^GR®® 5). Turn right (south) and continue to Col de Bise.

(12) The trail plunges into the Bise mountain pasture via a series of switchbacks towards the Chalets de Bise (refuge). Ignore the trails that climb up to the left and right and continue the descent towards the south.

(13) Ford the spillway of a pond, continue downhill on the right bank of the Nant de Bise stream and reach the Chalets de Bise (E).

Hike completed by the author on 09/09/2018.

Warning:
In the Bois de l'Envers, from (S) to (3), the yellow markings are irregular and faded. In addition, from (2) to (3), the path marked on the map does not exist on the ground. The climb is steep and can be slippery: follow the description, use a GPS if necessary and be careful in wet weather.

From the cross (3), this route follows part of the access to^{the GR®®} 5, then the^GR®® 5. This section of the route is described in the TopoGuide "La Traversée des Alpes, du Léman à la Vanoise par le Mont Blanc et le Beaufortain" (Crossing the Alps, from Lake Geneva to the Vanoise via Mont Blanc and Beaufortain), published by the French Hiking Federation under reference 504.

The Haute-Savoie Departmental Council's directional signs have sometimes been moved. In these cases, the altitude indicated on the sign is that of the sign's original position, not the actual altitude:
- at (7), the sign indicates 1750m, whereas the actual altitude is 1830m,
- at the junction with the^GR®® 5, between (11) and (12), the sign indicates 1834m when the actual altitude is 1860m.

In Bernex: shops, hotels, bars, restaurants.

At Les Chalets de Bise: mountain refuge, bar/restaurant.

Panoramic views of Lake Geneva, the Jura mountains, the Mémises mountain, the Dent d'Oche, the Château d'Oche, the Aiguilles de Darbon, the Cornettes de Bise, the Mont de Grange and other peaks in the Chablais region.

From the Tête des Fieux (6) and the orientation table on the ridge to the east, as well as from the Portes d'Oche (10) and the Col de Bise (12), panoramic views of the Dents du Midi and the Mont Blanc massif.

Lakes of La Case (9), Darbon (10) and Neuteu between (11) and (12).

The Bise mountain pasture is part of the European Natura 2000 network.