From Bise to Lake Fontaine via Ubine

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If you want to discover the mountains in all their forms, both mineral and human, take this challenging route.

You are in a protected area! See the regulations in the practical information section.

Details

n°10634
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.35 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,742 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,293 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 6,096 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 4,364 ft
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Description of the walk

Departure from the Bise car park, accessible by road from Vacheresse (signposted Bise/Ubine).

(S) Continue along the road and pass the Chalets de Bise.

(1) Cross a bridge over a stream (red and whiteGR®5markings) and pass in front of the Refuge de Bise. Turn right at the corner of a barn and climb steeply to the south-east. This will take you to the Pas de la Bosse.

(2) Take the path on the right (west) towards the Chalets de Mens. Climb up to reach a plateau between the Pointe de la Bosse to the south and the Saix de Mens to the north. Descend and head for the Chalet de la Combe au Trot.

(3) Take a wider path down to the Chalets de Mens.

(4) Turn right (west) and follow the path towards Col d'Ubine. Cross southwest, south, then southwest again to reach Col d'Ubine.

(5). Descend westwards towards the Chalets d'Ubine, which are clearly visible.

(6) Leave the Ubine chapel on your left and take a tarmac road for a few dozen metres. Take a path on the right that gradually climbs through pastureland. Enter the Maupas forest. Cross the north-northwest flank then descend to the northeast.

(7) At a crossroads, continue north, leaving a marsh on your right. Then turn left to reach Lac de Fontaine (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : mi 0 - alt. 4,915 ft - Bise car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.15 - alt. 4,925 ft - Chalets de Bise
  3. 2 : mi 0.95 - alt. 5,951 ft - Pas de la Bosse
  4. 3 : mi 1.53 - alt. 5,719 ft - Chalet de la Combe au Trot
  5. 4 : mi 2.02 - alt. 5,259 ft - Chalets de Mens
  6. 5 : mi 2.69 - alt. 5,558 ft - Col d'Ubine
  7. 6 : mi 3.67 - alt. 4,888 ft - Chapelle Saint-Bernard de Menthon (Ubine)
  8. 7 : mi 5.1 - alt. 4,436 ft - Crossroads
  9. E : mi 5.35 - alt. 4,364 ft - Lac de Fontaine

Notes

Linear hike: leave one vehicle at Lac de Fontaine and one at Chalets de Bise.

Circular option if you only have one vehicle:
(E) Go around Lac de Fontaine on the left on a good path. After the lake, just before a left turn in the path, turn right onto a trail. Gently climb up the valley, crossing the Bise road three times before reaching the starting car park (S).

REGULATIONS:

This route crosses the Cornettes de Bise nature reserve. To avoid disturbing wildlife and preserve its habitat, please respect the regulations in force.

Permitted:

  • Dogs on a leash
  • Camping is permitted from 7 p.m. to 9 a.m.

Prohibited:

  • Picking
  • Picking plants
  • Leaving any rubbish behind
  • Motor vehicles

During your journey, you will also encounter herds grazing in summer pastures. Please respect the following rules of good conduct:

  • Close gates and barriers
  • Keep your dogs on a leash and pick up their faeces
  • Do not wash, bathe or clean any objects in the drinking troughs
  • Do not approach the herds
  • Stay on the paths

Here, as elsewhere, nature deserves your attention

More information: Protection Biotope (APPB) - Pays d'Evian Vallée d'Abondance

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 6 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 6446450

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 28, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely circular walk – a steep climb to start with, but easy after that

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goulimar
goulimar

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A superb walk with lunch in a small restaurant at the Ubine mountain chalets (open only during the summer season), offering simple, hearty meals at very reasonable prices.

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Randophil57
Randophil57

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We made a circular route starting from Lake Fontaine, extending the route by about 20 minutes.
It was a beautiful route without too many people, with a snack break in the hamlet of Ubine.

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FlickaPatsy
FlickaPatsy

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful circular hike that can be done starting from the Bises chalets. To do this, once you reach Lake Fontaine, pass it on the left and take the first path on your right (signs for Bises are in place), which avoids the road but crosses it three times. Approximately 2 km more and 180 m of elevation gain for a total elevation gain of 705 m.

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natdu
natdu

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike with magnificent scenery. There are lots of people at the start, but most hikers head towards Lake Darbon. The Bise chalets are the starting point for several hikes. Be careful when looking for the path to Pas de la Bosse: you have to go past the Bise refuge and turn right at the end. The sign is behind you, so you can't see it from that direction. There is a small gate at the entrance to the path that climbs up to the right. It starts off quite steep. Not being a keen sportswoman, it took me six hours to complete the route... and I took lots of photos. It's just bliss!

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Netra
Netra ★

Hello,

About two weeks ago, I took the path between Chalets de Mens and Pas de la Bosse (in the opposite direction to the hike, therefore). I can confirm that from Pas de la Bosse, the trail climbs, quite steeply in fact. Then there is a series of short descents and ascents up to an altitude of 1,840 metres, from which point you descend to the Chalets de Mens.

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Thierryb26
Thierryb26

In fact, the path starts by going uphill before going downhill...

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Pit
Pit


Quite right!
So you should write "which rises first, before descending towards the chalets of Mens".

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Thierryb26
Thierryb26
• Edited:

In fact, the path starts by going uphill before going downhill... But at the top of the hill, the path rises steeply.

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Pit
Pit

It is written:
"At Pas de la Bosse, take the path on the right (west) that climbs towards the Chalets de Mens."
Looking at the map, between Pas de la Bosse and Chalets de Mens, it goes downhill!
No big deal, but...

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yannickfrezier
yannickfrezier

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2019
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello,
The route is excellent but incomplete in order to make a circular route. We completed the circular route this weekend without any problems. The GPX file is available if you need it.

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