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Go to Chanaz and park in the village near the footbridge over the Savières Canal. The footbridge is impossible to miss, and parking is easy in November, but in July and August, don't even think about it. The Savières Canal connects the Rhône with Lake Bourget, and there is a lock.
(S/E) Take the footbridge and go around the campsite on the left.
(1) Continue along the wide track with a small stream on your left, 250 metres further on at the first intersection.
(2) Take the path on the right. This path takes you back south-east before coming out onto a wide road lined with pay-and-display car parks. Turn left, then left again 100 metres further on. This is a shared route that takes you to Seyssel by bike (La Viarhona).
(3) Then head north for about 700 metres until you reach the intersection (point 233), where you turn right onto a small road lined with a masonry dyke on the left. At the next intersection, about 700 metres further on.
(4) Take the left-hand road, but you could also take the right-hand road.
In fact, there are several routes from Chanaz to Vions, and you can practically see the village of Vions, whose bell tower is visible.
The left-hand road joins the main street at a place called La Muraille
(5) You'll understand why when you look up.
Turn right onto the main street and follow it to the Culoz-Modane railway crossing.
Cross the level crossing and head towards the Bovéron chapel, staying on the road closest to the cliff.
(6) When you reach the small chapel, be careful not to miss it, and in any case, do not leave the village before you have found it. Then turn left onto the path called Chemin des Morts, which climbs up to Mollard de Vions.
This will be the climb of the day, and you will quickly reach the outskirts of the Commanderie. After a quick visit, continue along the small road to the north, then turn left at the intersection
(7). At the first intersection, turn left and continue on the wide track that heads north again and then turns sharply south after 400 metres. After 500 metres
(8) Begin the descent along a more winding path where views of the Rhône, Mont Colombier and Lac du Bourget will open up.
Enjoy a clear space for a picnic in the sun. Continue downhill and when you reach the railway line, turn right onto the path with steps that leads to the edge of the Étang Bleu.
Walk around the pond along the foot of the cliff.
(9) Head towards the dyke and you will come out onto theGR®9. Turn left towards the railway bridge. Go under it, then return to Chanaz along the Rhône: either on the dyke, below the dyke, or on the wide track on the other side of the small stream. The first option is the best, as it allows you to admire the river and appreciate the power of the flow. Return to Chanaz
(10) Go over the lock to see the developments that have been made on the Rhône: first the Lavours dam, then a little further on, the Savières dam.
Crossing the Savières dam, you can rejoin the road and return to the car park.
This wasn't the option chosen on this particular day, so we returned to the lock, from where we could see the campsite and the path we had taken on the way there (S/E).
Did this hike in gloomy weather. In Vions, the path on the left that runs alongside the railway line is closed due to a landslide. Take the path to the chapel and the rest is fine. Be careful, the car parks in Chanaz are all pay-and-display all year round, even on Sundays. The local police patrol the area and I almost got a ticket, but I got back to the car just in time. Didn't see anyone else on this route.
Visorando member
Moderate 
Difficult 
