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Head to Chanaz and park in the village near the footbridge spanning the Savières Canal; the footbridge is impossible to miss, and parking is easy in November, but in July and August it’s not even worth thinking about. The Savières Canal connects the Rhône with Lake Bourget, and a lock completes the system.
(S/E) Cross the footbridge and go round the campsite on the left.
(1) Follow the wide track, with a small stream running alongside it on the left, for 250 metres until you reach the first junction.
(2) Take the path on the right. This path takes you back towards the south-east before leading 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) Head generally north; about 700 metres further on, at the junction (point 233), take the right-hand branch – the small road is flanked on the left by a masonry embankment. At the next junction, about another 700 metres on.
(4) Take the left-hand track, though you could also take the right-hand one.
In fact, there are many routes from Chanaz to Vions, and you can practically walk to the village of Vions within sight, as you can see its bell tower.
The left-hand track joins the main road at a place called La Muraille
(5) You’ll see why when you look up.
Turn right onto the main road and follow it to the level crossing on the Culoz–Modane railway line.
(6) Cross the level crossing and head towards the Bovéron chapel, staying on the road closest to the cliff.
(7) When you reach the small chapel, keep a close eye out as it’s easy to walk right past it without even noticing it; in any case, don’t leave the village until you’ve found the chapel. Then turn left onto the path, known as the Chemin des Morts, which climbs up to the Mollard de Vions.
This will be the steepest climb of the day; you’ll soon reach the area around the Commanderie. After a quick look around, continue along the small road heading north, then turn left at the junction
(8) At the first junction, turn left and continue along the wide track, which heads north again before veering sharply south after 400 metres. After a further 500 metres.
(9) Begin the descent along a more winding path where the views open out onto the Rhône, Mont Colombier and Lac du Bourget...
Make the most of an open spot to have a picnic in the sunshine. Continue the descent and, when you reach the top of the railway line, turn right onto the path with steps, which leads to the edge of the Étang Bleu.
Walk round the pond, following the base of the cliff.
(10) Head out towards the embankment; you’ve just joined theGR®®9. Take it to the left towards the railway bridge. Pass underneath it, then head back to Chanaz along the Rhône: either on the embankment, below the embankment, or on the wide track on the other side of the small stream. The first option is recommended; it allows you to admire the river and appreciate the power of the current. Return to Chanaz
(11) Cross the lock to see the developments carried out on the Rhône: first the Lavours dam, then, a little further on, the Savières dam.
Once past the Savières dam, you can join the road and return to the car park via it.
This wasn’t the route we took that day; so we returned to the lock, from where we could see the campsite and then the path we’d 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 
