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The start is in Thonon-les-Bains, at the junction of the Chemin des Chênes and the Chemin de la Vionnaz (a dead-end track). Access is via the road running alongside the ring road, starting from the roundabout leading to the hospital. You can park along the noise barrier.
(S/E) Cross the bridge over the D1005 and continue straight on for about a hundred metres. When the main road turns right, take the dirt track that opens up ahead of you (GR®5, marked in white and red). Enter the forest. Shortly afterwards, ignore the path on your right that heads due south; instead, carry on straight ahead and go through the wooden gate. About a hundred metres further on, keep left (GR®5) for 300 metres.
(1) A signpost indicates the direction to follow: turn left twice to head north-north-east. When you reach a track (350m), continue eastwards uphill.
N.B. An ONF sign warns of an “aggressive Eurasian buzzard”. I’ve taken this climb several times and have only seen the buzzard once, perched high up. As a precaution, I keep an eye on my back whilst twirling my walking stick above my head!
Cross a road and continue along the path that climbs straight ahead. At the top, pass a gate on your right and carry on until you come to another gate blocking the path. Go round it, cross the small road and enter the Pépinière car park.
(2) At the car park entrance, take a small path to the left and immediately turn left again as you head downhill. When you reach the houses, turn right and go round the gate blocking the path. At the next junction (where six paths meet), continue straight ahead along the only path that appears to be level. A marker post indicates a Blue/Red trail; follow it. After 300 metres, at the crossroads, leave the blue/red trail and take the path straight ahead that leads uphill. After 150 metres, you’ll reach an old stony track; follow it to the right. Stay on this track, ignoring the side paths, and pass under a high-voltage power line.
(3) After about a hundred metres, turn right. At the next Fork in the road, veer right and follow the high-voltage line. On the descent, the path narrows to become a track. Pass under the high-voltage power line again and enter the forest. As the path winds its way through, you’ll come out onto a track at the edge of the forest; take this track to the right (south-west). About fifty metres further on, this track turns right into the forest, descending slightly (see practical information).
(4) About 100 metres further on, take a path straight ahead that descends steeply (let the previous track branch off to the left). You’ll come out onto a track which you should take to the right (north-east). After about 700 metres, you’ll reach the Comte Rouge crossroads.
(5) Take the first path on the left (south-south-west), which leads downhill. After about 450 metres, ignore a path branching off to the right and, at the next Fork in the road, take the path on the right which leads uphill. Ignore a path branching off to the right and, at the next junction, take the path leading uphill in front of you. At the top, turn left and continue until you reach a wide track and an open area (beautiful view of Lake Geneva and Thonon-les-Bains).
(6) Take this main track to the right, heading north-east. At the first Fork in the road, turn right onto the Chemin de Lonnaz until you reach the crossroads of the same name.
(7) Then continue straight ahead (east) along the white/red -marked path to the Comte Rouge crossroads.
(5) Follow the first path on the left (north-west), uphill.
(8) Turn sharply left onto the path which initially heads south (fitness trail). After a very wide bend to the right, you’ll reach the Carrefour du Bois de la Ville.
(9) Then turn right (north-east). After about 300 metres, at the Carrefour du Creux de l’Aigle, take the path on the left that goes downhill and follow it to the Pépinière car park. Turn right and walk along the edge of the car park heading north.
(2) At the end of the car park, take the small one-way road leading downhill (north-north-west). At the bottom of the descent, cross the road coming from the left and head towards the bus stop.
(10) Continue along the small road leading downhill. At the first junction, turn left onto the Chemin de Sechy. At the end, turn right, cross the bridge and you’ll reach the car park (S/E).
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