Dent de Vaulion

A superb snowshoe hike takes you to the summit of Dent de Vaulion with a 360° panoramic view of the Alps.
Good weather is really a must for this walk if you want to enjoy the exceptional view of the Alps in particular, not to mention the three lakes: Léman, Joux and Brenet.

Details

1807523
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Snowshoeing
    Activity: Snowshoeing
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.13 km
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 4 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 349 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 351 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,470 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,108 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The route is very well marked overall.
Depart from Pétra Félix from a car park on the right-hand side when coming from Le Brassus.
The main direction to follow is "Col du Mollendrux".

(S/E) Cross the road on foot without snowshoes for safety reasons, given the limited visibility.
Take the snowshoe trail on the left and leave the one on the right marked "Dent de Vaulion".
Continue along the trail for 500 metres.

(1) Turn right heading north. Climb gently until you reach an intersection.

(2) Turn right onto a large curve that runs alongside a forest of spruce trees on your left. Continue north, leaving the Dent chalet on your left.

(3) Cross a huge clearing and follow the path, which is easy to spot and winds around three successive hairpin bends.

(4) Continue along the path through the hairpin bends.
Note: the more athletic can climb directly up the dotted path on the map to cut the bend.

(5) Then pass the Chalet de la Petite Dent on your left and continue north-east.

(6) Head to the Chalet de la Dent de Vaulion bar and restaurant. Continue left, heading due north. Reach the
Dent de Vaulion.

(7) Descend to the left, heading due south to reach the previous crossroads, varying the route slightly.

(6) Continue left. At the left-hand bend, head right, still heading due south. Further on, you will reach a new intersection.

(8) Please note: it is best to turn left at this point, up a small hill, then stay on the ridge and descend to the Petra Felix car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,150 m - Parking near Pétra Félix
  2. 1 : km 0.58 - alt. 1,114 m - Turn right.
  3. 2 : km 1.07 - alt. 1,120 m - Turn right at the large bend.
  4. 3 : km 2.06 - alt. 1,227 m - Large clearing
  5. 4 : km 2.47 - alt. 1,296 m - Fast, challenging trail opposite.
  6. 5 : km 3.12 - alt. 1,349 m - Chalet de la Petite Dent
  7. 6 : km 3.46 - alt. 1,409 m - Chalet de la Dent de Vaulion
  8. 7 : km 4.05 - alt. 1,470 m - Summit of Dent de Vaulion
  9. 8 : km 5.79 - alt. 1,238 m - Intersection. On the left.
  10. S/E : km 7.13 - alt. 1,151 m - Parking near Pétra Félix

Notes

Arrive early in the morning if you want a parking space.
The Chalet de la Dent de Vaulion is open during the summer season.

Worth a visit

(7) Take advantage of the orientation table at the summit of Dent de Vaulion, which will help you identify the different peaks:
- to the north, you can see Mont d'Or, the valley that connects France to Switzerland, from Pontarlier to Lausanne,
- to the east, the entire Alpine range stretches out before you, with Lake Geneva in the foreground,
- to the west, Lake Joux and Lake Brenet.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
juif
juif

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk.

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Didier Angelergues
Didier Angelergues

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Follow the signs on the way down. Be careful at the start of the path below the restaurant, then at point 8, where the path most marked on the ground and which descends fairly steeply to the left is not the right one (continue straight ahead along a small steep path, according to the markings).

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carpof
carpof

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 24, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did it in the opposite direction, with a steeper slope on the way up and a white path on the way down. Be careful, there's forestry work going on at the moment which makes the path muddy.

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GAUME Nicole
GAUME Nicole

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 05, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

From Petra Felix, I'd advise you to park in the car park on the left of the road, because in summer there's a lot of traffic: cars, motorbikes and cyclists! You really have to be careful when crossing the road).
And do come early in the morning to make sure you have enough space.

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espritlibre
espritlibre

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very nice hike in magnificent weather.
A beautiful 360° view from the summit.
Next time, we'll do the hike in the opposite direction.

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tetedechoinks
tetedechoinks

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 01, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

I recommend doing it the other way round, as the climb through the woods is gentler and the descent to the lake is a good continuation of the hike after the magnificent view from the summit.

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isartyann
isartyann

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 13, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Magnificent hike! 360° view from the summit. fairly easy hike in winter on snowshoes. don't miss the path on the right coming back down after the shelter... especially when it has just snowed

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TomRando25
TomRando25

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Family hike with superb views of the entire Alps chain from the summit. Nice-looking restaurant near the summit (accessible by car, so lots of people).

On the way back, the path seems to have changed slightly due to forestry work and is not marked for 200 or 300 metres, but if you follow the forestry road you automatically come back to the main path.

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