The Dent du Chat and the Molard Noir

Variation of the "Dent du Chat" with a route that passes through Molard Noir and starts above Caton, instead of the traditional "Col du Chat".

Details

36150
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.04 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 932 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 929 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,466 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 609 m

Photos

Description of the walk

From Caton, a village above Bourget du Lac, follow the D42 to the Sentier Botanique car park (630m), the starting point of our hike. Before getting kitted out, take a moment to admire the view of Chambéry-Aix-les-Bains airport and its surroundings.

(S/E) The path, marked in red, is well signposted and starts a little higher up on the right-hand side of the road.
The first section winds its way through dense vegetation and joins the road just before the Côtes car park (885m). This first section, which takes about an hour, can be done by car, thus shortening the total circuit.

(1) take the road on the right. Near the car park, a sign shows the routes available on Mont du Chat. A damaged stele relating to Pierre Allègre can be seen in the bend in the road.
Then continue a little further on the right along a path that quickly leads to the Fontaine des Côtes (1068m), the junction with the return route.

(2) Turn right onto the Sentier de la Dent du Chat to reach the Carrefour des Quatre Chemins at the foot of the Dent.

(3) The latter can be reached in 10 minutes via a path equipped with cables and ladders to reach a small platform at the top of La Dent du Chat at 1,390 metres. From this viewpoint, you can admire the region around Lake Bourget to the east and the Rhône Valley to the west.
Descend via the same route to the Carrefour des Quatre Chemins.

(3) Continue along the Sentier des Crêtes trail, marked in yellow, towards Molard Noir, which can be reached in 20 minutes. Some steep sections are secured with cables.

(4) Once you reach Molard Noir, at an altitude of 1,452 metres, you will see the Dent du Chat below you to the north, which looks very small, and the Chat transmitter to the south. Two orientation tables allow you to identify the surrounding landscape to the east and west.
For the descent, follow the ridge path to a fork (signposted Route du Relais (1,400 metres)), which allows you to pass to the right towards the Chat transmitter.

(5) Continue left to rejoin the road, which you follow downhill for a few hundred metres.

(6) Leave the road and take a path on the left, which is a little less well marked than the one you took on the way up, which will take you to the Fontaine des Côtes.

(2) Return to the Sentier Botanique car park (S/E) via the same path as on the way up.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 614 m - Botanical Trail car park
  2. 1 : km 2.41 - alt. 883 m - Road on the right
  3. 2 : km 3.8 - alt. 1,068 m - Start of the loop
  4. 3 : km 5.67 - alt. 1,311 m - Round trip to Dent du Chat - Dent du Chat
  5. 4 : km 6.62 - alt. 1,409 m - Orientation tables
  6. 5 : km 7.23 - alt. 1,457 m - On the left
  7. 6 : km 7.68 - alt. 1,400 m - Path on the left
  8. S/E : km 13.04 - alt. 613 m - Botanical Trail car park

Notes

The first section to the Côtes car park, which takes about an hour, can be done by car, thus shortening the total circuit.

Worth a visit

The Botanical Trail.
The Cat's transmitter.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 56 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Zoltic
Zoltic
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

There's no point starting from so low down, as it's just a forest trail with no views and is quite tedious. It's better to start from the car park on the coast (marked by a stone monument), which will save you a rather uninteresting 300 metres of elevation gain.

The detour to the Dent du Chat is optional if you're prone to vertigo or uncomfortable on technical sections, but it's the highlight of the hike. The 360° view is well worth the effort. I did it without any difficulty with young teenagers. Not suitable with a dog.

The route is almost entirely shaded, except for the peaks. There are no water sources.

Either the 2013 GPS track was a little inaccurate, or some of the trails have been reshaped by landslides and rockfalls, as the current trail is often several metres away from the Visorando route.

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Hugo38500
Hugo38500

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Nice view from the top.
The climb is challenging in winter (bring crampons) and not suitable for children or those prone to vertigo.
Very popular hike in summer, much less so in winter as the road is closed at the bottom.

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VCANET
VCANET
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

On the way there, we missed the start of the trail. It begins 25 metres from the hairpin bend at the Sentier Botanique car park. It is marked by a wooden stake with a yellow-green mark, but as it is planted on the embankment, three metres above the road level, we didn't see it. Further on, we took a trail that climbed straight up the slope and joined point 1. On the way back, at point 1, we found the trail described without any difficulty.
The hike is superb for its views. It is disappointing for the ears (it was a Saturday): incessant noise from parachute planes (except between 12 noon and 2 p.m.), plus various road noises when below 1,000 metres.
However, we were pleased to find that there were no mobile phones or drones at the very busy peaks of Dent du Chat and Molard Noir.

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kaolak1
kaolak1
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

There are two very small car parks (one of which people stop at to admire the view), so they fill up quickly in summer.
Fortunately, there are very good directions on Visorando, otherwise the hike would be complicated. Despite this, it is still enjoyable, and the difficulty lies in the fact that you climb gradually over a long period of time.

The downsides are the sections where you have to walk alongside cars on the road and the fact that when you get to the Dent du Chat and the Molard, it's packed with people.
On the one hand, to climb the Dent du Chat, you have to use ladders, so you often have to wait, and on the other hand, at the Molard, you come across a lot of people because there is a car park 30 minutes away where people come by car.

It would also have been nice to know that there is a place to eat at this point, as we only found out from a local that we could take a break there before tackling the descent.

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Rogerdelamandragore
Rogerdelamandragore

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

A somewhat monotonous climb through the forest. Exceptional views during the last few kilometres, but very crowded. The constant humming of the parachute planes' engines, a bit like the sound of your neighbour's lawnmower on a Sunday morning, spoils the walk a little.

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ronan.vilaine
ronan.vilaine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike starting from the car park just after point 1.
Magnificent but very technical. The difficult level is justified given the climb and descent on a trail with stones, roots, etc.
The trail is very slippery due to humidity.
The last section to reach the Dent du Chat involves ladders and steep climbing.
It is best to be well equipped and experienced...
Magnificent views from the Dent du Chat and the Molard Noir!

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Philippe MALITTE
Philippe MALITTE

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A somewhat challenging hike, but the reward at the top is breathtaking!

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Mariclor
Mariclor

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful forest trail with a steady climb that is ultimately easy. There weren't many people, but it was 24 December. The weather was superb and the view of Mont Blanc and the entire mountain range was exceptional, as was the view on the other side. This hike must also be pleasant in summer, but it is likely to be crowded as there is another access point to the viewpoint 30 minutes away. Truly superb.

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cathycoco
cathycoco

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a hike done with the magnificent colours of autumn

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Charlie 38
Charlie 38

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Nice hike, nothing special.

The route is reliable and well marked.

A bit crowded at the summit but beautiful view of the Bauge and Belledonne mountains.

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axesyb
axesyb

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

it's not very busy until you get close to the Dent du Chat. I did it at the end of September. The first part is all in the woods, so it's not very interesting, but it's very pleasant, especially if you want to reconnect with nature

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Bernard_F
Bernard_F

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route is unclear from point 3: return to the Dent du Chat. Follow the signposted trail.

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Victor Dulac
Victor Dulac

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

On the way back, the path down from the ridge no longer exists. You have to take it a little lower down on the road.

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Aliende
Aliende

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A challenging route but with a gradual climb and superb views from the summits.
The only downside is that, even though the climb is not very busy, the summit is packed with people.

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ricou98
ricou98
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike. Part of it was done at night, which allowed us to appreciate the lake and the lights of Aix-les-Bains

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