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The walk starts from the village of Bourdeau, situated north of Le Bourget-du-Lac on the western shore of Lac du Bourget. From the roundabout on the Route du Tunnel du Chat (D1504), walk 800 metres towards the village centre. Immediately after the Route du Four, on the left, you’ll find the large, very attractive car park, which is the starting point for the walk.
(S/E) Return to the Route du Four, negotiate the hairpin bend and continue to the right onto the Route des Bégets. At the corner of No. 14, turn left into the passage between two houses, which continues to the right along a path. You will reach a fork in the path.
(1) Take the signposted path on the left leading to the Dent du Chat.
(2) Carefully cross the Route du Col de Chat (D914) above the tunnel and rejoin the path on the other side. After some steps, rejoin the road at a hairpin bend; cross it with the same caution and follow it along the right-hand side. After 200 m, look out for the continuation of the path on the left-hand side, which very quickly rejoins the road at another hairpin bend.
(3) Leave the road immediately, continuing to the left. You’ll rejoin the road one last time at the hamlet of Col du Chat; follow it to the left for 500 m, until you reach the pass itself.
(4) Take the path on the left, following the numerous signposts: Dent du Chat, Roc de Cornillon, climbing site, via ferrata, etc. The path is marked all the way to the summit by very large (but infrequent) yellow markings. The ascent is steady and presents no difficulty. You’ll soon pass the Roc de Cornillon and the via ferrata on your right, then the Roc Blanc on your left, before reaching the Col de la Vacherie.
(5) Ignore the path leading down to the right (west-facing slope) and continue along the ridge. The path becomes significantly steeper as it winds round a rock on the right, then finally meets the north face of the Dent du Chat. It skirts round it on the right and becomes more vertiginous, but is well secured by a series of cables. You’ll eventually reach the pass where four paths meet, which is the access point to the Dent itself.
(6)It’s best to stow your walking poles in your rucksack, as the route to the summit involves a series of cables and ladders. There are a few dizzying sections, but they’re very well secured. The ascent and descent pose no problems for the average walker. You need to be careful and take it seriously, but in my view it’s more fun than difficult. Reaching the Dent du Chat this way offers a 360° panorama.
(7) From the summit of the Dent, descend back to the pass via the same route.
(6) Take the path on the left, which descends steeply down the eastern slope towards the Fontaine des Côtes. After numerous hairpin bends, this path levels out and heads southwards to the fountain.
(8) Take the path on the left, towards Pierre Nioule and Bourdeau (signposted). After a few hairpin bends, you’ll reach the hairpin bend on the D42; follow this road downhill for about 500 metres.
(9) Take a path branching off to the left. After two hairpin bends, the path turns north-east and leads to a junction where a sign indicates that Pierre Nioule is 100 m away.
(10) Head towards Bourdeau on the left. Cross a track (signposted Bourdeau), continue straight ahead and you’ll come to a track suitable for vehicles.
(11) Follow this track downhill to the roundabout on the Route du Tunnel du Chat.
(12) Cross the roundabout to the left using the pedestrian crossings, then take the Route des Grandes Eaux (D13) to the left. Continue along the Route du Grand Chemin, which you would take by car, and head for the car park (S/E).
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