Double loop of Mont Clocher from Hauteluce

Just after entering the village, head towards Chozal. Pass the departure station of the chairlift of the same name and park further up the road at the end of the Route des Combes. There are few parking spaces, but chances are you will be alone or almost alone.

(S/E) Follow a small road westwards.

(1) After about 200 m, leave the road and take a path that climbs up to the right, heading north. Go around a farm building on the left and you will soon reach an alpine track. Turn left at a sharp angle and follow the track uphill.

(2) Turn right at an acute angle, pass another farm building on your right and continue climbing on a path through the mountain pastures. Enter the forest and you will soon reach an unmarked intersection, identifiable only by the presence of a water pipe inspection hatch.

(3) Take the path on the right. Climb up several hairpin bends and leave the forest. After a few more hairpin bends, you will reach a busy track.

(4) Follow the track to the right. Ignore a path coming from the left and you will soon reach a fork.

(5) Leave the road and take a path that climbs to the right. Quickly climb to the top of Mont Clocher, marked by a metal cross (be careful of the steep drops, especially if you have children with you).

(6) Descend on the other side, heading north, on the same path.

(7) Return to the track and follow it slightly uphill to the right.

(8) At a fork, take the left track. At the fork that appears shortly after, keep right and follow a water reservoir on your right. At the next fork, turn left.

(9) After about 100 metres, turn left onto an unmarked and barely visible path. At the first crossroads, go straight ahead (south-west) and, at the crossroads after about 30 metres, turn left (south-east).

(10) After about 40 metres, turn right. After another 40 metres, turn left (south-southwest). Descend along a path that soon turns southwest, then north and finally west to reach the lower stations of two chairlifts.

(11) Pass between the two stations and follow a track heading west-southwest uphill. Stay on this main track and ignore the side tracks. Pass under the Brichou chairlift line and quickly return to the crossroads you passed on the way up.

(4) Take a hairpin turn to the right and continue downhill on a trail.

(12) At a three-way fork, take the middle path between the two tracks. Climb up and, at an altitude of 1,823 metres, you will reach a clearing where you can see the Roselend dam.

(13) Descend on the other side, south-southwest, then west-southwest. This will take you to the Col de la Legette.

(14) Take a sharp left turn and follow a road that descends quite steeply towards a campsite. Pass under a chairlift line. Go around the campsite on the right and continue on a path.

(15) When you are directly below the chairlift line, turn right onto a track. Shortly afterwards, take a sharp left turn with the track and pass under the chairlift line.

(16) Immediately after, in a hairpin bend to the right, leave the trail and take a path on the left (east). Descend and cross a stream on a footbridge.

(17) At a fork, go left.

(1) Return to the road you took at the start of the hike and follow it to the right until you reach the car park (S/E).

The route between points (4) and (8) is very busy.

There are a few streams, particularly at (11), where you can find water (not guaranteed to be drinkable). You can find mountain restaurants by taking a short detour to the right at (8) towards Col de Véry, or by continuing on after (8) to pass under the chairlift.

The church in the centre of the village of Hauteluce is worth a visit.