Between the Chajoux Valley and the Moselotte Valley

A beautiful hike to the small pass of Collet de l'Étang on wide roads and forest paths through magnificent woodland. Beautiful views of La Montée Impossible de La Bresse and on arrival at La Roche Beuty. The climb is long but the short break at the Chalet du Collet de l'Étang is very pleasant. Viewpoint at Champis, before the descent into the Chajoux valley.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.41 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 432 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 432 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,190 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 774 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the small car park at the Auberge des Skieurs on the D34c.

(S/E) Take the road, Chemin des Champis, marked with a yellow triangle and diamond, which climbs through the meadows. You will reach a crossroads at the hairpin bend in the road.

(1) Continue straight ahead towards Moyenmont. The markings change to a yellow triangle. You will reach the foot of Moyenmont. Here, you will come to the junction withthe GR®533, marked with a green rectangle, and the Sentier de la Roche Beuty, marked with a red triangle.

(2) Turn left onto theGR®533towards the small pass of the Étang. You will soon reach Pré Jacquot.

(3) Continue on theGR® until you reach a crossroads. Stay on theGR® and take the Chemin des Reiffes to reach the Small Pass de l'Étang.

(4) Leaving the chalet, take the path marked with yellow triangles towards Les Champis. Cross the Grandes Faignes forest and return to the Chemin du Conservateur crossroads.

(5) Leave it on your right (it is marked with a yellow triangle) to continue straight ahead and descend towards the Vologne valley, following the yellow diamond markings to reach Champis.

(6) Leave the yellow diamond markings and after 150 metres you will arrive at the viewpoint. View of the Crêtes peaks and Belle Hutte resort below.

(7) Stay in the clearing to go around La Chaume. Return to the Chemin de la Bourrique crossroads and join theGR®533.

(8) Take it to the left to arrive at the Chalet des Champis.

(9) Continue straight ahead on theGR® trail shared with the Chemin des Champis, marked with green rectangles and yellow diamonds. At the crossroads, join the Chemin de la Piquançoire.

(10) Continue right on Chemin des Champis and leaveGR®533, which branches off to the left. Begin a short descent to reach the Goutte de l'Étang de la Cuve stream. Cross it and come out at a hairpin bend.

(11) Take the track opposite at the bottom of the Envers de Chajoux hill to return to the first crossroads.

(1) Turn right and follow the same route back to the starting point at the Auberge des Skieurs car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 774 m - Auberge des Skieurs car park. Near the - Chajoux (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 0.74 - alt. 836 m - Crossroads of the circular
  3. 2 : km 2.47 - alt. 954 m - Roche Beuty-GR crossroads
  4. 3 : km 3.13 - alt. 1,032 m - Pré Jacquot
  5. 4 : km 5.02 - alt. 1,101 m - Chalet du Small Pass de l'Etang.
  6. 5 : km 6.63 - alt. 1,131 m - Crossroads
  7. 6 : km 7 - alt. 1,168 m - Continue straight on towards the viewpoint.
  8. 7 : km 7.26 - alt. 1,181 m - Viewpoint
  9. 8 : km 8.1 - alt. 1,163 m - Take the GR.533 trail again.
  10. 9 : km 8.41 - alt. 1,162 m - Chalet Champis
  11. 10 : km 9.89 - alt. 1,063 m - Leave the GR.533
  12. 11 : km 11.17 - alt. 960 m - Pont des Champis
  13. S/E : km 13.41 - alt. 775 m - Auberge des Skieurs car park

Notes

(4) Chalet du Small Pass de l'Etang: shelter and fire pit available. Water source 500m away.
(9) Chalet des Champis: shelter available.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
bernard951
bernard951

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Zzzzzz tttttt

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Le bois dormant
Le bois dormant

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Still a lot of snow, but that's what made it so charming. Route completed using Nordic walking.

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Remy2910
Remy2910
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike, well worth doing 👍.

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doramalia
doramalia

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We completed this hike in a maximum of 3.5 hours, averaging 4.5 km/h. The estimated time of 5.5 hours is greatly overestimated. We enjoyed the reliability and beauty of the viewpoints.

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2561167358016
2561167358016

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 09, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We appreciated the reliability and beauty of the route.

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phil88pp
phil88pp

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

This afternoon, I went for a walk with a friend and our four dogs. We drove to WP1 to avoid the road section while keeping the dogs on their leashes.
The description is perfect, but I think the time of 4 hours 50 minutes is greatly overestimated. It took us 3 hours at an average speed of 3.8 km/h, including breaks because the dogs were chasing game (which allowed us to see a magnificent stag).

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sin57
sin57

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Great course! Affordable yet varied enough to be entertaining. A mix of very pleasant terrain,

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plidenantes
plidenantes

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We thoroughly enjoyed discovering the panoramic views offered by this hike.
Beautiful paths, shared with mountain bikes. The end of the route is a bit long, but overall it's well worth it!

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