From Geve to Pas de la Cle, Bec del'Orient, La Cheminee

Park at the good (free) parking place at the plateau Geve.

(S/E) From the parking, follow the broad track Northwards (right) through the biathlon piste and towards the Reuge de Geve.

(1) At the Refuge de Geve, ignore the track on the right and keep walking Northwards along the broad track, which starts to ascend gently. The path curves upwards through the forest to information about the Cyclone, and then a junction with a track on the left.

(2) Ignore the left hand track and keep straight ahead, now in North-Easterly direction. Look out for a narrow track/path on the left, which goes uphill at first. (This is not signposted, so check with your GPS to make sure you are in the right place)

(3) Take the left hand turn and follow the narrowing path. At a junction with a short limestone edge on your left, take the left hand split. Follow the path around and down into a canyon at the bottom of which is a cave entrance. This is La Glaciere (4). You won't get right to the bottom, but you will get to a point where you can see the cave entrance. Once you have seen it turn around and follow your steps back to the track.

(3) At the track turn left and walk uphill, curving around to walk in a North-Westerly direction (keep left) and arrive at Pas de la Clé.

(5) There are good views from the pass, but be careful of the steep cliff edge. Walk up to the left and follow the clifftop path around a gully and then down to a junction with the main path running East to West.

(6) Turn right (West) and walk along the path, usually in the trees but sometimes with rewarding views. At one point, where there is a section of rocks, make sure you follow the path over the rocks rather than taking a path on the left. Arrive at a signpost 'Sous Pas Brochier'.

(7) Continue walking West and start ascending to elevation 1568. Then the path flattens out, the trees thin and you start to descend to Bec de l'Orient.

(8) It is possible to walk down to the cliff edge and get some really good views, but take care with the drop. It is also a good place to eat your sandwiches. Once you have finished follow the path Southwards to arrive at La Cheminee.

(9) From La Cheminee turn East (left) and follow the path back into the forest. At a clearing look out for a wooden cabin on the right and follow the path to it; this is Cabane 44.

(10) Once you have read the information boards and looked in the cabin, return to the path and follow it Eastwards (right) back into the forest. Ignore a junction on the left and then one on the right as the track curves in a large U shaped bend. Descend to an obvious junction and signpost.

(11) Here you can take a detour to the left and walk to the Stele and back if you wish. We chose not to and turned right to follow the track to another junction.

(12) Turn right and follow the track Southwards to another junction with a track slanting uphill on the right and a signpost marked 'Haute du Canyon'.

(13) Ignore the right hand split and continue straight on, curving around to descend into the open pasture just above the biathlon stadium. Follow the track to the right past the stadium and back to the parking. (S/E)

This walk is sheltered from the sun for most of the way as it goes trough woods. The tracks are well marked and although stony underfoot you will manage this with a good pair of approach shoes or lightweight boots.

Remember the cliff tops are very steep when walking from Pas de la Cle to La Cheminee via Bec de l'Orient.

The forest has history from WWII when resistance fighters were based here, it is worth checking out the history.

Autrans is a lovely small town with some good cafes. We can recommend The Samovar Cafe and its home made fruit sorbets.