Chemin des Vignes from Bout du Monde to Passerelle du Trou de l'Enfer

A beautiful walk along the Leysse gorges and through the old vineyards of Saint-Jean-d'Arvey.
The trail, while not particularly difficult, can be a little steep and slippery.
It offers superb views of the Leysse and the cliffs of Mont Peney.

Details

8283578
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.42 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,476 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,450 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,916 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,056 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the old mill at the confluence of the Leysse and Doria rivers in Saint-Alban-Leysse.
Please note: there is not much parking space, so it is best to arrive early.

(S/E) Follow the road along the Leysse to the hamlet of Bout du Monde.

(1) Take the path that continues to a dam/waterfall on the Leysse with a beautiful fish ladder.

(2) Continue left along the path that winds its way up to a ruined house.

(3) Pass to the left of the ruins and then, immediately afterwards, turn right onto the Sentier des Vignes, marked in blue. Continue along the balcony path with beautiful views of the Leysse gorges.
Several paths branch off to the left, ignore them and continue on the Sentier des Vignes.
After passing a beautiful meadow on the left with a superb view of the cliffs of Mont Peney, continue to the next fork.

(4) Continue along the path that continues to the right. Cross the old vineyards and pass close to a pretty sarto until you reach the Lantillères crossroads.
Note: A sarto is a dwelling or cellar that was once used temporarily in Savoie for growing vines.

(5) Follow the path on the right and descend into the Leysse Gorges to reach the Trou de l'Enfer footbridge, with beautiful views of the Leysse Gorges and the footbridge along the way.

(6) Take the path back in the opposite direction to Lantillères.

(5) Continue right along the wide path that climbs towards Saint-Jean-d'Arvey until you reach the hamlet of Le Villard.

(7) Take the departmental road on the left.
Please note that the road is very busy at times and the footpaths are not very wide.
Turn left onto the street that descends towards the stadium and Château de Salins. After the entrance to the château, continue along Route de Salins, which branches off to the right. Pass the cemetery.

(8) Leave the road and turn left onto Chemin des Vignes and descend to the ruins and Saint-Alban-Leysse.

(3) Take the same route back to return to the car park at the confluence of the Leysse and Doria rivers (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,066 ft - Leysse-Doria confluence car park - Leysse (rivière)
  2. 1 : mi 0.24 - alt. 1,083 ft - Le Bout du Monde
  3. 2 : mi 0.61 - alt. 1,158 ft - Dam on the Leysse and fish ladder
  4. 3 : mi 0.78 - alt. 1,355 ft - Ruined house - Start of the Sentier des Vignes
  5. 4 : mi 1.67 - alt. 1,772 ft - Fork in the road
  6. 5 : mi 2.11 - alt. 1,667 ft - Les Lantillères
  7. 6 : mi 2.54 - alt. 1,385 ft - Trou de l'Enfer footbridge
  8. 7 : mi 3.61 - alt. 1,913 ft - Les Villards
  9. 8 : mi 4.39 - alt. 1,722 ft - Crossroads after the cemetery
  10. S/E : mi 5.42 - alt. 1,070 ft - Leysse Confluence Car Park - Doria (rivière) à finaliser

Notes

(6) You can take the time to enjoy a snack with your feet in the water and explore the river.

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 15 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
RCT69
RCT69

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello

First of all, thank you for a superb hike in the shade on 29 May 2026
A few variations:
I parked opposite the Impasse du Moulin; there’s a car park (P) on an abandoned site
The Route du Bout du Monde is pleasant; look out for a cave on the other bank

A sign warns that there are some difficulties going down to the footbridge. Admittedly, you shouldn’t do this after it’s rained, otherwise the path is wide and there are no ropes or cables

After the footbridge, I went through the canyon... be warned, it’s a steep climb back down, but IT’S MAGNIFICENT
I made my way back as indicated; the road section is a small road rather than the main road, so it’s quite manageable

With my detour, it was 14.5 km and 872 m of elevation gain (there is actually a route like this, but you have to fords the river... good luck)

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Bourachot
Bourachot

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 23, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this route at the end of May. It’s in the shade.
As it was hot, we walked back along the river (to avoid going uphill). There is a path on the right bank of the Leysse (see map).
However, if you wish to follow the river to the end (without going back up to point 3), you will need to cross it once to reach the left bank (after the confluence with the Ternèze stream) and again (at point 2) to return to the right bank and reach the start.
For us, the water level was acceptable, but you must be careful and choose your crossing points wisely (sticks are recommended to make the crossings easier).

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jojoDH
jojoDH

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
Route taken in December 2025. We are very satisfied with this route and plan to do it again when the weather is nice. It will certainly be busier then. The vineyard path is dotted with small buildings that were used until after the Second World War. At the time, all the hillsides on either side of the path were planted with vines.
The descent to the footbridge is well worth the effort.

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VCANET
VCANET

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant hike.

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BPJT1985
BPJT1985

A pleasant hike, with beautiful autumn colours. We extended the route to Puygros.

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Flofab7066
Flofab7066

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant route, partly bordered by the Leysse river, it is very enjoyable.

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BPJT1985
BPJT1985

Pleasant walk, autumn colours, well-marked route.

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BPJT1985
BPJT1985

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant walk in the forest with magnificent colours and an extraordinary footbridge.

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sempervivum
sempervivum

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Useful GPS track. Rollercoaster hike, especially for the footbridge. Easily passable paths, just a few metres of scree to cross. Waterfalls in spring and deciduous trees in autumn, with chestnuts to top it all off. Beautiful views of the Leysse

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emilie.M19
emilie.M19

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,
We followed the advice of a comment and some hikers we met on the way back along the river, except that we couldn't go back up to complete the circular path because the path was very high up and unsafe.
Otherwise, we followed the route from the start with the GPS without any problems. The footbridge wasn't very interesting, but the path down and along the Leysse was very pretty. You might want to bring your swimsuit and towel. This place is well known to locals and therefore quite busy.

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le_passereau
le_passereau

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A surprising ride just outside Chambery. The start is just as surprising: after the car park, you pass a few houses that you wonder if anyone lives in, a motorcycle repair and tuning workshop, then take a very shady path (ideal in hot weather) and gradually discover the Leysse, an old mill, the dam with its fish ladder and a few people looking for some cool shade. Beyond that lies wild nature and tranquillity. The arrival at the footbridge is a lovely surprise, lost between two mountains. You have to look at the map to discover that this is the GR du Tour des Bauges.
Next, we discover Saint Jean d'Arvey, a beautiful village near Chambery, which is currently undergoing development.
The return journey is a descent that must be done with care and shoes that grip a little: there is a risk of slipping
A very beautiful and original parish-specific to Brittany hike

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Georges M
Georges M

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb route, a wonderful discovery. It's a shame that the return leg is on the road.
But overall, a very nice walk to do, even with children.

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elisav
elisav

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Cold (4-6 degrees) and sunny. 3½ hours with stops for photos/water. Very damp near the Leysse at this time of year, but magnificent trees covered in green moss. Average views due to backlighting and deciduous forest in winter, so everything is brown. Some muddy, slippery spots. This hike must be superb in spring, summer and autumn.

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delphine2603
delphine2603

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely hike that partly follows the Leysse river, with a little bit of local history at the start of the route, a gentle climb, and a fairly challenging but safe descent to the Himalayan footbridge in dry weather. Beautiful light in the forest! There is a bit of tarmac when you arrive in St Jean d'Arvey, but the road is quiet.

A lovely walk!

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LuGui
LuGui

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A superb walk in the cool air while it was hot in the sun
We followed the route to the footbridge. Then, instead of going back up, we took the path that runs alongside the Leysse. Very pleasant. Possibly muddy in wet weather.

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