Circular loop around the Voirons massif starting from Boëge

Start the route from the hamlet of Bois du Fayan in Boëge (Chemin du Penaz). A few parking spaces are available.

(S/E) Heading due north, follow the path towards Rocafort Castle: after a climb up some steep slopes, keep right at a junction.

(1) A little further on, you’ll reach the site of Château de Rocafort, where you can take a short detour (it has been under restoration for some time by an enthusiast). Continue the route towards La Duaz. You’ll arrive at a beautiful viewpoint, particularly of the château you saw just before.

(2) Continue the route to the right, heading uphill.

(3) At the junction, turn right towards Chez Dupuis along a path that is moderately visible. Shortly afterwards, cross a meadow heading left, then take a path on the left that alternates between ascents and descents. Continue to the D50 road, which you follow to the left for less than 100 metres.

(4) Follow a path to the right, then left, towards Notre-Dame des Voirons (marked White-Red GR® Balcon du Léman) via a few steep slopes. A little further up, cross a forest track and continue straight ahead to a junction.

(5) Continue straight on, over a few more steep slopes. You will arrive at the site of the Notre-Dame des Voirons Chapel.

(6) Go round the chapel to the left and continue south-south-west, following a steep path at the start. A little further up, you’ll reach the Signal des Voirons (highest point of Les Voirons).

(7) Continue for a few dozen metres to an orientation table, offering clear views to both the east and west.

(8) Continue straight on along the ridge, following the red and white GR® markings. You’ll reach another lovely viewpoint at a place called Saut de la Pucelle.Be careful of the cliff nearby.

(9) Continue southwards downhill until you reach a junction with a path; follow this to the right. You will reach a crossroads at Col du Prieuré (a beautiful viewpoint).

(10) Continue straight on along the GR® route. A little further up, you’ll come to a junction with signposts.

(11) Turn left to reach the nearby Pointe de Brantaz (a lovely viewpoint on the eastern side). Retrace your steps.

(11) Continue left, heading due south, along the GR® route. You will reach another junction at a place called Pas de Marcy.

(12) Continue straight on for a short while, then follow an ascending path (marked in white and red) over a few steep slopes. Reach the summit of Pralère (a beautiful view to the west if you leave the path to the right).

(13) Continue down the path, which includes a few steep slopes. In a relatively short time, you will reach the Col du Pralère (a junction of several paths).

(14) Turn right (south) and you’ll soon reach a promontory topped by a wayside shrine with beautiful panoramic views.

(15) Retrace your steps back to the pass.

(14) Leave the GR®. Continue straight ahead along a forest track (direction indicated by signposts). After an initial climb, the track descends gently before tackling steeper slopes. You’ll reach a large clearing at the end of a forest road.

(16) Follow this for about 800 metres, enjoying some lovely views.

(17) At a crossroads, turn left onto the forest road, which then continues as a forest track. You’ll come to a small, isolated house on the right.

(18) Continue along the path and, shortly afterwards, turn right for a descent down a few steep slopes. You’ll join a path further down.

(19) Continue along this path to the left.

(20) Shortly afterwards, take the path on the right at a junction (there are some ruins on the right): begin a long descent down some steep slopes, which are even steep for a short stretch. You will reach the hamlet of Chez Novelly (marked as Novely on IGN and OSM maps).

(21) Follow the small road to the bottom.

(22) At the crossroads, follow the road to the left.

(23) After the Pont de Manant, continue along the road to the right until you reach the crossroads, then turn left to return, in a short time, to the car park (S/E).

The starting point can be viewed on Google Maps (satellite view): click here.

Good walking boots and walking poles are recommended.

Take your rubbish away with you; nature cannot digest it.

Between points (5) and (17), the route passes through a sensitive biotope protection area with seasonal access restrictions:

• when snow is present, only access to the ridge route and forest tracks is permitted; this means that at the Oratory of Notre-Dame du Pralère (point (14) you should retrace your steps to the Col du Prieuré (point (10), then continue via the area around the Monastery of Bethlehem, the hamlet of Lilette and the hamlet of Le Penaz.
• From 15 April to 15 July, access is permitted only via the ridge route, forest roads and forest tracks; this means that you must not deviate from this route. 

In addition, please refer tothe Prefectural Order of 12 January 1987 and the Prefectural Order of 26 September 2006.

Below is a difficulty rating by section (the route is not uniform):
- green: fairly straightforward route with no significant gradients or difficulties.
- blue: slopes and/or elevation changes are more pronounced on a well-marked route.
- Orange: routes presenting some technical difficulties and/or poor route conditions (markings or visibility of the path).

From (S/E) to (1): Blue difficulty
The route follows a path over a few sustained and naturally steep slopes but with no other difficulties. After the junction, the route continues up a moderate incline.
Signposts and Yellow Arrow markings.

From (1) to (3): Blue difficulty
The route begins on some steep slopes, but the rest of the walk is relatively easy
Signposts and Yellow Arrow markings.

From (3) to (4): Blue difficulty
The route consists of a succession of ascents and descents.
Former yellow-red markings

From (4) to (6): Blue difficulty
The route follows a path with a few sustained climbs.
White-Red GR® Balcon du Léman markings.

From (6) to (7): Blue difficulty
The start of the section is quite steep, then the gradient becomes more moderate.
White-red GR® Balcon du Léman markings.

From (7) to (9): Green difficulty
The route is generally easy to follow.
White-red GR® Balcon du Léman markings.

From (9) to (10): Blue difficulty
You follow a path down a few steep slopes.
White-red GR® Balcon du Léman markings.

From (10) to: Blue difficulty
On the ascent, follow a path over gentle slopes. Only the approach to Pointe de Brantaz involves a short, steep slope.
White-red GR® Balcon du Léman markings.

From to (12): Green difficulty
The entire section is on gentle slopes and presents no difficulties.
White-red GR® Balcon du Léman markings.

From (12) to (13): Blue difficulty
As before, the section continues for a short while without any difficulties. After a junction, the path climbs a few steep gradients before reaching the summit of La Pralère.
White-red GR® Balcon du Léman markings.

From (13) to (14): Blue difficulty
On the descent, the route is generally on steep slopes.
White-red GR® Balcon du Léman markings.

From (14) to (15): Blue difficulty
This short section is relatively easy to complete.
White-red GR® Balcon du Léman markings.

From (14) to (16): Blue difficulty
The very start of the route is relatively inconspicuous, but it soon becomes more obvious: initially, you follow a gentle ascent, followed by a moderate descent. A little further on, there are a few steep slopes. Overall, the route presents no significant difficulties. 
Unmarked section.

From (16) to (18): Green difficulty
It is an easy walk along a forest road, followed by a path of a similar nature. 
Unmarked section.

From (18) to (19): Blue difficulty
There are a few steep slopes
Unmarked section.

From (19) to (20): Green difficulty
This section is relatively easy to complete
Former Yellow-Red Markings

From (20) to (21): Blue difficulty
There are a few sustained, even steep, sections.
Unmarked section.

From (21) to (22): Green difficulty
The route follows a small road with ease.
Unmarked section.

From (22) to (S/E): Green difficulty
It is fairly easy to continue without difficulty along the roads back to the starting point (S/E) 
Signposts

• Rocafort Castle: it was built in the 12th century on a rocky outcrop to guard the access to the Col de Saxel. It has been under restoration for some time by an enthusiast. To find out more, do read the article on Rhône Médiéval
• Notre-Dame-des-Voirons Chapel: read the Wikipedia article
• Voirons Massif: read the Wikipedia article
• Bethléem des Voirons Monastery: it has been occupied by the Sisters of Bethlehem since 1990. To find out more, see the Wikipedia article. There is a monastery shop on site.