Circular loop around the Voirons massif starting from Boëge

Start the walk at 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 to the right at a junction.

(1) A little further on, you’ll reach the site of Rocafort Castle, 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 come to a beautiful viewpoint, offering a particularly fine view of the castle 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 to the left, then take a path on the left that alternates between uphill and downhill sections. Continue until you reach the D50 road, which you follow to the left for less than 100 metres.

(4) Follow a path to the right, then to the 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 carry on straight ahead until you reach a junction.

(5) Carry on straight ahead, over a few more steep slopes. You’ll 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 (the highest point of Les Voirons).

(7) Carry on for a few dozen metres to an orientation table, where you’ll enjoy unobstructed views both to the east and west.

(8) Carry on straight ahead along the ridge, following the red and white GR® markings. You’ll reach another lovely viewpoint at a place called Saut de la Pucelle. Take care as there is a cliff very close by.

(9) Continue southwards downhill until you reach a junction with a path; take this path to the right. You’ll reach a crossroads at the Col du Prieuré (a lovely 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’ll reach another junction at a place called Pas de Marcy.

(12) Carry on straight ahead for a short while, then follow an ascending path (marked in white and red) over a few steep slopes. You’ll reach the summit of Pralère (a lovely view to the west if you veer off the path to the right).

(13) Continue down the path, which includes a few steep sections. You’ll reach the Col du Pralère (a junction of several paths) in a relatively short time.

(14) Turn right (south) and you’ll soon reach a promontory topped by a wayside shrine, offering 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 uphill section, 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 along the way.

(17) At a junction, 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) Carry on along the path and, a little further on, turn right for a descent down a few steep slopes. You’ll come to a footpath 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): you’ll begin a long descent down some steep slopes, including a short, particularly steep section. You’ll 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 junction, then turn left to return, in a short while, to the car park (S/E).

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

Good walking boots and walking poles are recommended.

Take your rubbish away with you – nature cannot break it down.

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

• when there is snow, only access via 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 for each section (the route is not uniform):
- green: fairly straightforward route with no significant elevation changes 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 gradients, 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 route 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 sections of sustained climbing.
White-red GR® Balcon du Léman markings.

From (6) to (7): Blue difficulty
The start of this section is quite steep, then the gradient becomes more gentle.
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
The route follows a path down a few steep descents.
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 moderate slopes and presents no difficulties.
White-red GR® Balcon du Léman markings.

From (12) to (13): Blue difficulty
As before, this section follows a route without any difficulties for a short while. After a junction, the path climbs up a few steep inclines 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 generally follows steep slopes.
White-red GR® Balcon du Léman signposting.

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: you first follow a gentle ascent, followed by a moderate descent. A little further on, you’ll encounter 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 marking

From (20) to (21): Blue difficulty
There are a few sustained, and at times unexpectedly steep, slopes.
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’s quite 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, providing a vantage point to monitor access to the Col de Saxel. It has been undergoing restoration for some time now by an enthusiast. To find out more, do read the article on Rhône Médiéval
• Notre-Dame-des-Voirons Chapel: see the Wikipedia article
• The Voirons Massif: see the Wikipedia article
• Bethléem des Voirons Monastery: it has been home to the Sisters of Bethlehem since 1990. To find out more, see in particular the Wikipedia article. There is a monastery shop on site.