Groisy walks

An easy hike with many remarkable views.

Easy hike on the rural plateau of Les Bornes, with open views of the Salève, Aravis and Chablais mountains. Directional signs and a few markers.

An easy, shaded walk with two waterfalls along the way. Ideal for families and on hot days, with a beautiful view of the Parmelan.

A circular hike to enjoy the Belvédère de Pierre Taillée viewpoint overlooking the Filière valley. The route is varied, through forest and then along the river. The village of Usillon is the starting point for the Glières plateau, another popular hiking destination.

Walk starting from the Chosal farm, including the Land Art trail and its twenty or so installations in the heart of nature.

It is undoubtedly its proximity to Annecy that makes this mountain a place where hikers can find comfort after a more or less strenuous hike.

Le Parmelan, via a slightly less traditional route. At the summit, sharp limestone pavement, Grotte de l'Enfer (and other caves), Mont Blanc range.

Le Parmelan, via the Col de Perthuis and return via the Petit MontoirVaried landscapes passing through green pastures, dense forests, rocks and impressive sharp limestone pavements on the summit.

Between showers, with temperatures rather cool for what was supposed to be spring, we enjoyed a short walk in familiar surroundings, but the route was as enchanting as ever.

A pleasant walk starting from La Croisette, with a loop route at the top of Salève, on a short section of the "Balcon du Léman". The Salève des Pitons (or Pitons) is not the most spectacular part of Mont Salève, but it nevertheless offers exceptional views (the Franco-Genevan basin, the Jura mountain range, the Geneva harbour/Petit-lac, the Vaud and Valais Alps, the Arve Valley, the Chablais, the Mont Blanc range, the Bornes, the Aravis, etc.).

This is one of the most accessible "mountains" around Lake Annecy. ⚠️ A decree issued by the municipalities of Annecy and Veyrier-du-Lac prohibits motorised vehicles from accessing the Col des Contrebandiers and Pré Vernet.

A pleasant circular with a beautiful panorama at the summit over the Arve Valley and the Aravis, Bargy, and Sous Dine mountain ranges, etc. Mont Blanc is visible. Refreshments are available on the descent as you pass by the Chalet de Balme. This is a very popular hike, partly due to the Chalet de Balme.

On the north-western edge of the Annecy conurbation and a stone's throw from the Épagny shopping area, this well-marked forest trail offers a refreshing change of scenery. From the summit, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the lake, the mountains and the Fier valley as it winds its way through the countryside.

This is a pleasant hike, with beautiful views of the Mont Blanc range in the first part. From the cable car station, the Geneva basin spreads out below you.

The ridge trail from Mont Veyrier to Mont Baron overlooks Lake Annecy from a height of over 800 metres and offers panoramic views of the Bauges peaks. ⚠️ A decree issued by the municipalities of Annecy and Veyrier-du-Lac prohibits motorised vehicles from accessing the Col des Contrebandiers and Pré Vernet.

A circular trail that showcases the many facets of Salève: climb up via the Orjobet Cave, pass through the Trou de la Tine, Vire de la Corraterie, viewpoint towards Mont Blanc and Rochers de Faverges, viewpoints from the Observatory over Geneva and Lake Geneva, descent via the Grande Gorge and return to the start by passing under the large rock climbing routes.

The Salève in Haute Savoie is a bit like the mountain of the people of Geneva. The Grotte d'Orjobet still bears the stamp of the CAS (Swiss Alpine Club). From Le Coin, a steady climb takes you to the cave, which you can then cross. After a final climb, you come out onto the plateau, which is also an alpine pasture. The view is simply magnificent.

Snowshoe circuit on the vast Glières Plateau. Besides the historical aspect, the Glières Plateau is interesting to visit because the mountains that surround it are strong points of reference.

A beautiful, easy hike on the Glières Plateau, offering clear views of the mountain pastures and the Notre-Dame des Neiges Chapel. There are many chalets and mountain farms with herds of livestock in summer.

Tête Noire, Tête Ronde and Tête de l'Arpettaz: three peaks overlooking the southern end of the Glières Plateau. The hike takes you through a fairly wild and unfrequented part of the peaks surrounding the famous historic plateau. Magnificent 360° view.

This circuit starts from the Col des Glières, on the plateau of the same name, in this important resistance site near Annecy. Note: this hike can be done on snowshoes; see the Practical Information section for more details.

An extremely easy walk in the heart of Annecy (because even city dwellers are allowed to take a stroll), along the famous lake spillway: the Thiou. A flat walk through the trees, dotted with numerous wash houses, mills and ducks... Ideal for a short stroll after lunch or a family outing.

An urban circuit dedicated to water, exploring the narrow streets and passageways of the "Venice of the Alps". A rich heritage and beautiful views of the lake and surrounding peaks await you.

This loop crosses La Roche Parnal and the Sous Dîne mountain. The hike passes through alpine pastures, cools off in the forest and crosses a few rocky passages, but without difficulty. You will encounter ibex, but above all, you will have a 360° panorama almost the entire time, stretching from the Jura to the Aravis and Mont Blanc ranges. However, this is a demanding route due to its length and elevation gain, although there are no technical difficulties. You can also choose to walk in the opposite direction to the one suggested here. (!) Please read the paragraphs (5): poorly visible trail and (6) cliffs, cables, ridges, ladder, rocky outcrops.

A short and easy walk around the informative trail about the formation of marshland and the different fauna and flora found there, followed by a visit to the monument erected to the resistance fighters who were based at the Plateau des Glieres in the latter part of WWII. The way back follows part of the historic trail and passes the place where equipment drops were housed and the site of the infirmary.

A bit of history and prehistory for the whole family amid the waterfalls. An easy, educational walk through the Ice Age and the French Revolution with a detour to see some waterfalls.

Starting from the hamlet of Vovray, this is an easy walk, mostly shaded, with superb views of the town of Seynod and the Annecy basin.

A very family-friendly, rural hike through fields and woods. No particular difficulty. Lots of variations in the woods. Can also be done by mountain bike, but be careful as there may be fallen trees. Beautiful views of the Montagne d'Âge, the Mandallaz and the Montagne du Gros Foug, which separates us from the Rhône valley.

A little-used ridge route, mainly in forest, with a beautiful alpine climb. A few views of Lake Annecy, Mont Veyrier and the Dents de Lanfon. ⚠️ A decree issued by the municipalities of Annecy and Veyrier-du-Lac prohibits motor vehicles from accessing the Col des Contrebandiers and Pré Vernet.

A short, easy hike to complement your visit to the Gorges du Fier and/or Montrottier Castle.

A short, easy hike that complements a visit to the Fier Gorges and/or Montrottier Castle.

An easy family walk through the valleys around the commune of Vaulx. On a clear day, Mont Blanc is omnipresent and the walk offers a wide view of most of the Savoyard massifs (Bornes, Aravis, Bauges) as well as the southern Jura (Colombier massif) and further south towards the Chartreuse and the Belledonne range.

I suggest a lovely walk in the south-western part of Mont Lachat, taking in a variety of landscapes and some interesting viewpoints in uncrowded areas. Please note that this is a challenging walk with difficult sections off the beaten track and exposed terrain where a misstep could be dangerous (see the practical information section).

This cycle route climbs towards the Col de Saint-Jean-de-Sixt, then descends through the entire Vallée du Borne. Towards La Roche-sur-Foron, it then follows small roads before reaching the Col de Fleury. It descends to the village of Thorens-Glières, continues towards Aviernoz, and reaches the village of Naves-Parmelan. The route then turns towards Dingy Saint-Clair, La Balme de Thuy, and reaches the centre of Thônes via a cycle path.

This circuit passes through the Col du Marais, the Col de l'Épine and, after a beautiful descent, crosses Marlens. At the roundabout, a cycle path joins and runs alongside Lake Annecy, then climbs up the Côte de Talloires to reach Menthon-Saint-Bernard. All that remains is to climb the Col de Bluffy to reach the Thônes side.