La Buffe via the Pas de la Clé and the Grande Brèche

From Autrans, head to Gève, where parking is easy.

(S/E) From the car park, head north to the Refuge de Gève.

(1) Continue straight ahead on the Cyclone forest road (closed to traffic) and reach a three-way junction at Vira Gros Jean.

(2) Leave the forest road and turn right onto the path heading northeast until you reach Pas de la Clé.

(3) Just before this, look for the GR®9 trail in the meadow, turn right to follow it and begin the ascent to the Grande Brèche.

(4) Ignore the path that descends towards the Mortier tunnel and continue along the ridge path, still marked GR®9, to the summit of La Buffe.

(5) Continue on the path that begins to descend and moves away from the ridge.

(6) Leave the GR® marked route and take the path on the right that descends steeply. Cross a forest track and continue along the path until you reach the Route Forestière des Feneys (D218).

(7) Turn right and continue downhill.

(8) Leave the forest road and take a good path on the right until you reach the Route Forestière de la Grande Brèche.

(9) Turn left and continue until you reach the Refuge de Gève, which you passed on the way there.

(1) Continue left to return to the car park (S/E).

There is no water on the hike.

Between the Grande Brèche (3) and the Grande Brèche (5), the trail is particularly steep with some vertiginous passages, but it is not dangerous. It can be slippery in wet weather or after a storm. However, the views are quite spectacular on this section of the route. The trails are all marked in yellow with signposts.

At the Grande Brèche (4), the trail that descends to the right can be used to shorten the circuit in case of bad weather.

The Refuge de Gève provides lodging and meals. Please enquire about opening times.