The Retord Farm at the start of the Bergonnes trail

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The Retord Plateau is ideal for snowshoeing in wide open spaces with, in places and in good weather, panoramic views of the Alps and Mont Blanc.
You can enjoy a snack in the picnic room at the Retord farm.

Details

n°1752136
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  • Snowshoeing
    Activity: Snowshoeing
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.72 km
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 5 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 320 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 319 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,344 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,145 m
Downloads
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Photos

Sunset
Le Tumet
Panoramic view of Mont Blanc
Retord farm

Description of the walk

Park in the centre of the village of Bergonnes after the last hairpin bend. There is a small car park with space for around ten cars.

(S/E) When you leave the car park, cross the road and take the path opposite to the cross-country ski trail.

(1) Follow it to the right until you reach the Croix des Terments crossroads.

(2) Enter the woods opposite. Turn left then right to reach the summit of Beauregard.

(3) Continue north to rejoin theGR®9and GTJ trails. Follow the small yellow signs with the snowshoe symbol until you reach the sign for Crêt du Nû.
Climb right towards the east until you reach the summit.

(4) Descend again, heading due north. Cross the forest to reach the Tumet farm further on.

(5) After the Tumet farm, continue north, following the cross-country ski trail until you reach the intersection with other cross-country ski trails, located near the Charnay farm.

(6) Turn left, leaving theGR®9here, and head west, following the sign for the Retord farm. After three bends on theGRP® Grand Tour de la Valserine, you will reach a crossroads at the top of a ridge.

(7) Take the track on the right to climb a few metres and reach the summit of Croix de Montlhèry.

(8) Descend to the previous crossroads.

(7) Turn right, taking the previous track. You will soon reach the Ferme de Retord crossroads.

(9) Turn left, heading south on an almost flat path along the edge of the Péguet woods. Reach the Grange à Lucien by following the snowshoe trail, marked by yellow stakes, crossing large expanses of snow.

(10) Further on, you will reach the cross-country ski trail.

(11) Leave it on your right and continue slightly to the left through the fields, still following the snowshoe trail. Go around the woods and enter them at a place called Plat Moteau. When you come out, you will find the cross-country ski trail again.

(12) Follow it, keeping to the left, heading south, until you reach the initial crossroads.

(1) Turn right and follow the original route back to the Bergonnes car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,146 m - Bergonnes car park
  2. 1 : km 0.31 - alt. 1,168 m - Crossroads of the circular
  3. 2 : km 0.75 - alt. 1,197 m - Croix des Terments
  4. 3 : km 1.68 - alt. 1,284 m - Beauregard
  5. 4 : km 3.43 - alt. 1,334 m - Le Crêt du Nu
  6. 5 : km 5.69 - alt. 1,234 m - Le Tumet
  7. 6 : km 7.04 - alt. 1,257 m - GR GRP crossroads. La Charnay farm.
  8. 7 : km 7.76 - alt. 1,279 m - Crossroads towards the Croix de Monthlèry
  9. 8 : km 8.08 - alt. 1,317 m - The Cross of Montlhèry
  10. 9 : km 8.76 - alt. 1,267 m - The Retord farm
  11. 10 : km 10.49 - alt. 1,230 m - Lucien's barn
  12. 11 : km 11.44 - alt. 1,240 m - Crossroads with cross-country ski trail
  13. 12 : km 13.37 - alt. 1,183 m - Crossroads at the edge of the woods
  14. S/E : km 14.72 - alt. 1,145 m - Bergonnes car park

Notes

(9) Picnic area at the Retord farm.

Worth a visit

Panoramic view of the Jura, Menthières, the Alps and Mont Blanc

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 10 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
gerard poher
gerard poher

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 16, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

With little snow in mid-January 2026, we didn't take our snowshoes, which was a mistake, because there is plenty of snow in the undergrowth, as our calves can attest.
With the sun shining, we enjoyed a lovely walk on the Retord plateau, which is fairly flat.
We followed the route using the app (top), which allows you to shorten the walk.
To be repeated in the summer.

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User 7989064

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Hike done in August. Beautiful views on the way to the Retord farm. Then, no signposts, back through the pastures. We found a few signs on arrival. Few people around on this Sunday at the end of August. So it was nice and quiet.

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SE VE RI NE
SE VE RI NE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful circular with superb views of the Alps up to point 6.
At point 4, CRET DU NU, don't hesitate to make a return trip to the viewpoint
We finished the hike at sunset with magnificent colours
The kilometres can be a little difficult for those who are not used to walking with snowshoes. Without equipment, however, you will sink into the snow and it won't be any better!

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monasun
monasun

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, it feels like you're in the mountains, easy, peaceful, you can recharge your batteries - beautiful flowers in July
A hike for all ages, from 8 months to 7 years old and adults
To be repeated very soon

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randopgh
randopgh

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, easy hike, with distance and duration as described.
Be sure to turn left immediately after the Retord farm to stay on the route of the hiking trail.
Thank you for this walk, which we have already done and will do again.

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Deuxpattes
Deuxpattes

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike with great views. Classified as difficult, perhaps because of its length? Because there are really no difficulties or dangers.
We mainly walked following the GPS as closely as possible.
The signposts are very strange, especially just after Grange à Lucien, where they point to La Ferme de Retord, which is completely opposite. (Have the signs been turned around maliciously?)
There were quite a few people out that day, as we rubbed shoulders with cross-country skiers.
Thank you for this post!

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bervou
bervou

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The circular was completed on a very sunny Tuesday. We deviated slightly from the GPS track that served as our "guide". We were able to follow part of the marked trail and another part by making our own tracks in the fresh snow (20 to 30 cm fell the night before). Great. Thank you for this walk.

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HD3D
HD3D

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you so much for this wonderful walk! What beautiful scenery! The only hiccup was at Ferme des Bergonnes, where I had trouble finding the path on the left that runs alongside the farm to return and finish the circular path.

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les pelands
les pelands

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A hike we've done before, but enjoyed just as much this time around.
Encountered a few hikers and some cattle. No difficulties encountered. Stopped at the Retord farm, which was occupied by friendly hikers. Continued on our way after having a bite to eat nearby, in the shade of a tree.
A pleasant hike. Highly recommended.

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zonzon
zonzon
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hike done with our group of friends (7 people). Beautiful view of the Alps at Beauregard. Easy hike, partly in the forest. We've done this route 6/7 times and always enjoyed it just as much. We ate at the Tumet farm, under the cool shade of the trees.

We had one bad experience: a heifer had died and was covered with a plastic sheet. The farmer had to wait for the knacker just after the Tumet farm, before the Retord farm, but that's life...

After Lucien's farm, we stopped for a snack at the Gouffre de la Bauche and then returned to Les Bergonnes.

A beautiful route, without any difficulty, a real pleasure, especially when it's over 30°C in Lyon! Thank you for the description!

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.