The Tête du Danay in a circular loop from Saint-Jean-de-Sixt

The Tête du Danay circular via the pretty Bois du Rosay, the Auberge du Daney-d'en-Haut, then back via Frête and Bois de la Pézerette.
Views of Les Confins, Les Aravis and the Grand Bornand valley.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.13 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 686 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 684 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,727 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,174 m

Photos

Description of the walk

From Saint-Jean-de-Six, heading towards La Clusaz, take the Corengy road on the left after the petrol station. Follow this road up to the area (signposted).

(S/E) From the picnic area, at the hiking sign, go up the road, then the path. Be sure to follow the trail that branches off to the right after about 200 metres. At the "Lachat" signpost, leave the path on the left to reach a crossroads and a track.

(1) Take the track on the right for a few metres, then take the path immediately on the left towards "Bois de Rosay". This pleasant path takes you to the Danay pastoral path at a place called La Rotagne.

(2) Take this path on your right and then immediately left onto the trail that joins a forest track. Take this track on the right to reach a fork.

(3) Take the track that climbs to the left. About 200 metres further on, the path branches off to the right (signpost) and, after a fairly steep climb, leads to an inn.

(4) Follow the path on the right, which is signposted towards Le Danay. Orange paint markings on the ground indicate the route. At the fork at the foot of Le Danay summit, continue up the path on the left, which is a short round trip.

(5) From the summit of Danay, descend to the crossroads, then take the left-hand path towards "Sur Frête".

(6) Before the buildings of "Sur Frête", turn left onto the wide path that descends towards Grand-Bornand. You will finally find some markings. Pass Le Planay and continue straight ahead downhill until you reach a three-way junction.

(7) Turn right and continue downhill to the crossroads known as "Bois de la Pézerette".

(8) Take the path on the left, pass the "Frasses Jacquier" signpost, then continue straight ahead and downhill until you reach the hairpin bend.

(9) Be careful at the bend: follow the path that branches off to the left well before the house that you can see below. This path remains fairly level and leads to the "Macheret" signpost. Leave the path on your right that descends to Le Grand-Bornand and take the one that now climbs uphill. It ascends to the left and joins La Fesse Girard on a steep slope (few signposts, follow the trail carefully).

(10) Take the wide path on the right and stay on this path, which continues downhill and joins "Sous le Danay" (do not use the wide carriageway that climbs up to the left, which is not marked on the map).
You will come to the crossroads and the track you took on the way up.

(1) Retrace your steps along the path you took on the way there to reach the Corengy picnic area (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,174 m - Corengy picnic area
  2. 1 : km 0.58 - alt. 1,283 m - Common crossroads A/R
  3. 2 : km 1.43 - alt. 1,410 m - La Rotagne
  4. 3 : km 1.83 - alt. 1,458 m - Junction
  5. 4 : km 2.26 - alt. 1,562 m - Danay d'en haut
  6. 5 : km 3.03 - alt. 1,727 m - Tête du Danay
  7. 6 : km 3.86 - alt. 1,581 m - On Frête
  8. 7 : km 5.12 - alt. 1,388 m - Fork in the road, to the right
  9. 8 : km 5.45 - alt. 1,318 m - Crossroads, on the left
  10. 9 : km 6.44 - alt. 1,236 m - Fork in the road, take the path on the left.
  11. 10 : km 7.95 - alt. 1,353 m - Fesse Girard crossroads
  12. S/E : km 9.13 - alt. 1,174 m - Corengy picnic area

Notes

Good footwear is recommended as it is very damp in places.

Worth a visit

The markings are less than average, with several unmarked changes of direction and junctions, making the route from (9) to (10) rather unpredictable. The climb to La Fesse Girard is quite steep.

The climb from the inn to Danay is marked with orange paint, but on the ground, so if there is snow, you will need a good sense of direction.

There are many tracks leading off in all directions.

You can stop for a break and something to eat at the Danay-d'en-Haut inn if it is open. Please enquire.

The Corengy picnic area is well equipped with a barbecue, shelter, tables and benches.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 13 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
boube22
boube22

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

the view from the top is superb, with a 360° panorama. The climb through the pine trees isn't very interesting as there isn't much to see, but it's very pleasant in warm weather.
an easy route

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Stef74
Stef74

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

There weren't many people leaving early in August
But we saw the crowds arrive as we were coming down from the summit.
The climb up and down was pleasant because it was shaded when it was hot
However, there are few viewpoints and the only really nice view is when you reach the summit with the cross and the three orientation tables. It leaves you wanting more, even though the forest is very beautiful

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User 17345291

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely, easy hike with beautiful views

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christophebr
christophebr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pretty, mostly wooded trail with beautiful views. No difficulty following the trail according to the directions and the markers. We did this hike on a very hot day, so it was nice that it was shaded. Thank you to whoever took the time to post this on the website.

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Marc0Polo
Marc0Polo

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

Written at the end of August 2024: a very pretty route, mostly through forest with lovely views from the summit of Danay. Very little road, but often wide forest tracks. No difficulty, except for a few wet areas created by springs. The section along the mountainside between 1 and 2 can be a little dizzying and narrow, but it is not difficult. The path between 6 and 7 is wide and easy and passes through meadows where cattle graze: please respect the area. The description is accurate, but not very helpful as it is very general. However, the app makes it easy to follow the route. The signage has been improved since the guidebook was written and is now very good. Similarly, the IGN maps available in shops clearly show the route of the hike. So overall, no worries.

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BoBdeBordeaux
BoBdeBordeaux

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike without too much difficulty! The view is fantastic.

Be careful, though, as the first part and the end of the hike are in the undergrowth, which is very damp and slippery during the off-season. Similarly, due to forestry work, the last stage is not really passable during this period.

A very interesting hike, but keep these details in mind!

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kerodec
kerodec

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike in the forest, climbing up to the top of Danay, superb view of the Aravis mountains.

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Pathoub
Pathoub

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Steep climb to the top of Danay, but the view is superb.
On the way back, the path near the bar/restaurant is blocked due to forestry work, but it is possible to return via the forest road near the car park a little higher up. It is monotonous, but you end up back on the original route.

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Muriel7413
Muriel7413

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike but poorly signposted. We would not have been able to follow the route without the app.
A section of the path is temporarily closed due to forestry work.

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Beno74
Beno74

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A possible shorter but perhaps less interesting alternative?

At point 7, instead of turning right towards 8, continue straight ahead, then turn right and join the start of the Frasse Longue track, which you follow to point 10, from where you rejoin the route described above.

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P'titlouis
P'titlouis

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

On the ground, this path is not very well marked. At each crossroads, a signpost guides hikers. However, there are no signs between these points. But thanks to the Visorando app, we can check whether we are on the right track! Brilliant!

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Feenka
Feenka

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

No difficulty following the route, little or no signposting, but signs at each intersection. We were surprised by the final climb at the end of the hike, which is much steeper than the description suggests. The view from the top is magnificent, but the first part of the descent is rather uninteresting, along a wide, stony path.

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