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Departure from the chapel located on Route du Vieux Village in Chinaillon. There is a car park with 6 or 7 spaces nearby.
(S/E) From the car park, head towards the chapel and turn onto Chemin de la Bouvardière, which climbs uphill. Pass a group of houses and then a solitary house. About 50 metres further on, you will see the start of a path on the right.
(1) Follow this path as it climbs through a meadow and reaches the woods. Begin a steady climb and reach a track with several alpine chalets at La Gaudinière.
(2) Continue to the right, pass a rocky area and ignore the paths leading downhill.
(3) Be careful! At the start of a grassy path on the left, continuing on from the one you have been following, continue along the faint path opposite towards the top of the valley and the Col de la Colombière.
(4) At the stream, climb up to the left, join theGR® and continue to the ridge via the wide path that winds its way up.
(5) Climb up to the right and, a few metres later, turn right onto the path that continues along the side of the mountain. Pass a small section with a handrail (no difficulty) and reach a small pass at an altitude of 1,902 metres.
(6) Enjoy the view before heading towards Lac de Lessy. Reach the lake and the chalets.
(7) Continue around the lake, preferring the path to the track leading to the chalets. Then climb back up the track to the Col de la Forclaz.
(8) From the pass, begin a long, steady descent that follows the track and joins the Chalets de Mayse.
(9) Take the path on the left and at the three-way junction, continue uphill. This turns into a trail and continues towards the ridge. After a flat section, the climb continues on rocky terrain, turning left to quickly reach the pass at Planay.
(10) Switch to the other side, following the edge of the forest and then entering it.
(11) At the fork above the houses of La Culaz, turn left and follow the path along the edge of the pastures until you reach a track.
(12) Follow this track to the left for a few metres and take a path downhill to the right. Join a new track and continue to the left until you reach La Bouvardière. Then follow the small road to the Chinaillon chapel (S/E).
Visorando member
Moderate 
Association / Club / Walk leader
