The Chaos of the Chéran, the Bridge of the Abyss

From the Cusy footbridge, walk up the Chéran gorges on the right bank and descend on the left bank after crossing the spectacular "Pont de l'Abîme" bridge. This well-maintained route allows you to discover the wildest part of one of the last natural rivers in Europe.

(!) User note: access to the starting point (2) of the hike is closed due to a recent landslide, and crossing the bridge over the Chéran river is prohibited.

Details

692913
Creation:
Last update:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.55 km
  • ◔
    Duration calculated by the app: 2h 33 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 277 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 277 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 576 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 428 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐
    Areas: Alps, Bauges
  • ⚐ City: Cusy (74540)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 45.772805° / E 6.039641°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3331OT, 3332OT, 3431OT, 3431OTR, 3432OT, 3432OTR
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Cusy footbridge car park. The car park can be reached from the Route des Bauges (turn off near the bakery, on the way out of the main town towards Lescheraines). Very well signposted.

(!) Hike impossible to complete in September 2025) => crossing the bridge over the Chéran river is prohibited.

(S/E) From the car park, walk past the fishermen's house to reach the Cusy footbridge, which you cross.

(1) Walk up the right bank of the Chéran along a wide path, the most difficult parts of which have been improved (log steps, footbridges). Information panels about the flora and fauna have been placed along the route.

(2) After crossing the cyclamen forest, continue to the Chaos du Chéran, where you can admire the most enclosed part of the gorges and the bridge overlooking them.

(3) Retrace your steps for 150 metres and turn right onto the path that climbs up to the D31.

(4) Follow it to the right to reach the Pont de l'Abîme bridge.

(5) After crossing the bridge and the discovery area, take the path on the right, which descends steeply for the first few dozen metres. There is no difficulty, as the path is extremely well laid out (log steps).

(6) After crossing the forest and climbing uphill, you will arrive at a fork where you can turn right to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 437 m - Car park at the Cusy footbridge
  2. 1 : km 0.21 - alt. 428 m - Cusy footbridge - Chéran (rivière)
  3. 2 : km 1.44 - alt. 452 m - The cyclamen forest
  4. 3 : km 2.09 - alt. 461 m - The Chéran chaos
  5. 4 : km 2.73 - alt. 569 m - D31
  6. 5 : km 3.18 - alt. 521 m - The Abîme Bridge
  7. 6 : km 4.75 - alt. 521 m - Cusy/Passerelle junction
  8. S/E : km 5.55 - alt. 437 m - Car park at the Cusy footbridge

Notes

A very well-maintained trail accessible to all. On the right bank, numerous educational terminals provide information about this exceptional natural environment.
It should be noted that parking is free (which is not the case at other sites in the region)!
White water swimming is possible during the warm season.

Worth a visit

- The Saint-Jacques towers in Allèves.
- Lescheraines and its lake.
- La Margériaz (hiking and caving).
- Les Bauges (Regional Nature Park).
- Alby-sur-Chéran (medieval village).

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 84 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
User 12012840
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Very disappointed. We were unable to complete the loop indicated by Visorando because access to point 2 of the hike is closed due to a recent landslide, and the bridge crossing the Chéran river is closed.
We were only able to do the round trip on one bank. It's pretty because it's very wooded, and you can access several places along the Chéran, but we could only enjoy the view from one side. Our grandchildren (aged 13 and 10) were also disappointed

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Dalina
Dalina
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful walk, magnificent scenery.
We climbed up the right bank. In places, the path was swept away by landslides. The Abîme bridge is closed to pedestrians and blocked by concrete blocks. Some hikers do, however, take the risk. The left bank is passable and in good condition.

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zAP
zAP
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Indeed, the right bank and the Pont de l'Abime are closed to traffic. That said, we defied the restrictions and "climbed" towards the Pont de l'abîme via the right bank, crossing the bridge quickly one behind the other to avoid excessive weight! We came back down the left bank without any problems!

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Fransyl
Fransyl
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

the closed paths were clearly indicated. However, the closure of the Abîme bridge was not indicated. So it was impossible to complete the loop circuit.

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nicodaime
nicodaime
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

With the recent gales, the right bank is impassable, so we have to walk another 3 km to the hamlet and then back down to the chaos. The Abîme bridge is being rebuilt, so pedestrians are not allowed on it either. This is an interesting hike, but it's impossible to do the whole circuit at the moment.

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Florent55210
Florent55210
• Edited:

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 : No

It's a shame that the circuit is currently closed on the right after the footbridge...we made the descent to the mill on the left after the paserelle, which is very hilly and shady, and very pleasant.

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Christelle L
Christelle L
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Unfortunately, the Pont de l'Abîme is totally closed, even to pedestrians, so it was impossible to complete the loop. We returned to the car park at the Cabane des pêcheurs along the same path, on the left bank of the Chéran. The right bank is currently closed due to the risk of flooding, but you can go over the footbridge, which is easily accessible from the Cabane des pêcheurs. A very pleasant walk.

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Nero d'Avola
Nero d'Avola
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Path closed on the right bank. I don't know whether this is because of the winter floods or the bridge closure: https://cusy.fr/fr/nw/1090013/1871248/fe...
It is only possible to walk along the left bank and back to the bridge, which is less interesting as the chaos is visible from the other bank...

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Benoit-Savoie
Benoit-Savoie
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Please note that the path on the right bank is closed, probably due to winter flooding. A small sign indicates "time indefinite".

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MB1
MB1
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route along the Chéran

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MB1
MB1
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely little route along the Chéran

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PI X Rousse
PI X Rousse
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The only drawback if you are with young children is that some of the sections are very steep and can be slippery in wet weather.
Otherwise, it's a great experience

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jacques rigolet
jacques rigolet
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This is a great tour to do when it's very hot, as most of the time you're under dense forest.

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Jerome chambery
Jerome chambery
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful walk along the banks of the Cheran, with the opportunity to swim in the pools. After a steep climb, the passage over the Pont de l'Abîme is the highlight of the walk.

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MarcheauSoleil
MarcheauSoleil
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Obvious route. A little crowded on a very hot day. Walked clockwise from the pont de l'Abime car park. The descent is a little steep but the path is fine. However, good shoes are required if the ground is damp. The return path is very close to the right bank of the Chéran, and it's beautiful! The chaos of the Chéran is very photogenic.
The climb back up is a little steep, but it goes well because the gradient is fairly even.

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