The Col de Chérel

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Discover a pass in the Bauges region, notable for separating the Arcalod range from the Trélod range, two of the Bauges’ main peaks.
This route is the same as that for a walking hike.

Details

n°18430
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  • Snowshoeing
    Activity: Snowshoeing
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.74 mi
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 6 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,670 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,673 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 4,902 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,228 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐
    Areas: Alps, Bauges
  • ⚐ City: Jarsy (73630)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 45.664951° / E 6.191119°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3432OT, 3432OTR
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Photos

Col de Chérel
From the pass

Description of the walk

In Chambéry, take the Col du Frène road (D911) and continue to the village of Ecole. Turn right onto the D60b at Jarzy and continue to the Précherel car park (S/E).
Then, with your snowshoes on, follow theGR®® de Pays trail leading to the Pont du Leyat.

(1) Stay on theGR®® heading north-east and, after a few hairpin bends, you’ll reach the junction where the track and the footpath both lead to the pass.

(2) Turn left onto the footpath and, passing through the forest, you will easily reach the Col de Chérel.

(3) Take the track heading due south towards Les Granges de sur les Plans, until you reach another junction.

(4) Keep left on the track and head for the junction of the circular route.

(2) Then take the footpath on the left to descend directly to the Pont de Leyat.

(1) Follow the route taken on the way out to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,232 ft - Précherel car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.79 - alt. 3,524 ft - Pont du Leyat - Cherel (ruisseau) - Affluent du Chéran
  3. 2 : mi 1.89 - alt. 4,449 ft - Col de Cherel junction
  4. 3 : mi 2.24 - alt. 4,902 ft - Col de Chérel (1495 m)
  5. 4 : mi 2.8 - alt. 4,590 ft - Granges de sur les Plans junction
  6. S/E : mi 4.74 - alt. 3,228 ft - Précherel car park

Notes

The chalets below the pass are a good place to stop.

This route passes through multiple protected areas, which may be subject to special regulations:

Worth a visit

In winter, when using snowshoes, it is advisable to stop at the pass. In summer, however, the neighbouring peaks are truly magnificent.
Arcalod, Trélod, Dent des Portes and Dent de Pleuven – all clearly visible from the pass – make for some very interesting hikes.

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

4.3 / 5
Based on 8 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
Lemile
Lemile

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent spot in Les Bauges on a beautiful autumn day, highly recommended.

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sylvie744
sylvie744

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

As for how busy the route is, it's neither yes nor no. We met three couples and two mountain bikers.
However, I would like to point out that the time of 6 hours noted by Bernardino may be accurate for snowshoeing, but for hiking, it is half that.

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Deuxpattes
Deuxpattes

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I agree with the comments made by other hikers. It's a lovely route, fairly easy, done on snowshoes. The setting is superb, and the view from the Col de Chérel is magnificent despite the cottony fog at the bottom of the valley.
Lots of hikers with their dogs...
Thank you for this post!

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muse_88_
muse_88_
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Hello,
A lovely walk, done on foot without snowshoes. The scenery is truly magnificent in the evening with the sunset. You have to wait until you reach the top to appreciate the scenery, as the mountain path isn't the prettiest. The climb isn't difficult, but the descent through the dead leaves is a little more challenging. Once you reach the top, you can see one end of Lake Annecy on the Doussard side. The entire route crosses a road that is still quite busy at this time of year, so it's not very exotic and unfortunately not very natural, far from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Overall, the hike took us 3 hours and 15 minutes, which corresponds to the yellow signs. The 6 hours indicated in the information sheets are completely wrong.
Enjoy your hike, everyone!

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marie74_83
marie74_83

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

No orientation problems on this hike: you go up the trail and come back down the track.
It took us 4 hours, including a picnic break, from the Précherel car park (with crampons).
At the entrance to Précherel, a permanent sign says "car park full" even though it was two-thirds empty.

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sergiomont
sergiomont

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 26, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hello
A pleasant short hike on Sunday, 24 November 2019.
There were two of us. We did a short route, a four-hour walk. There was some good climbing.
There was a little snow and ice. We didn't use crampons.
A very beautiful view at the summit.

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geda73
geda73

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

My husband went to check it out this morning, but there was still a lot of snow.
He didn't follow the directions and took the track to go up (which he found very good) and came back down via the small path, which he found quite steep. Perhaps this should be specified in the description... In any case, he found it a bit difficult to go up that way.

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RMD
RMD

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

A short hike between two days with a greater elevation gain.

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Snowshoeing Variation of the Col du Chérel on snowshoes

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