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Access: From the centre of Gex, take Rue Léone de Joinville, then Chemin des Galas, pass a small car park and park in the large logging area that follows, the starting point of the Route forestière du Pays de Gex.
(S/E) Follow the forest road, which climbs gently for about 1 km, until you find the path that cuts diagonally across at the Col de Branveau sign.
(1) Take this path to the right and rejoin the road.
(2) Take the Chemin Neuf, which climbs steadily and almost straight (beautiful views of the Creux de l'Envers and the ridges). Further on, you will come to a crossroads of tracks and paths.
(3) At the junction, leave the track and take the Col de Branveau path on the left. Reach the pass after a short stretch that is often wet and muddy. Enjoy the view of Creux de Branveau, where chamois are often seen in spring.
(4) Follow the grassy shoulder on your right (the trail is faint at first but quickly becomes more clearly marked) which extends to the Pas de l'Échine. The trail becomes steeper, with loose stones underfoot, until you reach a sort of funnel: the Pas de L'Échine.
(5) Come out onto a grassy saddle and rejoin theGR®9, which crosses the Jura ridges. Follow this trail through the pastures towards the west to Colomby de Gex, with its distinctive pylon and a memorial stone at the summit in memory of an aviator who crashed there before the war. From here, there is a magnificent view of the Lake Geneva basin and the mountains of the Bernese Alps to the Écrins. To the north, the Jura stretches as far as the eye can see.
(6) Leave theGR® here and begin the descent due east, following the yellow-marked trail (pegs, markings). Be careful in spring, as patches of snow can be slippery.
Be careful in this section as the trail is poorly marked in places. Look for the path that branches off to the left and leads to the Creux de Branveau ridge.
(7) Continue left on a slight descent to reach the Branveau chalet and then the pass of the same name.
(4) From here, take the same route you took on the way up to return to the starting point (S/E).
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Tourist office
Very difficult 
Moderate 
