The Crêt de Chalam

Date of walk : Aug 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A really nice route to do.
I did it without going back the same way, but instead following the loop as described on the route.
The first part goes up to the summit through the forest. It's magnificent, not a sound to be heard and you're in the shade – what more could you ask for?
At the summit, the view is magnificent, but it was overrun with flies and wasps, so we didn't stay long.
The second part, be careful, as mentioned in the description and in some comments, starts with a descent, which is quite long and very steep, with a good slope and some parts almost on the side of a cliff.
Once you've done this descent, the rest is a piece of cake, just a gentle descent through the forest and in the shade. It's true that this descent can be off-putting, but as we're no longer in the forest on this part and we're on the side of the cliff, we still enjoy a magnificent view all the way down.
To give you an idea of the terrain, I did this descent with my wife, my 7-year-old daughter and my 4-year-old daughter in a baby carrier, so yes, it's doable but you have to be very careful. We took it very slowly but surely.

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Date of walk : Jun 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A pleasant hike
Magnificent view of Mont Blanc and the Jura mountains.
The route is shaded for almost the entire walk, making it pleasant even in hot weather.

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Date of walk : Sep 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A fairly easy hike with a slightly more challenging finish (steep slope) but only for a short distance. Exceptional views upon reaching the summit of Crêt

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Date of walk : Aug 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A beautiful hike with exceptional views.
The return route is still there, but the descent is steep and sometimes slippery. However, it's worth it because you follow the ridge.

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Date of walk : Jul 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A beautiful hike with remarkable views at Crêt de Chalam. We started from La Pesse. The trail to Borne au Lion is also interesting.

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Date of walk : Jun 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

An easy and enjoyable hike that goes straight through a pretty little forest full of flowers. Only the last few metres are difficult because of the steps, but it's easily manageable. The summit is magnificent with a breathtaking 360-degree view. If you're lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of Mont Blanc.
I found the return trip much more difficult because I went down the other side. It's very steep and at one point the path is barely visible because it's hidden in a field of flowers, so watch out for ticks! It took me longer to get down than to get up, but it was worth it rather than taking the same route back.

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Date of walk : Aug 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

A fairly easy hike with a beautiful reward at the top: a 360° panoramic view of the surrounding landscape.
If you're lucky and the sky is clear, you can see Mont Blanc.
The only real difficulty is the last stretch to the summit, but it's nothing insurmountable and if you take your time, you'll get there without any problems.

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Date of walk : Aug 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

It's a shame the weather is foggy, but what a change of scenery!

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Date of walk : Jul 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

01/08/2022. It takes an hour to get from the "borne au lion" car park to the summit. The last 100 metres are more difficult, but the view from the top is superb🤩. The weather was sunny, and we could see Mont Blanc. You need to wear suitable footwear. We returned by the same route (wooded, flowery...). We highly recommend it.

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The return route is strongly discouraged (advice given by nearby tourist offices) and has even been removed from the map.

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Date of walk : May 16, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

a very beautiful hike through flower-filled meadows and gentle, rolling landscapes, surrounded by unspoilt nature.

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Date of walk : May 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Use of GPX track at certain points to confirm the route, otherwise navigation by sight.
Route taken during the week in May with warm weather at the start, then the sky clouded over (thunderstorms forecast in the afternoon).
Very few people around; we only came across three or four other couples.
We took advantage of the good weather when we arrived to take photos of the farm in the middle of a field of flowers (located on the right of the path before the finish).
Then we continued on our way, doing the route in reverse.
The ground was very dry and therefore not slippery, and we had no problem climbing the final rocky section (the one that is difficult to descend, especially if it is wet or muddy).
When we reached the summit, the sky had clouded over and the horizon was blocked, so there was no clear view beyond the Jura Mountains towards the Alps.
It was a shame about the view from the summit, but we really enjoyed this hike through the spring countryside.

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Date of walk : Oct 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Clarity of route map : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

There were a lot of people today (it was a beautiful Sunday) on the Crêt de Chalam, but not so many that we got in each other's way. One of the most beautiful views of the Alps (perfectly visible, and not just Mont Blanc as is often the case) from the Jura. Easy climb (an hour or so without rushing) from the Borne au Lion (where the car park was almost full). However, the descent was hellish: we decided to take the path heading north and really regretted it. The first part is very difficult, quite steep and rocky, and not recommended unless you are well equipped. the second half is even worse (unless we took a wrong turn at the bottom of the first part), very steep and, above all, very, very muddy and slippery. The path (if you can call it that) is completely dilapidated, with tree trunks to climb over and no signposts. In short, avoid at all costs: once you reach the top, come back the same way you came!

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Date of walk : Oct 03, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

beautiful hike with a stunning view of the Mont Blanc range

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Date of walk : Sep 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Beautiful view from the summit, difficult descent from the summit
At the bottom of the descent, take the right-hand track and not the left-hand route (very muddy)
Given the time of year, there were only four people on the circuit
Christian Rahier

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