The Crêt de Chalam

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Interesting scenery. A reward after a fairly steep climb. Stunning view

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

To begin with, follow the sign to the left for “Crêt de Chalam”; the track leads more or less straight ahead onto the wider path. In fact, the footpath and the wider path run parallel and join up further on, but the signposted footpath, marked by a rope, is more pleasant.
A lovely walk with magnificent views from the summit. The ascent is easy and gradual on the way up, well shaded along a pleasant forest path. The final stretch to the summit is sunny, follows a flight of steps and is a little steeper. There were plenty of pesky insects at the summit during this scorching June. There is no shade available for a break.
We chose to do the circular route as indicated for the return journey. Despite a beautiful view at the start, the descent is, however, quite difficult and tiring: steep, very winding, stony and sunny (it is no longer signposted). You absolutely must wear suitable footwear. Doing this walk in the opposite direction would prove very gruelling (we came across a group of older walkers making their way up via this return route; they were completely exhausted). The return journey is easier via the same route as the outward leg (which is, in fact, recommended by the tourist offices). You just need to make an informed choice.
The ideal picnic spot is at the start, at the Borne au Lion (where there are picnic tables, with both shade and sun).

Machine-translated

Date of your route : May 26, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A brilliant hike – one I always enjoy doing
Stunning views from the top!

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : 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.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jun 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : 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.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

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

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : 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.

Machine-translated

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

Machine-translated

Date of your route : May 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

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

Machine-translated

Date of your route : May 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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.

Machine-translated