Le creux de Lachat via Le Mariet

Date of walk : Sep 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Shaded summer hike. Between (5) and (6), you can make a round trip to the 'fenêtre des pendants' viewpoint.
On the way back, at (7) a track on the right, in good condition, allows you to avoid the circular towards (1).
Map or GPX file very useful

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Date of walk : Mar 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : Not used / Not applicable
Busy trail : No

An interesting and easy loop with beautiful views of the ridges above the Creux de L'achat mountain hut.
Varied landscapes of forest and mountain pastures.
Crossing the Mariets pastures dotted with old or beautifully renovated barns.

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This route is easy to follow and well shaded in hot weather.
The work of the loggers has left some traces, but the path crosses private properties that are not enclosed!
Forest maintenance is necessary and managed by professionals, so let's respect their work and property... because some comments are malicious due to ignorance of the issues!
During busy periods, the car park is sometimes full.
Nearby, in addition to the Arith bakery, which bakes with a wood-fired oven, don't forget the Lescheraines butcher's shop and the Moulin d'Arith, which sells walnut and hazelnut oil.

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Date of walk : Feb 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

We already knew the beautiful walk to the Mariet pastures but wanted to do the loop via the Lachat hollow this time. However, once in the forest after Mariet dessus, we got lost. There was a sign prohibiting access due to forestry work, and I think that was the path we should have taken. After 45 minutes of a very steep climb in the forest, with no signs and surrounded by abandoned tree trunks, we turned back. The foresters had "ransacked" certain areas and I think that trees that had been marked had disappeared. Otherwise, there was no snow or ice in the forest on 21/02 and the muddy ruts had started to dry out, making the path stable.
A little disappointed, but maybe we'll try again.

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Date of walk : Feb 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A fairly short loop hike without snowshoes: at these altitudes, there is less and less snow.

But a few remarks:
Forestry work carried out several months ago damaged the trail that passes through Mariets dessus (no repairs have been made by the foresters, which is regrettable, especially in a regional park).
The trail markings are basic and non-existent at some trail junctions.
It is a shame not to continue above Creux de Lachat to the ridge, where there is a magnificent view of Les Bauges, Mont Blanc and, to the west, the villages and hills of Albanais (an additional 100 m of elevation gain and 30 minutes round trip)

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Date of walk : Jul 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

hello,

i didn't follow the route described exactly: I headed towards Mariet above, then cut through a pleasant forest towards NNW before coming out onto a clearing where I had to head south between wooded slopes towards Creux de Lachat. I had done this route a few years ago and found it just as difficult to find the right path; I found myself in muddy, slippery passages usually frequented by livestock...
After Creux de Lachat, I resumed the indicated route but missed the path to the Creux de Lachat refuge, which would have taken me directly to the car park, as I found myself on the Cochette path and had to go back down the track.
The hike remains interesting for the forest crossings, which are magical with their mossy rocks and very pleasant in this rather hot summer.

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Date of walk : Dec 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Like "39Framboise73" in August 2022, we passed by the orientation table (approximately 1,400 m) and the Col de la Cochette (1,317 m) on our way back, then rejoined the trail at the 1,151 m point via the path marked in black dashes on the IGN map.
The weather was mild, with no snow, and we waded through mud near the Creux de Lachat refuge.

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

We went to the orientation table and Col de la Cochette. The only downside to the return trip is that after Col de la Cochette, it's not easy to choose between three very visible paths and a fourth, the right one, which you have to guess. Apart from that, it was a beautiful hike with lovely scenery. There were lots of pleasant shaded areas, which was nice in the heat

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Date of walk : Feb 09, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

the first part is easy, but the second is steeper, though not particularly difficult. Good, but quite shady. Well signposted. The coffee at the refuge was very welcome
not to be attempted if it has rained or frozen!

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Date of walk : Jan 01, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Great for a post-New Year's Eve walk (2nd January!). Snow too hard for snowshoes, but very slippery in places.
Walking poles essential, crampons recommended.
You can have lunch or just a hot drink at the refuge, which is very basic (we would have liked it to be a little warmer, with the fireplace lit, for example)
Very beautiful views at the summit, with Mont Blanc on one side and Le Bourget on the other.

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Date of walk : Feb 23, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

A beautiful hike, although it's a shame that the route is mostly in the forest. You make up for it at the summit with views of Mont Blanc, beautiful sunshine and warm weather. The snow is good in the morning, but in the evening it sticks to your snowshoes on the descent. Worth doing again in the summer. Thank you for the Viso trail.

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Date of walk : Nov 12, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Description no. 1 is incorrect. When you reach the place called "Sous le Chenay", turn right at the hairpin bend, not at the place called "La Benoite"
The hike is very pleasant. Just before arriving at the refuge, we climbed up to the orientation table and viewpoint, which are 20 minutes from the Lachat refuge, offering superb views of Mont Blanc, La Tournette, Lac du Bourget, etc.

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Date of walk : Sep 23, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike, even at the end of summer. From Creux de Lachat, we continued on to the orientation table. Magnificent view, but unfortunately the Alps and Mont Blanc were hidden by clouds. We will return for the view.

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Date of walk : Mar 13, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

return trip with snowshoes on your back
very pleasant climb through the forest, frozen snow-covered ground. Descent, some caution required due to ice and then slush.
Very enjoyable walk.

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Hiking trail ruined by logging. More mud than snow, because the machinery has completely destroyed the site.
To be redone another day.

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