Le Creux du Croue - Le Noirmont

A walk through unspoilt nature, across meadows, woods and scree slopes, following beautiful valleys with views of the Alps. The highlight of this walk is, of course, the Creux du Croue, a deep and magnificent depression.

Details

41896
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.47 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 617 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 615 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,556 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,202 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The departure point is at La Givrine station (Switzerland, a few kilometres after the border). Cross the railway line and park 50 metres further on in the car park on the left.

(S/E) The departure point is on the small paved road that climbs towards the Carroz chalet (Swiss Alpine Club CAS). Follow this road (1.7 km), leaving the road on the left (Pré du Four), and then take a forest path on the left (Carroz, red and white signposts) to the Carroz chalet.

During this journey, you will first cross a low wall, then a road and another low wall before arriving at the chalet (open the gate to reach the building) (view of Lake Geneva and the Alps in good weather).

(1) Go around the chalet and take the gravel path to the road. At the crossroads, turn left towards the farm (L'Arxière).

At the farm, turn right onto Creux du Croue via "la Combe aux Tassons" (see sign). About 200m after the round stone reservoir, turn left onto Creux du Croue (see sign).

(2) At the next sign, turn left onto Le Noirmont (yellow footpath sign). Be careful to cross the low wall immediately and turn left, following it. The trail climbs along the Creux until you reach a cross (dated 1964). Follow the yellow markings until you see the arrival point of a ski lift on your right. There are two ways to reach the ski lift.
1-Take the path that descends to the right,
2-Or take the path opposite that climbs uphill (yellow markings). This will take you to the ski lift via the summit of Noirmont (Croix- 1567m).

When you reach the ski lift, go around it on the left (yellow markings) and descend the ski slope (1.5 km) to a crossroads. Turn left (sign for L'Arxière). At the next sign, turn left (towards L'Arxière). After 600-700 m, you will arrive at the Copettes farm.
Take the road on the right which descends to the La Cure - Saint Cergue road. When you reach the road, turn left to the station car park (1 km). Walk across the car park on the right-hand side of the road to the station.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,213 m - La Givrine station
  2. 1 : km 3.36 - alt. 1,507 m - Cabanne du Carroz - View of the - Lac Léman
  3. 2 : km 6.15 - alt. 1,449 m - Le Croue
  4. S/E : km 15.46 - alt. 1,215 m - La Givrine station

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 29 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Michel lacroix
Michel lacroix

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The climb to Mont Noirmont Francais is very steep. The description is brief with little information in the second half of the hike.
The last kilometre at the side of the road is unacceptable and dangerous.
A good GPS is essential.

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adubout
adubout

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pretty walk that we chose to do in the opposite direction so that we could do the big climbs in the first half and finish at a longer pace.
The route is very well signposted, and given the time of year we didn't meet many people, but the path seems to be quite busy.
Patous quite aggressive at Creux du Crou.
There's a big racket at La Givrine for parking, which costs 1.50 Swiss francs an hour, or nearly 10 francs (in coins!), for a leisurely stroll. You can park a little further on for free, but it's not accessible at the moment because of roadworks.

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MATHEY Didier
MATHEY Didier

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent route. However, beware of the armadillos guarding the herds, which can be aggressive.

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Claude L2.
Claude L2.
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

As mentioned by another hiker, the Mamac car park is well signposted and reserved for customers.
What's more, there was some work going on near the station and you have to pay for parking (1 CHF per hour!) I had to park on the French side, almost 1 km further on...
Otherwise a very nice walk.
One downside: I came across some VERY aggressive patous in the Creux du Croue, even though I'd stayed on the path about a hundred metres from the herd. I had to backtrack on the path for a good ten metres with the two patous 50 cm from my calves, barking, growling and showing their teeth. They are trained to frighten, and it worked!

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mauricejeannine
mauricejeannine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We went to the summit of Le Noirmont but took a shorter route based on information sheet 23 on sale at the Les Rousses Tourist Office.
Leave from the Bourbe car park and climb (steeply) to the Creux du Croue. At the fork, turn right towards Le Noirmont (45' to the summit). A pretty little path full of flowers winds along the ridge overlooking the Creux du Croue, offering regular splendid views of the Creux and the sheepfold, with the bleating of a large flock of sheep and the sound of cowbells in the distance.
The climb up to Le Noirmont is fairly steep but not difficult. First you reach Le Noirmont des Français before reaching the summit of Le Noirmont and its cross. The whole route is dotted with small limestone boulders (reminiscent of sharp limestone pavements in the Chartreuse region, for those who know). It's a magnificent route so far.
The descent to La Cure is less interesting, as most of it takes in the ski slopes.
At La Cure, after a refreshing apple juice at L'Arbézie, walk back to Les Rousses (30 minutes to the Tourist Office).

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1239603V
1239603V

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

With the exception of the climb up the cross-country ski trail, which was of no interest, this was a varied and interesting walk with some lovely views.
I'd definitely do it again.
A lovely time

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Nomack
Nomack

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant route through forests and meadows.

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Randorunner
Randorunner

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Setting off from La Givrine via the Cabane du Carroz, the route was perfectly signposted all the way to the point where you pass next to the arrival of the Noirmont ski lift. We started the descent on the green piste but it was impossible to find "Les Copettes" and the path to the Bois de Givrine to cross the forest. So we went down to the Cure station and then back to the Givrine station. Otherwise, a very nice 6-hour tour.

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segae
segae

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

very nice tour. do it again

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VincentSeuj
VincentSeuj

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 13, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This walk was very good, we did it in a group of 5 on the TMS site where I suggested it. The scenery was beautiful and the route was well signposted.
To follow my other outings:
www.toutes-mes-sorties.com/inscrire-6fa86526

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MUMMY
MUMMY

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello, Very nice walk, no technical difficulties. The undergrowth, the valleys, the scenery, the view of the Alps, everything was great. A splendid setting. However, the description is a bit weak, lacking in waypoints. The Gpx route and the official markings make it easy to find your way around.
At the end of August, there was quite a lot of traffic, but it was reasonable. At the end of the route, the passage on the "grande route" deserves a lot of attention, as the traffic is dense and fast, almost dangerous... If there could be an alternative via the paths, that would be great.
We recommend this walk, thank you for this route.

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nanou1967
nanou1967

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent walk in a typical Jura landscape, neither too steep nor too flat!
A pleasant loop with plenty of opportunity for a picnic.
We even saw a chamois.

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Alpha
Alpha

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 30, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

nice points of view. it's a shame the map doesn't appear on the pdf summary. I imagine that the rights in Switzerland are different.

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davidcécile
davidcécile

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

very nice walk with beautiful views almost only on paths

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CUENOT NATHALIE
CUENOT NATHALIE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 03, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

This walk took place on a fine autumn weekend. Very nice route with a harmonised difficulty level. Beautiful scenery despite the blocked view from the Chalet des Carroz. Splendid views from the summit of Le Noirmont though.

The directions were clear and precise, so there was never a moment's hesitation!
Thank you so much!

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