Le Grand Colombier

Date of your route : Apr 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We do not use the description sheet, only the GPX track, which is reliable for this hike
At the end of March, the station was closed, so there was nothing to pay, but I agree that paying a fee is unjustified and even unjustifiable because, after a few minutes' walk, a sign informs "snowshoeing enthusiasts" that "no rescue services will be available beyond this point"
We didn't meet anyone during this hike, which is a first for us!
There was little snow, so snowshoes weren't necessary, but I did use crampons twice
And then there's the whole point of the Grand Colombier: the 360° view of the Jura mountains, the Alps, the Valromey, the foothills of the Massif Central. I think it's the only place from which you can see Lake Bourget and a small part of Lake Annecy, and everyone can enjoy it because you can get there...by car

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Date of your route : Feb 12, 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 : Yes

Description and itinerary not used because we lost the paper right at the start (!!!) So we had no map to guide us and the signposts weren't very clear.

The hike: to say that the view is splendid is an understatement... The view from the summit is magnificent, and I cannot find the words to describe such beauty. Thank you for this post!

RANT
There is a €4 fee per person, whether you are a skier, snowshoer or hiker!

Reasons: grooming/marking of the slopes and medical assistance if needed

In reality or in practice: only the ski slopes are groomed. Walkers and snowshoers make their own tracks as long as they do not encroach on the skiers' tracks.
Snowshoe trails (which are not groomed) are marked with flexible (unbreakable), sealed (unremovable) and rot-proof stakes: I think they have long since been amortised....
As for the Grand Colombier: this hike is not part of the snowshoe routes. And although at the beginning it runs alongside a few orange stakes, there are soon only signposts, topographical maps and hikers' tracks to guide you (or Visorando...)
Medical assistance: personally, I already have sports and leisure insurance. By what authority and by what right am I being forced to over-insure myself?

Conclusion: While the ski pass is justified, the snowshoe pass is debatable (but as you can see, I've chosen my side). As for the hiking pass, it's a complete rip-off!

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Date of your route : Mar 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with stunning views of the Mont Blanc range.
The trailhead is above the Sur Lyand inn, on the left. On the way back after the Griffes du Diable, the direction wasn't very clear, but in good weather there's no risk of getting lost. We descended onto the plateau, gradually moving away from the ridge, and soon saw snowshoe tracks below us, then the cross-country ski trails.
We met three people at the summit, and that was it!
The snow was frozen, so we put on our crampons to reach the summit.

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Date of your route : Mar 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

at that time, there was very little snow; mainly two long passages made with crampons. A lot of sighting on the plateau.
note that the devil's claws are rock formations, quite visible from the western valley.
We did the circular loop in the other direction, via the west and then descending via the east. But as we were parked at the Famban cross, to avoid going back down to Sur Lyan, we took a shortcut down through the forest; bad idea: there are two series of rocky slopes with sharp limestone pavement, and a little snow before rejoining the ascending route.
Highly recommended on a clear day: breathtaking views.

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Date of your route : Jan 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

the trail is busier on the marked section but not after that. Be aware, however, that the marked section is normally subject to a fee, as is the entire snowshoe area! This is the first time I've seen this, whereas much larger areas such as the Beauregard plateau are completely free.
We didn't go all the way to the end because clouds enveloped the entire mountain range from midday onwards, but before that it was magnificent, with trees covered in crystals and frozen snow.

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Date of your route : Aug 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike that we started below the Col de la Biche, two kilometres to reach the Arvière lodge.

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Hello,

Thank you for your comment.

Neither Visorando nor the authors are responsible for signposting. Signposts are often included in the descriptions when they are present on the ground, but they can disappear, so it is best to rely on the description and the map.

If markings are essential for you, Visorando provides, in addition to the description and the 1:25,000 IGN map, virtual markings: a GPS application.

This tool, offered free of charge by Visorando, allows you to validate waypoints and thus remove any doubts about orientation.

See you soon!

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Date of your route : Jun 29, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Parking and departure from point 4 at 6:00 a.m. on a weekday in June, you are alone in the world. The weather is mild and the sky is clear, the view of the Alps in the early morning mist is exceptional. Signage is unreliable up to point 3. Beautiful hike along the ridges to point 2 with clear markings. The next stage is more relaxing in the meadow. No comments on the return trip. Be sure to wear good footwear, as the trail requires it. I will return and spend a day on this route, which is well worth the detour.

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Date of your route : Feb 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike on a sunny Sunday in February, with very little snow. Magnificent views of the Alps, from Chablais to the Ecrins Massif.

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Date of your route : Jun 16, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

We continued along the D123 to the summit and parked at the start of the descent, at a sharp right-hand bend, where a path leads to this circular.
When you reach the road, you have to cross it to climb to the summit of Grand Colombier.
For flower lovers, there are multitudes of daffodils and also lily of the valley.
The view of the Alps is extraordinary, with Mont Blanc seemingly overlooking Annecy and its lake.

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Date of your route : Mar 13, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike, especially in good weather, with a magical 360° panoramic view. There is indeed a steep climb and traverse, especially when the snow cover is thin and there is ice just below, so you need to be very careful, but otherwise the route is very well marked

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Date of your route : Jul 21, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

We had a wonderful day. A very pleasant hike, especially on the way there, which ran along the ridges and was a feast for the eyes... The return trip was a little longer but very pleasant because it was in the shade...
Highly recommended

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Date of your route : Jun 14, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very beautiful hike. Very good description of the route. Very beautiful views.

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Date of your route : May 25, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello,
I set off from just above the barn where the GR country trail (yellow) arrives in a pasture at the corner of a bend on the D123, signposted above the road. It was a very pleasant walk because it was open until the Charbemène pass. The trail runs along the ridge and is beautiful and easy. From the Charbemène pass, it is much steeper and in the woods. I was carrying a heavy load because I was equipped to spend the night in a tent at the Grd Colombier pass. The sky was overcast, so I didn't get the impressive view you get on a clear day. The night was noisy until midnight because of car and motorbike racing at the bottom of the valley, and of course it's under an air route between two airports...
A shame. The hike was good, but the stay was average.

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Date of your route : Feb 28, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful, enjoyable hike with a good mix of groomed trails, forest paths, ridges and peaks with views! And as a bonus, good snow!

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