Mont Clergeon from the Col du Sapenay

This hike will allow you to discover the natural site of the Grande Cuve and then take you to the summit of Mont Clergeon and its orientation table. You can also discover the traditional habitat of these mountains in the hamlet of Montclergeon.

Details

3585959
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.16 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 415 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 410 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,025 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 800 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from the car park at Col du Sapenay.

(S/E) From the car park, head north-east for 150 m.

(1) Sapenay car park (two signs with the same name at each end of the car park). Continue straight ahead towards Montagne de Cessens.

(2) At Gouttaz, turn right towards "Les Grands Côtés".

(3) At the crossroads (elevation 799), head towards Les 4 Chemins via the Sentier Gallet.

(4) At the crossroads of the 4 Chemins (elevation 889), turn left/right towards Croix du Clergeon.

(5) When you reach Les Eculles (elevation 943), take the D231 towards Col du Clergeon and, at thesecond hairpin bend, follow the path heading north through the meadow and then into the woods.

(6) At Bois des Combes, turn right towards Grande Cuve.

(7) At the intersection, turn right to make a round trip to the Grande Cuve nature site 200 m away.

(7) On your return, turn right towards Rojux.

(8) From Mollard Gris (elevation 907), take the path on the left towards Croix du Clergeon. At the fork (elevation 971), turn right.

(9) When you reach Mont Clergeon, take the path that climbs left towards the cross at the top of Mont Clergeon.

(10) From the cross, return to the previous fork.

(9) Turn left towards Col du Clergeon, passing through the hamlet of Montclergeon.

(11) From the beautiful oratory at the pass junction (elevation 979), head straight ahead towards Les Granges.

(12) Take the path that descends to the right, into a ravine next to a stream bed.

(13) At Les Granges, cross the stream bed and go up the path, then turn left until you reach the entrance to a meadow. Follow the path that runs along the meadow, then the trail to a fork (elevation 925).

(14) Take the path on the right that leads into the woods. Continue to the right along the forest road for about 100 metres, then take the path on the left that will bring you back to the car park.
Turn right at the Sapenay car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 896 m - Sapenay car park
  2. 1 : km 0.17 - alt. 898 m - Sapenay car park sign
  3. 2 : km 1.08 - alt. 865 m - Gouttaz
  4. 3 : km 2.14 - alt. 805 m - Les Grands Côtés
  5. 4 : km 3.32 - alt. 888 m - Les 4 Chemins
  6. 5 : km 3.84 - alt. 938 m - Les Eculles
  7. 6 : km 4.93 - alt. 987 m - Bois des Combes
  8. 7 : km 5.71 - alt. 1,003 m - La Grande Cuve
  9. 8 : km 7.05 - alt. 908 m - Mollard Gris
  10. 9 : km 8.28 - alt. 981 m - Turn left.
  11. 10 : km 8.67 - alt. 1,025 m - Croix du Clergeon - Mont Clergeon (1025m)
  12. 11 : km 9.62 - alt. 979 m - Col de Clergeon (979m)
  13. 12 : km 10.75 - alt. 964 m - Ravine
  14. 13 : km 11.54 - alt. 821 m - Les Granges
  15. 14 : km 12.74 - alt. 927 m - Fork
  16. S/E : km 14.16 - alt. 896 m - Sapenay car park

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
3.9 / 5
Dominique Coudreau
Dominique Coudreau

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The section between points 12 and 13 along the stream should be avoided in wet weather.
There is a beautiful view from the new viewpoint towards the large reservoir.

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pascaloses
pascaloses

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Done on 9 March 2025, in mild weather. A pleasant route with a picnic at the Croix du Clergeon and views of the mountains. To cross the ravine, which is quite unusual, it is best to do so when the weather is not too wet (and not after a period of rain).
With the app, you can't go wrong!

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guyvillard
guyvillard

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Interesting route with beautiful views of the Aravis mountain range, La Tournette and Mont Blanc in the background.
Quiet and not very busy.

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Thomas73
Thomas73

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route, easy but long, through woods and meadows with lovely views of Mont Blanc, the Aravis, the Jura and the Savoyard foothills.
The route can be followed without any problems in dry weather.
The climb to the modern Clergeon cross is a real delight.
Few hikers but some hunters.
The ravine was dry.

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Michel lacroix
Michel lacroix

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route, mostly through woods. A few views of the valley on the Gallet trail. Absolutely superb views from the top of Mont Clergeon. For the return trip, we followed jfmar's advice and went via Rojus to avoid the ravine.
A slightly long stretch through the meadows after the barns.

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JAMBO74
JAMBO74

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Lots of forest at the start, few views until you reach the beautiful Clergeon cross, where the view is breathtaking, magnificent 180°! And the meadow is perfect for a picnic break and contemplating our beautiful mountains. But then it's the same again, too much forest for me, although the descent along the (dry) stream is original....

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rando777
rando777

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

No signs between the barns and the Sapenay Pass (ask for directions)
otherwise, varied and diverse route with lots of scenery

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Lire7lynx3
Lire7lynx3
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very interesting route with some rather long wooded sections but also beautiful meadows (curiously very green at this time of year). Magnificent views from the Clergeon cross (Mont Blanc and Tournette, Bauges, etc.). A little muddy on short sections after the oratory. The Ravine area is very passable today because the stream is completely dry (could certainly be much less passable if the stream were full of water... or during heavy rain). Bring a GPX file, especially to find the fork (14) and follow the trail to the end.

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Azerbaidjan
Azerbaidjan

Overall rating : 3 / 5

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

A route that is not very interesting, rather monotonous. In addition, there is a problem with the description of the ravine, which is not very clear.

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randonneur_beta
randonneur_beta

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The route of the hike is consistent with the map. Throughout the undergrowth, all intersections have signposts, so there is no possibility of getting lost. It is very shaded, which is pleasant.
Be careful, point 12 can be tricky because the start of the trail is difficult to find. The route between points 12 and 13 is almost impassable in wet weather or on wet ground due to the slope and incline of the trail.

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jfmar
jfmar
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

GPS coordinates essential due to poorly signposted car park location and numerous junctions.
Waypoints were perfect, climb was pleasant, but the return trip was particularly muddy.
At La Ravine, you have to follow a stream towards Les Granges. This section was impassable, so we had to find an alternative route to the south, which wasn't easy as the phone's GPS wasn't accurate enough.
In wet weather (snow melt), I would recommend descending via Rojux and then Les Granges.

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