Mont Colombier from Aillon-le-Vieux

Date of your route : Nov 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Follow the directions carefully. However, in autumn, the descent is complicated by the thick layer of leaves on the ground. In wet weather, there is a risk of slipping.

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Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

An interesting loop that allows you to climb over 2,000 metres in Les Bauges. The first part is quite steep, so I recommend following the route recommended by Visorando. You'll see two or three marmots just before the final climb. You can buy goat's cheese along the way, so bring some cash – it's always nice to bring back some alpine cheese at the end of a hike. 😀 Thanks, Visorando!

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Date of your route : Aug 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very good route, although I regret the 4 km climb and 4 km descent, and the end on a slightly dangerous road, but otherwise very nice

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Date of your route : May 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route to do in good weather to enjoy the 360° view from the summit.
The climb is steep but the path is good. Please note that, as indicated, the path is not very visible after the Rossane chalet.

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Date of your route : Sep 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

beautiful day. First signs of autumn with strong winds at the summit and frozen ground.
The route is steep but pleasant.

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Date of your route : Aug 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed on Tuesday, 27 August 2024.
The route is very well marked, and the trail on Visiorando is helpful when needed.
I made my way back along the ridges, as advised by a very friendly hiker (Marie) I met during the hike, with whom I also made the descent.
Be careful on the descent, as there are lots of rocks and it is very steep.
It took me 1 hour and 50 minutes to climb from the church to the summit.
i took an hour's break at the summit to eat something.
And about 2 hours to descend.
I took a path parallel to the road at the end to avoid the cars.
A very beautiful hike, not too difficult, with beautiful views of Lake Annecy, Les Bauges and Mont Blanc.
I recommend it.
Enjoy your hike.
Florent vdbk

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Date of your route : Aug 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very well written, thank you to the author 👍🙏

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Date of your route : Aug 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, easy hike with very few people around!
great encounter with a chamois and a marmot
The end of the trail is on the road, which is a shame

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Date of your route : Jul 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A magnificent hike, but physically demanding (almost 1,200 metres of elevation gain in 4 kilometres). But when you come out of the woods, what a view! We were treated to gliders, which added to the beauty of the place. It was a bit overcast, so we couldn't see Mont Blanc from the summit. There were quite a few people at the top as it was 1 p.m. and hikers like to eat at the summit to enjoy the view.
It was a shame about the last few kilometres on the road, but unfortunately we didn't have much choice if we wanted to make a loop.

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Date of your route : Sep 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

My route (Garmin EPIX 2) 11.44 km / 1,170 m elevation gain / 1,162 m elevation loss / 3 hours 30 minutes including a snack break / Summit of the Colombier in 1 hour 38 minutes. Weather: cloudy with a few showers, nice clear skies at the summit and on the descent. Traffic: only one couple encountered during the entire hike.

Classic forest climb, fairly dry and without any flat sections until the Col de Rossanaz. From there, we opened our eyes and enjoyed the view! Mont Colombier and its cross came into view and we realised we still had some way to go. The ground was wet and slippery all the way to the summit. At the top, the view is stunning. We turn around and fall in love with Les Bauges! The descent via the ridge path is magnificent, less frequented and therefore less worn and polished. We reach the Col de la Cochette and easily find the old chalet, then descend into the forest, which seems a little bland after the spectacular views we've just enjoyed. The road back to Aillon le Vieux is admittedly the least enjoyable section.
There's a climb of almost 1,200 metres over 5 kilometres, so you need to be in good physical condition and have good shoes and walking poles to enjoy the scenery. In wet weather, you need to concentrate on your footing because it's not just sweets that make your teeth fall out. There are no particular technical difficulties.
A great outing to do again in the opposite direction, climbing up to La Croix du Rossanaz before coming back down

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Date of your route : Sep 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We had set out to go to Pointe de la Galoppaz, but the road leading to the Col des Prés was closed due to roadworks, so we opted for the Col de la Cochette (another one!) starting from Allon le Jeune-Station and we didn't regret it. The route was varied, with superb views on all sides as soon as we reached the mountain pastures. We bought some goat's cheese at the goat farm. They also have some beautiful geese!
Return via the same route. A very beautiful hike, perhaps more varied than the Galoppaz???

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Date of your route : Aug 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The route is busy, but if you set off early, there's no problem. It's a good idea to do it as a circuit, as this avoids the stony path on the way down.
One small "mistake". On the descent, at the Col du Colombier, the path to La Bottière does not pass by the Rossane chalet, but clearly below it

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Date of your route : Aug 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pretty loop, but the steep gradient over a short distance left me feeling a little sore the next day! At the Chalet de Rossane, we weren't paying attention and took the wide track instead of the path further to the right, but it was easy to get back on track. At the Chalet de la Cave, there were goats and two patous, one of which barks when it sees people (that's its job, right?), so we got a bit of a fright, but it didn't move, so just stay on the path, lower your sticks, look at the ground and everything will be fine. There was a bit of tarmac at the end of the road.
Conclusion: a magnificent hike

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Date of your route : Jul 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this hike on 22 July. I followed the route using the app.
The weather was on our side and the sky was clear. The view was magnificent
We came back down via the ridges. We loved it.
On the way back, we took the small road on the left of the main road. It was a little longer, but nicer.
It took us 7 hours, including photo breaks and snacks.

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Date of your route : Sep 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A magnificent hike with no technical difficulties. The 1,200 metres of elevation gain are fairly easy to manage. Once out of the forest, the rest is pure pleasure in this superb mountain pasture.
From the summit, I took the ridge down to the Col de la Cochette and rejoined the route between points 5 and 6. A very pleasant descent. The route can be done in the opposite direction if you prefer a gentler climb (but a little longer) and a shorter (but very steep) descent.
a 20-minute drive (on a quiet road) at the end to get back to the car.
2½ hours to climb, 2 hours to descend.
Route not recommended, or even prohibited (?), in winter due to avalanche risk.
Quite busy, the car parks at the bottom were full. Don't hesitate to continue towards La Bottière to park.

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