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Access: from Annemasse (Geneva), take the Blanche motorway, exit 19 (Cluses). Follow signs for Taninges, then Samoëns and Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval. Drive through Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, Le Molliet and Nambride and continue on the D907 until you reach the Giffrenant car park (if possible!), just after crossing the bridge. Parking is paid in summer.
(S) From the reserve chalet, turn left at the Giffrenant crossing and follow "Buvette de Prazon"; cross the bridge over the Giffre and follow the path that climbs into the forest.
(1) At Giffrenant (962 m), turn right and take the interpretive trail. After a pasture and the hamlet of Giffrenant, you will enter the forest. The path continues on flat ground through a splendid beech forest and you will find yourself in the Sixt-Passy nature reserve. Leave the forest and pass the Pass de la Samosse (1,012 m).
(2) Continue straight ahead towards the Boret chalet.
(3) At the crossroads with the Prazon refreshment bar, turn left towards the Boret chalet. The path will bring you closer to the cliffs, climbing diagonally to the right (red markings), first on smooth slabs, then on a sloping grassy ledge (the Crêt de la Rosta).
It continues in narrow switchbacks to the top of the cliff (be careful, there is a steep drop) and quickly reaches the mountain pasture and the Boret chalet (a mountain hut converted into a refreshment bar, 1,390 m).
The view is splendid and well worth a break: a magnificent viewpoint facing the peaks of the Tête des Ottans, the Grand Mont-Ruan and the Pic de Tenneverge. You can continue on to the refuge and/or the Lac de la Vogealle (allow 2 hours for the lake).
(4) Descend by following the path that branches off to the right below the Chalet du Boret, signposted "Le Fer à Cheval par le Fond de La Combe", towards Fond de la Combe. Leave a path on your left after crossing the stream. Continue more or less level through a beech forest above a rocky ridge before crossing a long ravine (La Gouille Verte) and then several streams.
Continue to reach the bottom of the Bout du Monde glacial valley (trough-shaped valley).
(5) Begin the descent along a series of switchbacks before heading downstream again. The path levels out and continues on flat ground to the Fond de la Combe footbridge (1,060 m) on the right bank of the Giffre.
(6) Continue straight ahead to the Prazon refreshment bar. On the way (on the right), a short stop at the Cascade de la Vogealle is a must (7) – the place is magnificent, although very busy. Cross a few more torrents before reaching the Prazon refreshment bar (3). Continue straight ahead to La Samosse.
(2) Turn left to cross the bridge. The last section is on a slightly downhill track (marked Fer à Cheval). Shortly after the small artificial lake, you will pass the Plan des Lacs and reach the Chalet de la Réserve, whose terrace offers a breathtaking view of the formidable Corne du Chamois, which rises to 2,523 metres.
(8) Turn right, the path then descends behind the Chalet de la réserve and returns to the car park (E).
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