The Petit Som loop from La Ruchère

Thank you for your reply!
Unfortunately, I was bitten even though I was following all the safety precautions: no stick, standing still and 100 metres away from the herd...
I’d just come from the Grand Som, and the pasture completely blocked access to the Petit Som.
That’s a real shame

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Hello Gychor,
I’m not aware of anyone else having been bitten on this route.
I hike up to Le Petit Som several times a year; I’ve come across the Patous before, and I’ve avoided them as much as possible.
I know that they’re increasingly attacking trail runners, who don’t ‘take them into account’.
The best advice is to follow the recommendations on the signs carefully (those concerning the herds).

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Hello
If, like me, you’ve been attacked (and bitten, in my case) by herding dogs in the Petit Som area, please feel free to contact me at kfr82@proton.me
The aim is to find out whether I’m the only one to have experienced this, or whether the dogs have a history of problematic behaviour

Enjoy your hike and take care!

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Date of your route : Aug 03, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A brilliant walk – I set off at 8.30 am and didn’t come across a single soul until I reached the summit.
Be careful at the Col de la Ruchéron – the sign for the ‘Pas de Loup’ is missing!
Look between the Petit Som and the Grand Som – you’ll see a path winding through the meadow; that’s the one, and you’ll soon come across the red and white markings…
There were more people on the descent, which I found very long…

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Date of your route : Jul 23, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I’m going to take the time to set out my opinion properly.

First of all, this hike should be done in summer and under no circumstances on snowshoes in winter (see the older reviews from 2017 as well as a more recent one).

Next comes the subject of the Pas du Loup, a key point in the reviews.

We’re experienced mountaineers and, indeed, we didn’t encounter any particular difficulties.

However, the approach to the Pas du Loup (between point 1 and point 2) follows a narrow path, no more than two feet wide, along the cliff face. This section may be quite vertiginous for beginners or young children. Take care!

The Pas du Loup itself presents no technical difficulty and isn’t particularly vertigo-inducing if tackled in the direction indicated in the route description. However, there is no handrail, which may be daunting for those unaccustomed to this type of section. It is short and, ultimately, fairly easy to navigate. For smaller climbers, it may be a little trickier, but nothing insurmountable. I’d simply recommend testing the holds before setting off. Today, one of the rocks was wobbling slightly, but even with my ‘heavy’ build, I managed the passage without difficulty.

So, once again, do take care if you’re with children.

As for the rest, the view from the summit is simply magnificent.

There are some views that make you want to stop for a few minutes… Here, you could stay for hours.

Le Petit Som offers exceptional scenery: limestone cliffs, wooded ridges, paths winding through the mountain pastures and, in the distance, the Alps silhouetted against a clear sky. Mont Blanc was perfectly visible today… a real treat.

It’s a lovely break where the effort fades into the background against the beauty of the landscape. MAGNIFICENT!

As for the descent, nothing out of the ordinary to report, apart from a few loose stones underfoot… but then again, we are in the Chartreuse.

Do also watch out for the mountain dogs in the area. During our walk, there were three of them. They barked quite loudly but let us pass without any trouble. Just walk calmly, without running or making any sudden movements, avoid staring at them and, if possible, give the herd a wide berth.

Finally, the last section, between Le Habert and the Ruchère Nordic Centre, follows a road. It isn’t the most pleasant part of the route, but it is relatively short.

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Date of your route : May 09, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely hike, quite busy on 9 May; the descent was a bit of a laugh 🤣 as the northern slope was still quite snowy, but nothing too serious – the GPS track was a great help, and the path was sometimes visible in the distance.

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Hello,
Could we clarify the description of this route? Specifically, could we remove the part where the author mentions the possibility of doing the route on snowshoes? In 2017, I (along with other hikers) pointed out the dangers of doing this route in winter. I am raising this issue again because last week I found someone in a hiking group who was suggesting doing this route on snowshoes.
In the link generated: https://www.visorando.com/randonnee-le-p..., the word "snowshoes" appears, even though the hike described is a walking hike, which adds to the ambiguity.
Thank you in advance.

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

A pleasant walk in the woods, ending with a climb through mountain pastures where you will encounter a few herds.
The route is fairly obvious.
The view and panorama from Petit Som is magnificent.
Be careful on the way down, as there are many stones that tend to roll under your shoes (minor falls without serious consequences) and roots that can be very slippery.
Walk taken the day after rain.

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Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice walk. The return. Back to the starting point. A bit long on tarmac. I think there's a possibility of getting back to the start via other paths

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Date of your route : Jul 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

No issues
Compliant

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Date of your route : Jul 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A classic hike, and fairly easy. Few people on the way there, more on the way back.
The descent into the gully on the way back can be daunting and requires caution.

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Date of your route : Sep 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

La Verchère is not signposted when arriving at La Ruchère. It took me a while to find the Nordic centre. So I set off from the Nordic centre on the red-green trail towards the pass. The tracks are clearly visible until you've gone about 3.5 km and passed a sort of pass where I found no signs and where the red and green markers disappeared. I suppose I was at TRACOL at an altitude of 1340 m. At that point, I started to descend the path but without any landmarks. The weather was very foggy, so I decided to turn back and retrace my steps. When I got home, I checked the map again and realised that I was indeed on the right track. It's a shame that there are no signs at Tracol... I will do the circuit in the opposite direction on 19 September 2023, starting from HABERS

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Date of your route : Jul 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant short circuit. Steep climb up the forest track, then through the mountain pasture and the corridor above the Col de la Ruchère. The view from the summit is magnificent. Easy descent through a maple forest.

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Date of your route : Jun 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Useful mobile app: the trails intersect with forestry roads.
Following the rain in previous days, the paths are muddy, especially with the numerous roots and stones that make walking difficult. The climb to the summit is steep but safe; use your hands if necessary. Lovely viewpoint with lots of flowers. Friendly jackdaws during the picnic...
The route is mostly through the woods.

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

Magnificent view from Petit Som. The Col de la Ruchère is a delightful spot for a picnic.
However, in wet weather, neither the ascent nor the descent are recommended.
Furthermore, the direct climb from the Col de la Ruchère to Petit Som via the chimney, avoiding the Pas du Loup, is not recommended if you are afraid of heights.

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