The Salève circular: Orjobet, Corraterie, viewpoints and Grande Gorge

A circular trail that showcases the many facets of Salève: climb up via the Orjobet Cave, pass through the Trou de la Tine, Vire de la Corraterie, viewpoint towards Mont Blanc and Rochers de Faverges, viewpoints from the Observatory over Geneva and Lake Geneva, descent via the Grande Gorge and return to the start by passing under the large rock climbing routes.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.56 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 800 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 796 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,309 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 603 m

Photos

Description of the walk

From Collonges-sous-Salève, in the Pays Genevois, climb up to a place called Le Coin. Park in the car park at the crossroads (altitude 668m) where the Route de la Croisette starts.

(S/E) Head south-east, taking the path (towards Orjobet) that climbs straight up the slope to the left of the CD 45 road. After the last houses, it becomes a trail and enters the forest. The slope becomes steeper and the path winds its way up through the forest to the foot of some rocky outcrops. It uses ledges and a footbridge to enter the Orjobet Cave.

(1) The path climbs into the cave, equipped with iron handrails and steps, and exits via a high exit. It continues to climb in wide zigzags up the steep wooded slopes to reach a crossroads. Turn left onto theGR® Balcon du Mont Blanc marked path, which starts at the same level and heads north. It climbs slightly to reach the foot of the Trou de la Tine, which you can enter.

(2) Continue on more or less level ground: gradually leave the woods to take a ledge between the rocky outcrops: this is the Corraterie. Pass under a Savoy cross painted on the cliff and visible from afar, then the route becomes particularly exposed but remains technically easy.

At the end of this aerial passage, the slope becomes grassy again. Exit just below the mountain pastures that cover the entire plateau forming the summit of Grand Salève. Stay on the balcony path that runs along the slopes without rising much, re-enter the forest to pass Grand Palavet and exit the forest to arrive at Col de Grande Gorge (1283m) - Sous le Charrot - on the CD 41a road (Route des Trois Lacs).

(3) Before reaching the road, head straight back south-west through the mountain pasture: the path crosses a slight dip and then climbs gently towards the Alpage des Crêts.

(4) At the crossroads on the ridge, turn left to head east, pass a fence and cross the mountain pasture to a hillock where rocks overlooking the road emerge.
This is the viewpoint over the Alps, with an orientation table.

(5) Descend to the left to the road and follow it to the left for 50 metres. Cross a fence to descend to the right of the road towards a small valley, going around a small wood. At the bottom of the valley, you will reach a pond near which stand the sandstone blocks of the Rochers de Faverges, which are easy to cross.

(6) From the pond, climb up the gully towards the north-west. The path flattens out and heads north, descending slightly to the road at a bend. Follow the road to the left, which climbs for 150 metres to the edge of the Col de Grande Gorge.

(3) There, a path runs parallel to the road on its north side: take it on the right to descend to the edge of the forest and rejoin the road at altitude 1250m.

(7) This point is the start of the Grande Gorge. For now, leave the path descending to the left and continue northwards, then turn left onto level paths that lead to several viewpoints on the edge of the plateau. Continue in this direction towards the Observatory, leaving it on your right to descend to the viewpoint overlooking Lake Geneva.

(8) Viewpoint. Retrace your steps to the edge of the road, follow the path behind it until you return to the Grande Gorge crossroads.

(7) From the crossroads, take the path that descends to the right into the wooded slope on the western side. It descends steadily at first, with long traverses, then steeper slopes with tight hairpin bends, then more traverses, then more tight hairpin bends. The entire descent is sustained over a 600m drop, and it is only at the bottom that the slope levels out.

(9) At the first crossroads at the bottom of the descent (Sous la Grande Gorge), take the path that branches off to the left, level, heading south-west, still in the forest. Join and continue on a forest road until you reach the barrier at the junction with the CD 145 road.

(10) Take this road on the left for 50 metres, then leave it by taking a path on the left that climbs parallel to the road while moving away from it slightly. It reaches some sports facilities (tennis courts), which it bypasses by climbing to the left. It passes in front of a water tank and turns left to climb slightly at the edge of a clearing and cross a chaotic area of boulders (risk of losing the path). Leave a path on the left that climbs towards Orjobet and comes back down to a small road serving several houses

(11). Follow it westwards downhill towards the hamlet. Do not take the first housing estate road on the left, but the second (Rue Maurice Ravel), which crosses the hamlet of Le Coin and brings you back to the level of the starting point (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 668 m - Coin car park
  2. 1 : km 1.63 - alt. 1,106 m - Orjobet Cave
  3. 2 : km 2.2 - alt. 1,205 m - Trou de la Tine
  4. 3 : km 3.7 - alt. 1,283 m - Col de Grande Gorge
  5. 4 : km 4.29 - alt. 1,296 m - To the left towards the east
  6. 5 : km 4.85 - alt. 1,301 m - Viewpoint over the Alps
  7. 6 : km 5.15 - alt. 1,271 m - Mare and Rochers de Faverges
  8. 7 : km 6.2 - alt. 1,250 m - Crossroads at the start of the Grande Gorge
  9. 8 : km 7.06 - alt. 1,237 m - Observatory viewpoint - View of the - Lac Léman
  10. 9 : km 9.98 - alt. 603 m - Foot of the Grande Gorge
  11. 10 : km 11.14 - alt. 618 m - Crossing the CD 145 road
  12. 11 : km 11.96 - alt. 689 m - Junction with a small road
  13. S/E : km 12.56 - alt. 668 m - Coin car park

Notes

The route is entirely on trails, which are generally marked, but some sections may be steep (Orjobet Cave and descent of the Grande Gorge) or exposed (Corraterie).

Most of the route on the plateau is through working mountain pastures: please respect the fences; gates have been installed to cross the paths, so please make sure you close them behind you.

Worth a visit

A very varied route: forest, caves, rocks, mountain pastures.
Breathtaking views of the Genevois, Lake Geneva and the Haute-Savoie Alps.

The route described largely follows a marked "discovery trail" and features around ten information panels about the places you pass through.
Hikers in a hurry can, of course, cut directly from (3) to (7), but they will miss out on various places that are representative of the Salève: the circular route via (5) or the detour via (8).

Geologically, during the hike you will encounter: a classic karstic limestone fold, with its caves and sheer cliffs (Corraterie, Grande Gorge), chaotic sandstone blocks (Rochers de Faverges), and a few erratic blocks transported here by glaciers (Col de Grande Gorge areas).

 Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 15 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
User 18094278

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route has a fairly steep initial climb followed by a traverse along the cliff, offering beautiful views of the Genevois region as far as Lake Geneva, but this section can be tricky for those who suffer from vertigo. The descent should be undertaken with caution, especially when wet.

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Ludo1009
Ludo1009

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A very beautiful hike, with lots of chamois on the climb. The climb is a bit tough but manageable at a leisurely pace. For me, the tour on the plateau is interesting in good weather for the view of Mont Blanc. The descent is difficult and quite slippery in places due to gravel, but with caution, it's really enjoyable. There are a few minor orientation issues between the tennis courts and the local village, but nothing serious. Thank you for this lovely walk.

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lolo 01
lolo 01

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

very nice hike the passage of the cave is super beautiful point of view a little crowd at the top because you can go up by car caution in the descent

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kaolak1
kaolak1

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very good hike. The car park is very busy (at least in summer) as it is the meeting point for paragliding.
The circular is very good, especially the passage through the cave, which I loved. The climb up to Salève remains difficult, which is in line with my expectations. The descent, on the other hand, is very slippery, so without poles you have to be careful!

I'm giving it 5 stars for the interest of the route, but it's true that I didn't take the time to read all the information about this hike and, in fact, I should have gone from point 3 to point 7 directly, as I find the passage through the mountain pastures enjoyable for people who are discovering the region, but for me it wasn't useful. I didn't go to point 8 as I already know the observatory, which is accessible by car.

Thank you for this route!

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SE VE RI NE
SE VE RI NE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent, rich and varied hike! The climb up to the cave is a little demanding but nothing insurmountable. The passage through the cave is unusual! The section of the GR trail at BALCON DU MONT BLANC is incredible but should be avoided if you suffer from vertigo! From the plateau, there is a 360° view of the Jura, Lake Geneva and the Alps. Splendid! For the descent, walking sticks seem essential to me!

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Montagnes74
Montagnes74

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This is a physically demanding hike due to the steep slopes both uphill and downhill, with "big steps" particularly on the descent through the Grandes Gorges. The path along the ledge (La Corraterie) is easy despite the drop. At the exit onto the plateau, follow the sign for "Panorama" to reach the orientation table (the only useful sign that is not in the description).

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danrando
danrando
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did the whole route. Climbing up the Orgobet side, there were more people than in the Grand Gorges. Average age 70. It's doable with a little more time.

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isa74570
isa74570

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 16, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

a very pretty parish-specific to Brittany hike with a superb view from the summit

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FlickaPatsy
FlickaPatsy

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A very beautiful hike with varied landscapes. Passing through the cave and overlooking the cliffs make this hike even more interesting.

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Brunomaire
Brunomaire
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

beautiful walk with many facets

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Berbey
Berbey

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : Yes

Once you reach the top, you find yourself facing numerous vehicles, but what I didn't like at all was the descent into the gorges.

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Chris66_ch
Chris66_ch

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike. The crossing of the Grotte d'Orjobet and the Tine hole are magnificent.
The terrain is slippery if it has rained the day before, so be careful. Otherwise, I am prone to vertigo, I had a few shivers but I was able to complete the entire hike.
Thank you for this hike!
Christine

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zbh0170
zbh0170
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,

The route is very good at all levels (directions are clearly marked along the entire route) with the crossing of the Grotte d'Orjobet (rather unusual) and the crossing of the beautiful ledge leading to the Col de la Grande Gorge.
The route description made it easy to find our way.

I took a slightly longer route than the one indicated, descending to the cable car (west side) and then climbing back up via Pré Berger and Grange Gaby (east side), for a total distance of over 16 km.

The descent through the Grande Gorge was tricky at times.

Thank you for this beautiful route with stunning views of Geneva and Lake Geneva on one side and, potentially, the Alps on the other (a little hazy that day).

Best regards

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bren
bren

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Completed on 16 May 2019. The descent is almost more tiring than the ascent. But the passage under the rocks between the exit of the Orjobet cave and the Corraterie is very impressive. The view over the Geneva basin is magnificent. Great hike

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