The Beaume des Echelles tour

de fr

The route is not particularly difficult and can easily be done on snowshoes if there is enough snow.
The summit section of the route offers superb views of the Caille plain and all the surrounding peaks.

Details

n°215044
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.78 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 352 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 355 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,480 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,128 m
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Description of the walk

The starting point for the hike is a car park located at the junction of the D79 and D81. Free parking.

(S/E) Take the path heading due west.

(1) After 300 metres, leave the marked trail and follow a well-marked path to reach altitude 1143.

(2) Follow the road that branches off to the right and then to the left, reaching marker 165 at the next intersection.

(3) Turn right heading due north to reach the D79. Cross the road and follow the track opposite. After a short climb, you will reach marker 139.

(4) Turn east to the right. The path is fairly well marked, but the yellow markings are somewhat random. You will arrive at marker 137, altitude 1323 (beautiful view of the Thorenc valley, Thorenc mountain with Pic de l'Aiglo and Pic de Fourneuby).

(5) Leave the marked trail and follow the track that branches off to the right. Follow it to the pass where there is a cistern. Very beautiful view over the Andon plain to Caille.

(6) From there, follow the track, ignoring a track branching off to the right. You will reach the junction with the path you took earlier.

(7) Continue along the track in front of you. Continue downhill to reach another crossroads.

(8) Stay on the right-hand track to reach marker 143 at the Col de la Baïsse. Head south, following the yellow-marked trail that leads to a local road at marker 153.

(9) From there, turn right and follow the road to the D79. Continue right on the pavement to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,193 m - Car park at the junction of the D79 and D81
  2. 1 : km 0.27 - alt. 1,170 m - End of the marked trail.
  3. 2 : km 1.88 - alt. 1,137 m - Altitude 1143
  4. 3 : km 3.56 - alt. 1,129 m - Marker 165
  5. 4 : km 3.99 - alt. 1,184 m - Marker 139
  6. 5 : km 6.93 - alt. 1,313 m - Marker 137
  7. 6 : km 9.27 - alt. 1,471 m - Cistern
  8. 7 : km 10.83 - alt. 1,361 m - Yellow marked trail junction
  9. 8 : km 11.82 - alt. 1,343 m - Crossroads below the Col de Baïsse
  10. 9 : km 13.25 - alt. 1,182 m - Marker 153
  11. S/E : km 15.78 - alt. 1,193 m - : Car park at the junction of the D79 and D81

Notes

This hike does not require any special equipment other than water, as it is quite long.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 12 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
3.8 / 5
PhilippeC06
PhilippeC06

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

A very easy hike, even if it is 15 km long. The start is flat and quite pleasant, except for the paved section that takes us to the entrance of the village of Caille. Then there is a fork in the road and a pleasant climb up the lower part of the ridge, finally leading to a fairly gentle climb through the forest. There are NO views.
When we reached the summit, we could see not the Caille/Andon plain but the Thorenc plain and its magnificent photovoltaic panel factory, which is an ecological disgrace. The descent starts gently on a path rutted by forestry machinery for 2 km with pine and wood debris... in short, not pleasant.
Then we switch back to the real descent towards the Plaine de Caille, which is admittedly a little stony and sometimes steep, but does offer a rather nice view, even if it's not exceptional. Once we reach the plain, we return to the tarmac for 3.5 or 4 km in the middle of houses... in short, uninteresting.
I won't be doing that again.

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Espedaillac
Espedaillac

Thank you, continue on your way.

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Kerbelo
Kerbelo
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike to do with friends.

The scenery is magnificent. It allows you to discover Andon and its surroundings.

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Helys
Helys

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : May 07, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A pleasant walk with a dog, just note that at the end of the route, there is a descent on a rocky path (but not very long) and when you reach the road and houses, there is a house with a dog that roams freely. But even though he was very curious, he didn't cause us any trouble.
There are some beautiful views of the surrounding peaks and plains. A bonus is the Andon plain, which was covered with wildflowers when we passed through.
Much of the route is in the shade. The hike is not particularly difficult, I just spent a few minutes looking for the start of the trail at the car park.

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bpeiffer06
bpeiffer06

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 26, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A beautiful, easy hike. When we reached marker 153, we didn't take the road back to Andon. Instead, we headed east a few dozen metres to find marker 152. Then we followed Le Loup along a dotted trail until we reached a fence blocking the way. After wandering around a bit to find another trail, we had almost no choice but to return to the road for the last kilometre.

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LeCiao
LeCiao

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 01, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

We only made a round trip from the Caille plain and then climbed up into the forest to reach the viewpoint at the cistern above Andon.
The trail is no longer marked for this walk, as the signs have been removed, probably because there is currently logging going on in the forest.
The walk through the woods is superb and very easy.

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salagrifon06
salagrifon06

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 24, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A very beautiful trail through lovely forests, but with one slight drawback: the last part is on a stony path in the sun.

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lboceno
lboceno

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 15, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

beautiful hike without any difficulties

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luques
luques

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 03, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hike advertised as 15.78 km
Actual length 18.5 km

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Randonneurs vallérois
Randonneurs vallérois

Hello
Yes, there is a possibility, but it extends the circular by 3.9 km.
At La Freye, cross the road and take the path at the edge of the woods. When you reach marker 152, cross the road and turn left to reach marker 151. Go up the Loup, pass marker 149 and reach Andon.

Thank you for your comments.
Georges

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Espedaillac
Espedaillac

No, that doesn't detract from the appeal of the course.

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FLOCH
FLOCH ★

Hello Espedaillac,

You've done this route twice.
Can you think of any other alternatives for doing this circular route while avoiding the sections of road you mentioned?

Thank you in advance for your reply.

FLOCH (Moderator)

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Espedaillac
Espedaillac

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 02, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

It's a shame that the return trip from the end of the path in Freye is by road.

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Espedaillac
Espedaillac
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 02, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Nothing to report

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Espedaillac
Espedaillac

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

It's a shame that the return journey is by road to the village of Andon.

For food lovers, head to Huguette à la Moulière, 5 km from Andon at the foot of the Audibergue mountain slopes. Booking recommended.

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