The Bois de Chavot loop

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The Bois de Chavot route is merely a pretext for a lovely route in the Belledonne massif. In this part of Belledonne, the chalets are numbered: the first chalet of this, the second chalet of that...
This route is accessible for quite a long time during the season due to its moderate altitude of 1,860 m.
The route is signposted, with a large section following theGRP®® “Tour du Pays d’Allevard”.

Details

n°2664634
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.98 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,887 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,877 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 6,122 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,264 ft
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Description of the walk

(S/E) From the car park beside the Bréda, head uphill along the path heading due east to a footbridge crossing the Ruisseau de la Grande Valloire.

(1) Cross the footbridge and, on the other side, take the path leading off to the right. Follow this path uphill, crossing a lovely track three times, until you reach the Embarolin junction.

(2) Continue climbing, taking the right-hand branch; pass the Premier Chalet de la Petite Valloire and carry on climbing to reach the Deuxième Chalet de la Petite Valloire, also known as the Chalet de la Fouetterie.

(3) Continue climbing, keeping an eye out for a signpost above the chalet, until you reach the GRP®®.

(4) Turn right to follow a pleasant balcony path, eventually reaching the Premier Chalet de la Grande Valloire, then the stream of the same name.

(5) Cross the footbridge, staying on theGRP®® trail, which you will follow to the finish.

(1) At the footbridge you crossed on the way out, turn left and head back to the car park on the banks of the Bréda (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,274 ft - Car park beside the - Bréda (rivière)
  2. 1 : mi 0.43 - alt. 3,665 ft - Footbridge - Grande Valloire (ruisseau) - Affluent du Bréda
  3. 2 : mi 1.41 - alt. 4,865 ft - Embarolin junction. Towards the - Premier Chalet de la Petite Valloire ((1542 m)
  4. 3 : mi 2.18 - alt. 5,827 ft - Chalet de Fouetterie
  5. 4 : mi 2.27 - alt. 5,981 ft - Junction with the GRP - Deuxème Chatet de la Petite Valloire ou Chalet de la Fouetterie (1779m)
  6. 5 : mi 2.99 - alt. 5,968 ft - Grande Valloire footbridge - Premier chalet de la Grande Valloire
  7. S/E : mi 4.98 - alt. 3,274 ft - Car park beside the - Bréda (rivière)

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 4 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
chantalpicard
chantalpicard

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I did the route in reverse (I think it’s better); the distance doesn’t add up – 13 km instead of the 8 km stated

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Denis_68
Denis_68

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely hike through the mountain pastures. Lots of flowers in early July.
Steep ascent and descent, but not a very long route. Beautiful views.

Thanks for the walk.

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dahuette
dahuette

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An enjoyable hike overall. At the Chalet de la Fouetterie, a self-catering mountain hut with open sleeping quarters in the loft. Panoramic views guaranteed.
At the Premier Chalet de la Grande Valloire, you can extend the walk a little further to Lac Blanc and then retrace your steps.
Between the Premier Chalet de la Grande Valloire, well past the footbridge (5), and Pierre du Gros Carré, there is a short tricky section to cross the torrent. Cables have been installed to assist with the descent down the rock face, which is somewhat steep.

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misouli169lesbasbleus
misouli169lesbasbleus

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, fairly steep but rewarding hike that we did following the Visorando route
However, the balcony path was covered in snow.
We were a bit nervous on the snowfields
especially the last ones: a long slope.
We didn’t know when to turn back in time because we were spread out over a certain distance
and I think we took some rather reckless risks, at least given our age (two of us are nearly seventy)
The snow was soft and allowed us to easily dig in our feet.
But the slightest misstep or loss of balance could have been fatal.
The rest of the hike was uneventful; the view was at its best over the peaks, just after crossing the balcony path

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