The Morclan tour from Châtel

A beautiful, challenging "all-in-one" hike: beautiful mountain pastures, views of the surrounding peaks (Mont de Grange and Cornettes de Bises), 360° panorama from the summit of Morclan (Dents du Midi, Mont Blanc massif, Lake Geneva, Rhône Valley, etc.).

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.07 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 788 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 783 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,971 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,247 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from Chatel. Climb the Route du Petit Châtel. After the Le Bienvenu bar-restaurant, park along the "Chemin du Ryz" road.

(S/E) Follow Chemin du Ryz (leaving Chemin de Barbossine on your right). Continue along the road towards Le Ryz/Flammet (ignoring a path branching off to the right along a stream).

(1) At the end of the tarmac road, take the path opposite, towards Flammet. At the Oratoire du Leibe sign, stay on the path (loop to the left) to continue to the Flammet chalets. Above the chalets, at the "Flammet" sign, continue straight on towards Barbossine Dessous. At the Altitude 1470 m sign, continue to the right.

(2) At the Barbossine Dessous sign, continue straight ahead towards Barbossine chalets / Super Châtel.
Pass under the chairlifts and then turn left towards Super Châtel.

(3) Leave the track and turn right, crossing a small stream (fitness trail). Further on, ignore the path on the left that climbs directly to Morclan and continue on the path that runs flat for a while.

(4) At the La Louennaz sign, stay on the upper path, passing through the forest (do not descend towards Châtel).

(5) After the forest, you will come to a wide path at a hairpin bend, at the Sur l'Ortaz sign, and turn left to climb up to Super Châtel. Pass above the "L'escale" bar-restaurant and the chairlift station.

(6) At the Super Châtel sign, turn left to begin the climb to Morclan, walking close to the chairlifts and the ridge border. Further on, at a hairpin bend, at the Sous le Morclan sign, stay on the path that turns right. Pass under the chairlift line and, after a few final hairpin bends, you will reach the summit of Morclan (antennae, orientation table, magnificent 360° view).

(7) Continue east towards the cable car arrival point and the first aid station, and follow the signs for Tête de Don. You will arrive at Col de la Folière.

(8) Continue straight ahead towards Pointe des Ombrieux along a steep, stony path running along the ridge (Portes du Soleil walking tour). The summit of Pointe des Ombrieux offers a beautiful view of Lake Geneva. The trail descends, still on the ridge, then runs along a barbed wire fence (depending on the time of year, this fence may be dismantled and laid on the ground). At the Portes d'Onnaz sign, continue straight ahead through the mountain pastures.

(9) At the end of the trail, find a wide path near a bend and follow it to the left. Pass under two chairlift lines and reach the Col de Reculaz (or Col de la Croix).

(10) Continue straight ahead towards the chalets. Cross a property, using the path provided for hikers.

(11) After the two chalets, at the Chalets du Mouet sign, turn left downhill towards Petit Châtel. At a fork, follow the path on the right, continuing downhill.

(12) At the Altitude 1540m sign, leave the wide path and descend to the right along a grassy path towards Le Ryz / Petit Châtel.

(2) Take the same route back as on the way there, via the Flammet chalets, to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,247 m - Route du Petit Châtel - Chemin du Ryz
  2. 1 : km 0.45 - alt. 1,313 m - Le Ryz - towards Flammet
  3. 2 : km 1.28 - alt. 1,475 m - Before Barbossine Dessous
  4. 3 : km 1.62 - alt. 1,474 m - Stream to cross - Fitness trail
  5. 4 : km 2.21 - alt. 1,477 m - La Louennaz
  6. 5 : km 3.47 - alt. 1,599 m - On the Ortaz
  7. 6 : km 3.91 - alt. 1,638 m - Super Châtel
  8. 7 : km 5.63 - alt. 1,968 m - Le Morclan
  9. 8 : km 6.21 - alt. 1,913 m - Col de la Folière
  10. 9 : km 7.93 - alt. 1,864 m - Before the Barbossine chairlift
  11. 10 : km 8.72 - alt. 1,804 m - Col de Reculaz
  12. 11 : km 9.39 - alt. 1,725 m - Below the Mouet chalets
  13. 12 : km 10.53 - alt. 1,535 m - Descent to Le Ryz - Petit Châtel
  14. S/E : km 12.07 - alt. 1,247 m - Route du Petit Châtel - Chemin du Ryz

Notes

A challenging hike due to the elevation gain. A fairly steep climb from Super Châtel to Morclan, but well rewarded by the view. An exposed section to climb Pointe des Ombrieux. No other technical difficulties.

Approximate time to reach Morclan: between 2½ and 3 hours.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 19 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
grosmollets
grosmollets

Yes, outside of the summer season, it is best to check the Morclan webcam to see if there is still snow

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ybann
ybann

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very nice hike with Lexie, our little Munster.
Just to clarify, we did it on 9 April 2025 and the summit was still covered in snow.
So we had quite a challenging hike, as the trail was often invisible (points 8 and 9) and we were sinking into the snow.
Point 8 was quite perilous but charming.
Back at the chalet: exhausted but happy.

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TOURIGNY Jean-Luc
TOURIGNY Jean-Luc

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

very beautiful route with magnificent views, quite tricky passage after Morclan along the Swiss border, rocky chaos

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Hervé70
Hervé70

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An interesting hike across the mountain pastures. Best done outside July and August

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Scalpaline
Scalpaline

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The climb from Super Châtel to Morclan is on a rocky path that is not very pleasant. It can be partially avoided by climbing directly from Barbossine without going through Super Châtel.
Otherwise, it offers beautiful views and a varied, enjoyable route.

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DEBRUYNE Gerard
DEBRUYNE Gerard

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful hike, beautiful views, well-marked trail.

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Dann74
Dann74

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Thank you for this lovely loop

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Sylphide
Sylphide

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
Detailed information with a map, everything was great.
We had a little trouble finding the starting point as we weren't very familiar with the area.
However, the photos are very informative and the walk was perfect, despite the changeable weather.
Not to mention the wonderful mountain scenery. We'll be back...
Thank you for this wonderful discovery.
Best regards.
Sylphide

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Kainigou
Kainigou
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Excellent hike, but we took the Morclan chairlift (€7 per adult, €5.50 per child) to avoid a physically demanding and uninteresting climb (between (6) and (7)) (sunny trail under the chairlift).
Extraordinary views along most of the route.
Thank you to the author!

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walking_shoes
walking_shoes

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Some sections near the ski lifts are not very interesting. The border trail is very pleasant, as is the return trail.

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grosmollets
grosmollets

It's true that the climb from Super Châtel is less interesting, but I chose to stay on the discovery trail between (3) and (6)
As indicated in the description, it is possible to climb directly to Morclan via a trail between (3) and (4) to rejoin the track at the bend "below Morclan" before (7)

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gil.bad
gil.bad

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 10, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike, but the section just after the midway point of the ski lifts isn't great—a wide, steep path with nothing of interest

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Filipina
Filipina

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful hike, beautiful views. Be careful with your mobile phone plans near the Swiss border...

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DB1965
DB1965

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Superb hike via a detour along the border path due to works at Morclan, but the detour is pleasant

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VALCHI
VALCHI

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello,
i would like to inform you that from point no. 6 onwards, we had to take a "detour" along a border path.
the hiking trail between points 6 and 7 is currently being repaired by the town of Châtel. It's a shame we weren't able to follow your route, which looks like it would be very pleasant.
Valérie

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