Les Échelles de Château Richard and the Croix du Signal via La Serraz

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A walk through the woodland on the hills above Bourget-du-Lac, very pleasant in hot weather! Superb views from the summit over Lakes Bourget and Aiguebelette, as well as over Chambéry.

Details

n°25840476
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.85 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 3,737 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 3,720 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 4,820 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,142 ft
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Photos

Château Richard viewpoint
Viewpoint

Description of the walk

Small car park before the Serraz Waterfall.

(S/E) Head towards the waterfall.

(1) Take the footpath that climbs to the left of the waterfall and join the county road. Turn right.

(2) When you can see the chapel, turn left at the junction and carry on until you come to the gate of a private property.

(3) Follow the path that branches off to the right and eventually leads onto the Chemin de la Montagne.

(4) Turn left and stay on the same path heading due south: be careful, as the signposts are not always clear.

(5) Take the path on the right that goes uphill.

(6) Keep to the right, ignoring the path that branches off to the left. A little further on, first turn right then left and continue uphill through a series of hairpin bends. You’ll arrive at the Combe d’Armée car park.

(7) Turn left onto the Chemin de Château Richard. Further up, let a path branch off to the right and you’ll reach a junction.

(8) At this point, you have two options for reaching the Château Richard viewpoint: via Les Échelles (a slightly technical section with three ladders – choose your route), or via a gentle path that goes round to the right. Climb the ladders and head for the viewpoint.

(9) Then continue towards the Croix du Signal, making sure to head north.

(10) There’s a stunning view from the summit over Lakes Bourget and Aiguebelette, as well as the Chambéry valley. Carry on in the same direction.

(11) Head back down via the Chemin du Signal, which branches off to the right. Cut across a forest track and continue straight ahead along the path, which winds its way down in several hairpin bends.

(12) First turn right then left to stay on the path and join the Chemin de la Montagne right at the bottom.

(13) Turn sharply right and join a road.

(14) Turn left onto the road towards La Roche-Saint-Alban, keeping to the right at every junction you come to.

(2) Turn left at the chapel, then turn left again onto the path that leads back down to the waterfall.

(1) Continue to the right to reach the small car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,142 ft - The Waterfall car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.11 - alt. 1,181 ft - Start of the trail
  3. 2 : mi 0.48 - alt. 1,516 ft - Chapelle de la Roche Saint-Alban (Le Bourget-du-Lac)
  4. 3 : mi 0.59 - alt. 1,562 ft - Gate – Path on the right
  5. 4 : mi 1.01 - alt. 2,021 ft - Chemin de la Montagne
  6. 5 : mi 1.38 - alt. 2,024 ft - Fork in the road
  7. 6 : mi 2.15 - alt. 2,825 ft - Junction
  8. 7 : mi 3.07 - alt. 3,573 ft - Start of the Château Richard route
  9. 8 : mi 3.64 - alt. 4,016 ft - Ladder junction
  10. 9 : mi 3.97 - alt. 4,341 ft - Viewpoint
  11. 10 : mi 4.8 - alt. 4,764 ft - Croix du Signal
  12. 11 : mi 5.57 - alt. 4,721 ft - Chemin du Signal
  13. 12 : mi 7.53 - alt. 2,808 ft - Junction
  14. 13 : mi 8.4 - alt. 1,939 ft - Chemin de la Montagne
  15. 14 : mi 8.94 - alt. 1,759 ft - Junction of path and road
  16. S/E : mi 9.85 - alt. 1,158 ft - The Waterfall car park

Notes

Please note: if it has rained recently, the paths through the woodland may be slippery.

Access to the start: you can get there by bus (line 304 OndéaGrandLac, ‘École de la Waterfall’ stop, or line A Synchrobus, ‘Pouli’ stop: allow an extra 40 minutes’ walk and 100 m of elevation gain).

Worth a visit

(10) Stunning views from the summit over Lakes Bourget and Aiguebelette, as well as the Chambéry valley.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 3 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.7 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
edwz69
edwz69

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Thanks for the info, the hike is really nice. The ladders are easy to climb.
It's the descent that's a bit long. In autumn, the leaves cover the stones and make the path a bit slippery. There is one very short section where you need to use your hands.
Stay safe.

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rdub
rdub
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk on this Sunday, 14 April, in the height of summer! Fortunately, much of the route is sheltered by the woods, even though the leaves are only just beginning to appear at this time of year.
The main challenge of the route lies in the continuous climb from the start to the Croix du Signal (over 1,100 metres of ascent over 8 km), whilst crossing the three ladders is straightforward provided you take care. The reward awaits at the Château Richard viewpoint: a magnificent 180° view on a clear day!
The descent is described as ‘tricky’ on a few local signs: only one short section requires you to use your hands; however, you should remain vigilant in wet weather, as this is likely to make the path very slippery.
Thanks to the author.

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PascaLyon
PascaLyon

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed on Sunday 30 October 2022. It’s a lovely walk, especially once you reach the ridge path. I wouldn’t classify this hike as ‘very difficult’, but at most as difficult. There are no particular difficulties, even when climbing the ladders (four in total) that lead up to the plateau overlooking Lake Aiglebelette.

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