Leysse and Ternèze, gorges and canyons

From Chambéry, follow signs for the Massif des Bauges and, at Saint Alban-Leysse, avoid the climbs at Saint Jean-d'Arvey and Curienne to head, between the two, down Rue de la Guillotière into the Bout du Monde pass.
Please note: limited parking available. SynchroBus route 3 passes nearby.

(S/E) Take Rue de la Guillotière uphill, turn right at the junction with the Doria (hard to see) and continue to the weir fitted with a fish ladder.

(1) Head left up the winding forest path to the first old Sartot you come across and the Replat junction a few metres further up.

(2) Turn right. The Sentier des Vignes descends slightly then crosses level towards the east to a junction with signs for “Sentier des Vignes”. Leave this path to descend to the right along a narrower, fairly steep path leading to the banks of the Leysse.

(3) Turn left to follow the path up the right bank of the Leysse, with a few short climbs where the bank is impassable. After a steeper climb, you’ll reach the confluence of the Leysse and the Ruisseau de Ternèze. Continue up the right bank of the Leysse and, after a wide bend to the right, take the path on the left which climbs up to join the one descending from Saint-Jean-d'Arvey. Follow it to the right (^GRP®) to a viewpoint (bench) then descend to the footbridge at Trou de l'Enfer.

(4) Cross the footbridge and follow the^GRP®-marked path opposite uphill until it joins a tarmac road signposted Côté du Sordet.

(5) From this junction, it is possible, by taking the path on the right, to make a return trip to the Pont du Sordet, which is now closed to traffic due to its condition, but it is possible to fords the river at its base.

(6) Turn back.

(5) Back at the junction, take the small road heading south-east, which continues as a stony track to the Sur Marle junction.

(7) Head down the path on the right towards the Ternèze Canyon. It becomes a track running alongside farmland, descending to near the stream and then climbing back up at a distance along the right bank to reach the footbridge crossing it.

(8) After admiring the canyon, cross the footbridge and head up to the left to join the stony path leading towards the Boyat car park, following the left bank of the Ternèze stream.

(9) At the car park, cross the road to continue along the stream: the left-bank path is rather inconspicuous and eventually disappears, forcing you to fords the stream to rejoin the correct path on the right bank. You can also cross the CD21a road bridge to take the right-bank path from the start. The path up the stream reaches a ford, the end of this walk: to continue towards Chez Billoud, you’ll need to cross with your feet getting wet...

(10) Retrace your steps along the path on the right bank of the Ruisseau de Ternèze back to the bridge.

(9) Cross the car park and head back down the path to the Ternèze Canyon.

(8) From the footbridge, take the path opposite which descends along the left bank of the stream. It passes the remains of the Fontaine-Froide mills.

(11) Then it rejoins the path coming from Boyat, which you take on the right. This path runs along the contour line. When you reach a three-way junction, take the path on the right to avoid going back up to Curienne. It descends slightly then joins the path to the Pont du Sordet.

(12) From this junction, it is possible to visit the Pont du Sordet (6) via the left bank of the stream, making a round trip.

Back at the junction, turn right onto the level path heading west. At the Sordet junction, ignore the path to the left towards Barby and Curienne and follow the path to the right towards Leysse and La Bâtie until the next junction, 30 metres from the previous one.

(13) Turn right onto the yellow-marked path which winds downwards (ignoring the level paths) to the banks of the Leysse, just downstream of the confluence with the Ruisseau de Ternèze.

(14) Turn left to follow the path running along the left bank of the Leysse. It climbs a few times to cross some rapids before descending back to the bank, where you’ll need to go round inaccessible sections.
You are now facing the path you took on the opposite bank earlier.

(15) When there is no longer a path on the opposite bank, the marked path veers left to begin an ascent into the Bois de la Bâtie.
Alternative: it is possible to continue along the Leysse as far as the dam, but via a dead-end path, unless you cross at the ford.

The path stops climbing to cross level beneath Château de la Bâtie, then heads south-west towards Les Corniolles.

(16) Just before leaving the forest onto a road near some houses, turn right onto a path that stays in the forest to skirt the farmland. It veers south to run along the cliffs of Bout-du-Monde and eventually descends onto the Route de la Bâtie.

(17) Turn right to go down the street: you are now in town. Turn right again to cross the Leysse, then right once more to take Rue de la Guillotière, which leads back to Bout-du-Monde and the starting point, wherever that may be along this street (S/E).

The entire route follows paths or trails, with a short stretch of road at the start or end, so there are no technical difficulties. The path along the Leysse is more rugged but well-maintained (with steps or retaining walls) for pedestrians.

This description covers the “full” route. It is, of course, possible to shorten the circular route:
- either by crossing at the Pont du Sordet (6), but then you miss the Ternèze Canyon
- or by descending from the canyon footbridge (8), as the rest of the ascent is less characteristic.

There are many points of interest along this route:
- remains of past activities (lime works, mills, vineyards...) well documented on the information boards at Bout du Monde or Fontaine-Froide.
- the wild character of the Gorges de la Leysse, which you walk along on both banks.
- the Trou de l'Enfer site and its Himalayan-style footbridge.
- the Ternèze Canyon site, popular with canyoning enthusiasts.

However, the views are limited: at the foot of Le Peney and near Marle, there is an unobstructed view of Le Margériaz.