Menthonnex-en-Bornes walks

Easy hike on the rural plateau of Les Bornes, with open views of the Salève, Aravis and Chablais mountains. Directional signs and a few markers.

An easy hike with many remarkable views.

Discover the Maison du Salève, the Chartreuse de Pomier and the mysterious Bois des Fées An easy hike, even for children, that is both cultural and fun.

A pleasant little walk starting from the Maison du Salève car park, above Pomier, with a section on the Petites Croix trail, to Les Convers. Dogs are allowed but must be kept on a leash.

A pleasant walk starting from La Croisette, with a loop route at the top of Salève, on a short section of the "Balcon du Léman". The Salève des Pitons (or Pitons) is not the most spectacular part of Mont Salève, but it nevertheless offers exceptional views (the Franco-Genevan basin, the Jura mountain range, the Geneva harbour/Petit-lac, the Vaud and Valais Alps, the Arve Valley, the Chablais, the Mont Blanc range, the Bornes, the Aravis, etc.).

This is a pleasant hike, with beautiful views of the Mont Blanc range in the first part. From the cable car station, the Geneva basin spreads out below you.

Walk starting from the Chosal farm, including the Land Art trail and its twenty or so installations in the heart of nature.

A circular trail that showcases the many facets of Salève: climb up via the Orjobet Cave, pass through the Trou de la Tine, Vire de la Corraterie, viewpoint towards Mont Blanc and Rochers de Faverges, viewpoints from the Observatory over Geneva and Lake Geneva, descent via the Grande Gorge and return to the start by passing under the large rock climbing routes.

The Salève in Haute Savoie is a bit like the mountain of the people of Geneva. The Grotte d'Orjobet still bears the stamp of the CAS (Swiss Alpine Club). From Le Coin, a steady climb takes you to the cave, which you can then cross. After a final climb, you come out onto the plateau, which is also an alpine pasture. The view is simply magnificent.

A family walk in a circular route around the small village of Cuvat, through the countryside and undergrowth, along the Viéran and Genon streams. Moderator's warning on 25/08/2020: Please note! A GPS device may be useful for this walk (see reviews).

A circular hike to enjoy the Belvédère de Pierre Taillée viewpoint overlooking the Filière valley. The route is varied, through forest and then along the river. The village of Usillon is the starting point for the Glières plateau, another popular hiking destination.

A walk offering spectacular views in good weather.

An easy, shaded walk with two waterfalls along the way. Ideal for families and on hot days, with a beautiful view of the Parmelan.

It is undoubtedly its proximity to Annecy that makes this mountain a place where hikers can find comfort after a more or less strenuous hike.

A pleasant circular with a beautiful panorama at the summit over the Arve Valley and the Aravis, Bargy, and Sous Dine mountain ranges, etc. Mont Blanc is visible. Refreshments are available on the descent as you pass by the Chalet de Balme. This is a very popular hike, partly due to the Chalet de Balme.

Hike with 360° panoramic views from the Jura to Mont Blanc, ridge route, beautiful route in magnificent surroundings. Caution: at (S/E) and (5), see important recommendations in the practical information section.

Between showers, with temperatures rather cool for what was supposed to be spring, we enjoyed a short walk in familiar surroundings, but the route was as enchanting as ever.

From the Vallée de la Fillière, I suggest you visit a little-frequented area of the Plateau du Parmelan, located to its north-east. This route, which is rather "wild" in places, winds its way through pretty landscapes with some beautiful views towards the Montagne de Sous-Dine and the Plateau des Glières. Along the way, there are three caves that are worth checking out. Please note that this route presents some difficulties: rough terrain, steep slopes and orientation issues.For more details, see below and, in particular, the Practical Information section.

Le Parmelan, via a slightly less traditional route. At the summit, sharp limestone pavement, Grotte de l'Enfer (and other caves), Mont Blanc range.

Le Parmelan, via the Col de Perthuis and return via the Petit MontoirVaried landscapes passing through green pastures, dense forests, rocks and impressive sharp limestone pavements on the summit.

This is a lovely little outing from the hamlet of La Blonnière. It is a pleasant walk, even in summer, because although the slope faces south, the route is quite shady. In winter, it can be more complicated, as we are still at an altitude of 1,000 metres and there is often snow.

On the north-western edge of the Annecy conurbation and a stone's throw from the Épagny shopping area, this well-marked forest trail offers a refreshing change of scenery. From the summit, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the lake, the mountains and the Fier valley as it winds its way through the countryside.

This is one of the most accessible "mountains" around Lake Annecy. ⚠️ A decree issued by the municipalities of Annecy and Veyrier-du-Lac prohibits motorised vehicles from accessing the Col des Contrebandiers and Pré Vernet.

Snowshoe circuit on the vast Glières Plateau. Besides the historical aspect, the Glières Plateau is interesting to visit because the mountains that surround it are strong points of reference.

A peaceful hike through the plateau's mountain pastures, a place steeped in the history of the Glières maquis. The route also offers panoramic views of the region's mountain ranges.

A magnificent snowshoe hike that is relatively well known on the Glières plateau, a hotspot of the Resistance. This hike offers magnificent panoramic views.

This circuit starts from the Col des Glières, on the plateau of the same name, in this important resistance site near Annecy. Note: this hike can be done on snowshoes; see the Practical Information section for more details.

A beautiful, easy hike on the Glières Plateau, offering clear views of the mountain pastures and the Notre-Dame des Neiges Chapel. There are many chalets and mountain farms with herds of livestock in summer.

Tête Noire, Tête Ronde and Tête de l'Arpettaz: three peaks overlooking the southern end of the Glières Plateau. The hike takes you through a fairly wild and unfrequented part of the peaks surrounding the famous historic plateau. Magnificent 360° view.

A short bike ride in the Geneva countryside. Ideal for families. It starts gently on a section of the greenway, which you then leave before returning to it briefly before the finish. The ride passes through Chêne-Bourg, then heads into Champel, Bout du Monde and Veyrier, before completing a beautiful circular loop through the countryside. The ride then continues to Thonex, Puplinge, Choulex and Vandoeuvres. Be patient at the end, as the roads are narrow and you may encounter motorists travelling in the opposite direction on one-way streets.

This loop crosses La Roche Parnal and the Sous Dîne mountain. The hike passes through alpine pastures, cools off in the forest and crosses a few rocky passages, but without difficulty. You will encounter ibex, but above all, you will have a 360° panorama almost the entire time, stretching from the Jura to the Aravis and Mont Blanc ranges. However, this is a demanding route due to its length and elevation gain, although there are no technical difficulties. You can also choose to walk in the opposite direction to the one suggested here. (!) Please read the paragraphs (5): poorly visible trail and (6) cliffs, cables, ridges, ladder, rocky outcrops.

A short and easy walk around the informative trail about the formation of marshland and the different fauna and flora found there, followed by a visit to the monument erected to the resistance fighters who were based at the Plateau des Glieres in the latter part of WWII. The way back follows part of the historic trail and passes the place where equipment drops were housed and the site of the infirmary.

The ridge trail from Mont Veyrier to Mont Baron overlooks Lake Annecy from a height of over 800 metres and offers panoramic views of the Bauges peaks. ⚠️ A decree issued by the municipalities of Annecy and Veyrier-du-Lac prohibits motorised vehicles from accessing the Col des Contrebandiers and Pré Vernet.

A very family-friendly, rural hike through fields and woods. No particular difficulty. Lots of variations in the woods. Can also be done by mountain bike, but be careful as there may be fallen trees. Beautiful views of the Montagne d'Âge, the Mandallaz and the Montagne du Gros Foug, which separates us from the Rhône valley.

An easy family walk through the valleys around the commune of Vaulx. On a clear day, Mont Blanc is omnipresent and the walk offers a wide view of most of the Savoyard massifs (Bornes, Aravis, Bauges) as well as the southern Jura (Colombier massif) and further south towards the Chartreuse and the Belledonne range.

A walk along the ridge and through the woods (in the cool), without tarmac, with beautiful views of Geneva and Lake Geneva to the west, and the Alps and the Mont Blanc range to the east. This loop has the advantage of being shortened (or extended) as you wish, as it intersects with many other trails.