Country:
City:
Notes: The entire route follows a good path and is very well signposted, both with signs and clearly visible yellow markings. From Bellecombe, simply follow the signs: Porte de l’Alpette, Granier via the Pas des Barres, Croix du Granier, Pas de la Porte, Bellecombe.
Car park: It is possible to park near the micro-power station (1) (one space only), but it is better to park in the square by the very pretty little church in Bellecombe.
(S/E) From the car park, take the tarmac road to l’Alpette, which climbs westwards to the new micro-power station.
(1) At the micro-power station, ignore the forest track climbing to the right and take the one continuing to the left (south-west), climbing gently. Continue along this track, ignoring the junctions, until you reach the small dam at the Cernon waterfall.
(2) After seeing the waterfall, retrace your steps for a few metres and turn left (old wooden sign) onto the winding path that climbs through the undergrowth (generally westwards). This path crosses another on level ground, continues straight ahead with tighter hairpin bends, then heads south at the foot of the cliff as the vegetation thins out. It leads to the Porte de l’Alpette.
(3) On the Alpette plateau, follow the signposted direction (south-west) to the Granier via the Pas des Barres.
(4) At the IGN elevation of 1580m, a sign indicates the Pas des Barres path. Take this path, which turns right and heads back north-east before reaching a series of small rocky sections, one of which is secured with a cable and fitted with metal rungs. The path, still marked in yellow, heads west before veering north as the slope becomes less steep. It crosses a track towards “Fontaine Neuve” (stay on the main path, to the left — west — at this point), then, via a circular path that passes beneath small cliffs and veers north, joins the junction with the path coming from La Balme à Colon, at the edge of the Granier’s western cliff.
(5) Continue north (right) along the cliff leading to the summit of the Granier, until you reach it.
(6) At the Granier, continue northwards along the cliff (on your left) to descend to the Cross marking the tip of the promontory. Please note: due to recent rockfalls, access to the Cross is prohibited for the final 4 to 5 metres.
(7) At the cross, take the path that heads right, due east, along the northern cliff face of the Granier (towards Pas de la Porte). Follow this path as it skirts the Granier and turns southwards towards the Pas de la Porte pass. A few easy rocky sections add variety to the route.
(8) At Pas de la Porte, the path heads left (north) and descends in endless switchbacks towards a forest track coming from the road leading to Col du Granier. The rockfalls of 2016 damaged the path in a few places; you must descend to the left of the first rockfall to rejoin the path, and to the right of the rockfall where it meets a forestry track (signpost with no indication but marked with two yellow arrows: the path runs down the slope alongside the rockfall before becoming clear again). After further hairpin bends, the path joins a forest track made of crushed stone.
(9) At the signpost on this road, turn right, heading due south towards Bellecombe. The forest road climbs back into the woods and reaches a junction with a small path just as the vegetation becomes taller.
(10) Take this path which climbs to the right (south). There is no sign, but a rather faint yellow mark on a tree further up. Follow the path as it continues to climb through the forest to the south-east before descending towards a series of hairpin bends that generally head north-east. At the foot of the hairpin bends, the path heads eastwards on a steep slope and reaches a recent water intake spanned by a metal footbridge.
(11) Pass the water intake to reach a good gravel road heading south-east. It crosses a forest track descending more steeply to the left. Take this track until you reach the small hydroelectric power station.
(1) From there, follow the road to the church at Bellecombe (S/E).
Visorando Member
Moderate 
Easy 
Difficult 
