Notes: The entire route is on good paths and is very well marked, both by signs and by clearly visible yellow markings. From Bellecombe, simply follow the signs: Porte de l'Alpette, Granier via Pas des Barres, Croix du Granier, Pas de la Porte, Bellecombe.
Parking: It is possible to park near the micro-power station (1) (one space only), but it is better to park in the square in front of the pretty little church in Bellecombe.
(S/E) From the car park, take the tarmac Alpette road which climbs westwards to the new micro power station.
(1) At the micro power station, leave the forest path climbing to the right and take the one that continues to the left (south-west), climbing gently. Continue along this path, 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 west). This path crosses another level path, continues straight ahead with tighter switchbacks, then heads south at the foot of the cliff when the vegetation thins out. It ends at the Porte de l'Alpette.
(3) On the Alpette plateau, follow the signposted direction (south-west) for Le Granier via the Pas des Barres.
(4) At an IGN elevation of 1,580 metres, a sign indicates the Pas des Barres trail. Take this trail, which turns right and heads northeast before coming up against a series of small rocky passages, one of which is equipped with a cable and metal rungs. The path, still marked in yellow, heads west before turning north when the slope becomes less steep. It crosses a path towards "Fontaine Neuve" (stay on the main path, to the left — west — at this point), then loops under small cliffs and turns north, joining the fork in the path coming from La Balme à Colon, at the edge of the western cliff of Le Granier.
(5) Continue north (right) along the cliff leading to the summit of Granier until you reach it.
(6) At Granier, continue north along the cliff (on your left) to descend to the cross that marks the end of the promontory. Please note that due to recent rockfalls, access to the cross is prohibited for the last 4 to 5 metres.
(7) At the cross, take the path that heads right, due east, along the north cliff of Granier (towards Pas de la Porte). Follow this path, which hugs the contour of Granier and returns south to find the Pas de la Porte passage. A few easy rocky passages enliven the route.
(8) At Pas de la Porte, the path branches off to the left (north) and descends in endless switchbacks to a forest road coming from the road leading to Col du Granier. The landslides of 2016 damaged the trail in a few places. You must descend to the left of the first landslide to find the trail again, and to the right of the landslide when it meets a forest road (sign with no indication but marked with two yellow arrows: the trail runs along the slope beside the landslide before becoming clear again). After a few more hairpin bends, the trail arrives at a forest road made of crushed stone.
(9) At the sign on this road, turn right, heading south towards Bellecombe. The forest road climbs back into the forest and arrives at a fork with a small path just as it becomes covered with taller grass.
(10) Take this path, which climbs to the right (south). There is no sign, but there is a faint yellow mark on a tree above. Follow the path, which 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 bottom of the switchbacks, the path heads east on a steep slope and arrives at a recent water catchment spanned by a metal footbridge.
(11) Pass the water catchment to reach a good gravel road that heads south-east. It crosses a forest path that descends more steeply on the left. Take this path until you reach the micro power station.
(1) From there, follow the road to the church in Bellecombe (S/E).
