Mont Joly from the Signal gondola lift

The hike starts at the upper station of the Signal gondola lift (buy a one-way ticket). To reach the Signal gondola lift, take the Gorge gondola lift (buy a return ticket). Park in the car park at the lower station of the Gorge gondola lift.

Along the route, up to the passage under the Véleray ski lift (5), there are numerous directional signs at regular intervals.

(S) Head towards Lac de Roselette, to the south-west, in line with the cable car. Keep to the left of the Signal ski lift. Leave Lac de Roselette on your left, pass under the Olympique chairlift and you will soon reach a junction.

(1) Continue straight ahead and, at the fork shortly afterwards (elevation 1934), keep left. Pass under the Pierres Blanches ski lift line. After a hairpin bend to the left, you will reach the Col du Joly (car park).

(2) Turn right at the hairpin bend and pass at the foot of an antenna on the left. Ignore the turn-off on the right towards a reservoir and continue north-west on an alpine track. Pass under the Monument ski lift line and you will immediately reach an intersection.

(3) Turn sharply left and pass under the ski lift line again. Then turn right around a stele and climb up the switchbacks, passing under the ski lift line several times.

(4) Shortly before the ski lift arrives, at an intersection just after passing under the line, continue straight ahead, crossing north-east to the upper station of the Tierces chairlift.

(5) Continue straight ahead, north-east, then east-north-east. Pass under the Véleray ski lift line and arrive at the ruins of the Rebans chalets.

(6) Continue north-east and keep climbing to reach the ridge.

(7) Follow the ridge to the right (northeast). Soon, as you approach the Tête de la Colombaz, you will have two options that merge further on:
- Climb the Tête de Colombaz and descend on the other side.
- As shown on the map, go around Tête de Colombaz on the left.

(8) Just after the Tête de la Colombaz, ignore the return trail that descends to the right. Continue northeast along the ridge to reach the summit of Mont Joly.

(9) Turn back to the intersection you passed earlier.

(8) Leave the ridge and descend to the left. Follow the numerous switchbacks down a steep slope. Pass a chalet and some ruins on your left and continue descending.

(10) Pass over one of the natural slopes of Joly on the left-hand side (be careful). Continue downhill, following the numerous hairpin bends.

(11) At a T-junction, turn left. Continue downhill, still following the switchbacks, and after a left-hand bend, pass under a high-voltage power line.

(12) At the T-junction, turn right and cross the hamlet of Colombaz.

(13) Shortly afterwards, turn left onto a narrower path that enters the forest.

(14) Cross the Nant Rouge stream via a wooden bridge and climb slightly on the other side. Take a sharp left turn and pass the lower station of a chairlift on your right. Then go around the lower station of the Signal cable car on the right and immediately join the upper station of the Forge cable car (E).