Sulens Mountain via the Sentier du Facteur

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This is an unusual route to the summit of Sulens, which takes you up the steep grassy face of the east slope.
This trail is not "yet" marked on IGN maps... but is clearly visible on IGN Satellite.
A good reason to use it before it becomes too well-travelled...
At the summit: panoramic view of the Aravis mountain range, the Mont Blanc massif...

Details

n°366888
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.49 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 618 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 614 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,838 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,230 m
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Photos

Towards the Aravis
the start of the Curé trail

Description of the walk

Departure from the Col de Plan Bois.

(S/E) From the car park, take the tarmac road eastwards (towards Manigod) and follow it for about 500 metres.

(1) Turn right onto the wide track towards Sous Sulens, Les Crêtets and follow the signs for 'Tour du Sulens'.
Follow this track for about 2.5 km and after a few bends, you will come to a relatively flat section with the grassy face of Sulens on your right. At the foot of this, the meadow is dotted with rocks. About 300 m away is the Bois Noir chalet.

(2) Leave the track on the right and head north. Look for the trail (not very visible) but marked by cairns. Update 2020: signposts have been installed at this point - Sentier du Facteur, Croix de Sulens: follow them.
As you approach the slope, the Sentier du Curé has been cleared and is now well marked. It climbs in a zigzag pattern and leads to the summit ridge. Stay on the ridge (heading south-west).

(3) Pass the Croix de Sulens (1,828 m). Continue south on the ridge to reach the orientation table (1,839 m).

(4) The hike continues along the ridge to a small flat area.

(5) Take the dirt track on the right towards the Sulens chalets.

(6) After the chalets, the track widens and leads directly to the Plan Bois car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,296 m - Parking - Col de Plan Bois (1299m)
  2. 1 : km 0.63 - alt. 1,230 m - Turn right towards Sous Sulens
  3. 2 : km 3.16 - alt. 1,507 m - Leave the track on the right
  4. 3 : km 4.32 - alt. 1,818 m - Coix de Sulens
  5. 4 : km 4.78 - alt. 1,831 m - Orientation table
  6. 5 : km 5.43 - alt. 1,746 m - Turn right onto the dirt track
  7. 6 : km 6.2 - alt. 1,612 m - Sulens chalets
  8. S/E : km 8.49 - alt. 1,296 m - Plan Bois car park

Notes

This hike should not be attempted if the route on the steep east face is likely to be snowy or icy.

Worth a visit

We are in the land of Reblochon cheese, so a quick stop at the Sulens chalet is a great way to enjoy some local cuisine (cheese available for purchase)!

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 23 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
User 1005619

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This is a fairly short hike, but one that offers a lot of interest. The view of the surrounding mountains is beautiful: the Etale ridges, Aiguille de Manigod, Mont Charvin to the east and La Tournette to the west. The route is varied and pleasant. The climb up the Chemin du Facteur is certainly steep, but the path is well marked. The ridge walk is superb. the descent via the forest road can seem a little monotonous. Please note that the descent via the Chemin du Facteur can be dangerous if the ground is slippery (several accidents have occurred), so it is advisable to take this route on the way up. This is a wonderful route that can be completed in four to five hours at a leisurely pace, with stops to admire the view

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User 18657150

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A quiet route on this late August day

A superb family hike (but still quite challenging) done with children and grandparents.

The route is well signposted and the fact that it's a loop rather than a return trip is a real plus.

The grassy climb is short but steep, so don't underestimate this section if you're not very fit. (+370 m over approximately 1 km). The return journey is very easy and pleasant, passing by the orientation table. The descent is less steep than the return journey, so follow the directions on the map carefully.

I would avoid this loop in case of rain or if it has rained the day before, as the grassy climb can be slippery.

The views are superb and panoramic.

Elevation gain +610 m, duration 4.5 hours taking our time, but 12 km vs. 8.5 km indicated on the map.

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Planeu
Planeu

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very steep climb up to the cross. Be very careful on the descent to the Col Plan de Bois, which is quite difficult with lots of gravel

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Midep
Midep

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Good description, except that now the start of the postman's path is marked by a pretty wooden sign and the path itself is very well marked. Be careful, it is narrow and the grassy slope very steep. It is worth pointing out that it is absolutely essential to avoid falling rocks for the hikers below.
After the summit of Sulens and the descent to the small pass that separates it from Petit Sulens, you can pleasantly choose to pass through Petit Sulens and then go around to the south to join a well-marked path (be careful, the start of the path is not very visible) to the Alpage Ecole.

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gazet
gazet

Hello,
In response to the comment dated 10/07/24 regarding the possibility of using the factor's path in winter... The steep slope of the climb is impassable in winter in both directions. The path disappears under the snow and the slope is around 45°... any slip would be fatal.

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SoazD
SoazD

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A steep climb, but not very long, best done in cool weather... the rest of the loop is very busy.

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F Varlet
F Varlet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A tough climb up the mountainside, challenging due to the heat and exposure, but what breathtaking scenery! And the view from the ridge over Mont Blanc, with a 360-degree panorama! A magnificent hike that will remain a wonderful memory of our time in the great outdoors.

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eclaude
eclaude
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A parish-specific to Brittany, very pleasant alternative route to climb up to the Sulens cross. The climb is fairly short but intense and quite exposed. Magnificent views. The path has been reworked recently but is still probably too difficult in winter, especially on the descent.

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Kinet
Kinet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike, steep postman's trail with a superb view at the end!

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chemin faisant...
chemin faisant...

Beautiful hike with magnificent views
It is best to ascend from the east side.

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Stef74
Stef74

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An excellent alternative to climbing the Sulens.
The scenery is absolutely magnificent all the way up.
Admittedly, the postman's path is a bit tough on the legs 🤣 but the beauty of the landscape and the fact that you're alone on the trail more than make up for it! 😎
Thank you for this great hiking idea 🙏

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idée randonnée
idée randonnée

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

beautiful views throughout the varied route

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petipote
petipote

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, very quiet during the week in the off-season, with a fairly steep section during the climb.

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brunor248
brunor248
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb hike. Doing it in this direction makes a lot of sense. The view once you pass the orientation table is more interesting: better view of Mont Blanc and a quieter picnic spot.

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faf113
faf113

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike, busy (it was a Sunday) but most of the hikers were doing the circuit in the opposite direction. In the end, the direction suggested here (with the "steep" part uphill) was much better suited to the soft, slippery ground caused by the previous night's rain.
Very beautiful view at the cross.

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Walking Tour of Sulens Mountain

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↔11.66 km ↗+514 m ↘-514 m ◔4h 50 ▲Moderate
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An easy hike on a wide track offering beautiful views of the Manigod valley and then the Bouchet valley. It allows you to walk around the Montagne de Sulens without much difficulty and offers breathtaking landscapes in autumn when the trees are ablaze with colour.

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Association / Club / Walk leader
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Un itinéraire assez facile, mais qui offre une jolie vue arrivé au sommet, avec une table d'orientation.

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↔11.00 km ↗+550 m ↘-551 m ◔4h 45 ▲Moderate
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This circular walk will take you through the steep-sided wooded valley beneath the Aiguille de Manigod. It then brings you up into pastures before making the steep ascent to Sur le Freu and the more gentle ascent to the top of Orsiere via la Riondaz. The descent takes you back through pastures before heading back down through the forest to the start. Great views towards Manigod and the mountains behind Annecy, Mont Charvin.

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This route will take you from Serraval to the summit of Sulens on the ridge of Montagne de Sulens. This mountain, located between the Aravis and Bornes ranges, offers extraordinary views of both, as well as much of the Bauges Massif. Two orientation tables at the summit provide hikers with information on the names of the many peaks visible in the surrounding area. Half of this hike takes place in the forest.

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