Petit Som via Les Riondettes

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Short family hike with a climb to Le Petit Som: 360° views,
marmots and chamois.

Details

n°6174
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.62 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,280 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,280 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 5,774 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 4,104 ft
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Photos

You can see Mont Blanc

Description of the walk

Head to the village of La Ruchère and continue to the large car park at Les Riondettes. Park there.

(S/E) Head east along the wide path to reach Pré de la Morte.

(1) Continue north-east to reach the junction with theGRP® Tour de Chartreuse.

(2) Turn right onto it, following the red and yellow markings, and reach the small pass known as Tracol.

(3) Stay on theGRP® and continue up a gentle slope to reach the Col de la Ruchère.

(4) Head straight ahead into the mountain pasture to quickly reach another junction.

(5) Leave the path that winds gently to the right and take the steep slope to the left. Climb this slope to reach the summit of the Petit Som.

(6) Begin the descent on the opposite side and you will very quickly reach the Col de Léchaud.

(7) Stay on the path on the left to reach the Col de Bovinant.

(8) Further on, you’ll reach the mountain hut of the same name.

(9) Continue to the right, pass the Pas du Loup and return to the Col de la Ruchère.

(4) Return to theGRP® to Tracol via the reverse route of the outward journey.

(3) Take the path on the left leading to the Aliénard valley and reach the springs.

(10) Make a 180° turn to the right to reach the Pré de la Morte via the mountain pasture and then the stream.

(1) Turn left and return via the same route as on the way out to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 4,104 ft - Riondettes car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.25 - alt. 4,199 ft - Pré de la Morte
  3. 2 : mi 0.73 - alt. 4,413 ft - GRP
  4. 3 : mi 1.21 - alt. 4,626 ft - Tracol
  5. 4 : mi 1.75 - alt. 4,642 ft - Col de la Ruchère
  6. 5 : mi 2.01 - alt. 4,993 ft - Crossroads
  7. 6 : mi 2.39 - alt. 5,748 ft - Petit Som (1772m)
  8. 7 : mi 2.59 - alt. 5,584 ft - Col de Léchaud
  9. 8 : mi 2.79 - alt. 5,561 ft - Col de Bovinant (1646m)
  10. 9 : mi 3.02 - alt. 5,344 ft - Habert de Bovinant
  11. 10 : mi 4.87 - alt. 4,692 ft - Aliénard Valley
  12. S/E : mi 5.62 - alt. 4,108 ft - Riondettes car park

Notes

No water along the route. Hiking boots. Take care in wet weather: very slippery.
There is an issue with my old 3333OT map (1999) where part ofthe markedGR® route does not exist at the start of the walk after Pré de la Morte: hence a bit of walking by bearing. This issue has been corrected on the new map published in 2011.

Worth a visit

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Downloads
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Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 4 reviews
Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
User 11249329

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike with varied landscapes and a splendid view from the summit.
There are a few tricky sections on the way back if you're afraid of heights.
Be careful, the alternative route for the descent is difficult to find, complicated to follow, with lots of vegetation, fallen trees and steep slopes at the end. You can't see where you're putting your feet. It must be very rarely used; I didn't enjoy it.

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MI.L
MI.L

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The advantage of this route is that it is the shortest and most direct way to reach the Petit Som.
On the way back, the detour via L’Aliénard is well worth it as it takes you through overgrown countryside; the path is largely non-existent if you follow the stream, and it’s clear that nobody passes through here anymore. So the detour via WP10 is for those who enjoy places where nature has reclaimed its rights; it requires a GPS and long trousers.

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Michel S.
Michel S.

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

When you arrive at La Ruchère, don’t go into the village; instead, head up to the right towards the Nordic centre and carry on to the end.
Right from the start, 9 out of 10 walkers take a wrong turn by following a post that looks like a tin can; it doesn’t matter, as this takes a shortcut through tall ferns (you’ll find the path again and turn left).
You’ll soon reach Le Tracol; to give yourself a bit of a boost, you can ‘check in’ on a smiley face drawn on a tree.
After the Col de la Ruchère, the serious stuff begins: a steep climb that ends with you crawling on all fours over the rocks. Breathtaking views.
When you pass the Pas du Loup on the descent, there’s a tricky section where you’ll need to use your backside and the rock face for support.
Then return via the same route as on the way up; do not take the Alliénard path, which is muddy, impassable and fenced off.
Do this lovely hike in good weather.

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sophie meiller
sophie meiller

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2013
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely route; follow it exactly as shown on the guidebook, as the view is truly spectacular once you’ve cleared the pass.

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.