Short circular nature loop in Bessans

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Starting from La Goulaz in Bessans, just above the cross-country ski trails and at the foot of “Tièrce”, you can take a short circular route partly along the Chemin du Petit Bonheur. It follows the botanical trail, dotted with small signs giving the names of the flowers and their uses.

Details

n°10802671
Creation:
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.73 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 309 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 308 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,981 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,737 m
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Description of the walk

Park near the bridge, close to the hamlet of La Goulaz.

(S/E) Cross the bridge over the Avérole stream and head straight on along the track that winds its way up towards the entrance to the EDF tunnel.

(1) At the first bend, stay on the track. Continue to the third bend.

(2) Leave the track at the end of this third bend. Turn right, heading south-west, towards the Oratoire Saint-Antoine. After the Couloir du Chaffray, you’ll come across a wide track climbing up into Le Ribon.

(3) Take it on the right and head down to the Ribon car park.

(4) At the bottom of the car park, turn right onto the Chemin du Petit Bonheur.
Pass above the biathlon stadium and continue to Carreley.

(5) Turn slightly right, then, after a few metres, turn left onto the track that leads back to the first junction where you started.

(1) Head down to the left and retrace your steps along the path you took on the way there to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,756 m - Bridge upstream of the Goulaz
  2. 1 : km 0.41 - alt. 1,790 m - First hairpin bend
  3. 2 : km 2.02 - alt. 1,940 m - 3rd hairpin bend towards the EDF gallery
  4. 3 : km 3.79 - alt. 1,832 m - Ribon track near the Oratoire St-Antoine - Torrent du Ribon (cours d'eau)
  5. 4 : km 4.3 - alt. 1,741 m - Ribon car park
  6. 5 : km 5.83 - alt. 1,744 m - Herbariums
  7. S/E : km 6.73 - alt. 1,756 m - Bridge upstream of the Goulaz

Worth a visit

Botanical trail along the Petit Bonheur

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 5 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
Patrice Rhône
Patrice Rhône

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

short hike for a day off
Please note that the bridge at the start is under construction, but a ford has been set up.
On the way back, the passage above the shooting range was closed and had not been used for several months. However, on the way down, it is possible to find the route again.

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Anne Solene
Anne Solene

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

In my opinion, the difficulty was underestimated. I thought it would be an easy hike suitable for families, but that wasn't the case... The path runs along a rocky cliff in some places.

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User 7588446

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

We set off from Bessans. The section that crosses the biathlon course isn’t very pleasant. The lower part of the walk does indeed have a few signposts, but as soon as you start climbing, there are none. As it is relatively poorly signposted, we followed the main path and missed a small path leading up to point 2. We were forced to turn back. The walk isn’t particularly interesting, with no real views.

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Yves0
Yves0
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

No difficulty; the path is well maintained

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Pirouette38
Pirouette38

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short detour from the route at the biathlon training centre. A lovely walk.

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