Pointe de Sur Cou and Chalet de Balme

de fr

A pleasant circular route with a beautiful panoramic view from the summit over the Arve Valley as well as the Aravis range, Bargy, Sous Dine, etc. Mont Blanc is visible. Refreshments available on the descent as the route passes by the Chalet de Balme.
A very popular hike, partly due to the Chalet de Balme.

Details

n°10234105
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.62 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,126 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,116 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 5,932 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,829 ft
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

View of Mont Blanc during the descent
Beautiful view of Sous-Dîne
View of Sous-Dine and Chalet de Balme
The Parnal rock and the Sous dine

Description of the walk

Access to the Chesnet car park in Orange (very busy car park). A second car park is available at the Orange Montisel leisure centre, but this adds a 10-minute walk to the start of the hike. Start from the car park entrance.

(S/E) From the car park, head right, away from the access road. After barely a minute, take the path on your right.

(1) At thefirst junction, turn right and follow the signposts. You’ll climb through the shade of the forest along a wide, easy path. Ignore the adjacent paths. The path gradually narrows. Watch out for roots and slippery rocks. You’ll reach a viewpoint as you emerge from the forest.

(2) Turn left towards Sur Cou. Follow the ridge for about 300 m until you reach another junction, then continue straight on. The view opens up to La Roche-sur-Foron, Le Salève, the Jura and Lake Geneva.

(3) At another junction, carry straight on towards Sur Cou. Begin the final part of the climb.

(4) Pass a paragliding launch site, then reach the bench and the panoramic table (under this table, a small box contains a guest book).
For the descent, I suggest a route that’s easier on the knees.
Turn back and return to the previous fork.

(3) Turn left towards the Col de Cou.

(5) At this pass, continue straight on towards the Chalet de Balme. The path starts with a very gentle climb and ends with a fairly steep descent. Keep straight on at the forks in the path. This will take you to the Chalet de Balme.

(6) You can stop for a drink or a bite to eat.
Carry on straight ahead and cross the bridge over the Ruisseau du Pouarch. The descent is easy along a track suitable for vehicles, with a gentle, steady gradient. Ignore a path on the left. Be careful, however, of fords, depending on the season.

(7) At the junction with another path, coming from Le Chalet de Balme (shorter but more exposed), continue straight on and you will reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,839 ft - Chesnet car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.13 - alt. 3,950 ft - Junction
  3. 2 : mi 1.02 - alt. 5,164 ft - Crossroads - Viewpoint
  4. 3 : mi 1.46 - alt. 5,758 ft - Intersection - Towards Sur Cou
  5. 4 : mi 1.61 - alt. 5,932 ft - Sur Cou
  6. 5 : mi 2.21 - alt. 5,269 ft - Col de Cou (1607m)
  7. 6 : mi 2.77 - alt. 4,879 ft - Chalet de Balme - Flan (cours d'eau) - Affluent de la Fillière
  8. 7 : mi 3.93 - alt. 4,265 ft - Junction
  9. S/E : mi 4.62 - alt. 3,839 ft - Chesnet car park

Notes

Two-thirds of the ascent is through the forest, with the remainder in full sun. The descent to the Chalet de Balme is in the sun. Beyond this, the descent via the track is more or less shaded.
Food and drink available at the Chalet de Balme during the summer season.
For more information: http://chalet-de-balme.fr
Equipment: if visiting early in the season, make sure you have waterproof shoes for the descent.

Worth a visit

La Roche Parnal is accessible via the Col du Freu after the Col de Cou (5).

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 18 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Stef74
Stef74
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Apparently it’s a very popular classic route, but that makes the hike unpleasant given the crowds on the trails, especially the extremely noisy groups. It spoils the enjoyment of the hike.
The climb is mainly through the forest. It’s nice in warm weather, and there are no views until you reach the final climb.
The view from the summit is lovely. It’s a shame, once again, that there are so many people and so much noise.
The descent is very pleasant and more peaceful as most hikers don’t take the same route back down.
In short, the view at the summit is lovely, but with 650 metres of elevation gain through the forest and so many people, we won’t be doing it again.

Machine-translated

Sarudalf
Sarudalf

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 24, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A classic hike in the region, offering magnificent views from the summit and along part of the route.
Caution: extremely slippery terrain in wet weather as you approach the summit.

A spacious summit, with plenty of room for a picnic or a nap.

Spotted a beautiful red kite.

Machine-translated

PROM
PROM

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent hike with beautiful views. We recommend doing it in the suggested direction. Part of the uphill path is slippery in wet weather and the downhill path from the refuge is a bit rough

Machine-translated

Rochi1999
Rochi1999

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike done today, very pretty indeed, thank you for sharing :-) Regarding the car park at 10:30 a.m., it was very full indeed, but don't hesitate to go quite deep into the forest, there is space along the path.
Between the summit and the pass, we took the path indicated on a sign just before the paragliding area, which was more direct and, frankly, not any worse on the knees.
To get back to the chalet, we took the direct path, which was more challenging on the knees; walking sticks are always a good idea!
We strongly recommend doing the tour in the direction indicated, and given the steepness of the initial climb, I would advise against doing it in wet weather.

Machine-translated

ALANGE Bonobo
ALANGE Bonobo

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike, with splendid weather.
However, while the elevation gain is correct, the distance is completely wrong.
The hike is about 11 km, not 7.
This did not cause us any problems, but for some people it could be difficult.

Machine-translated

Steffff
Steffff

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Good hike, very pleasant. Beautiful view at the summit.

Machine-translated

Gilles-a
Gilles-a

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

The climb is quite steep, partly through woodland. Beautiful 360° panoramic view at the summit.
The return journey from the Balme chalet is along an unpleasant stony track.

Machine-translated

kaolak1
kaolak1

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike, not very busy and offering beautiful views.

The Balme chalet is a great place to refresh yourself, grab a bite to eat and take the time to enjoy the mountains.

Machine-translated

Nico 18
Nico 18
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike with magnificent scenery once you leave the forest. The climb through the forest is very steep in places, not dangerous, but it can be demotivating! However, I agree that this direction is the best because it's easier on the knees on the way down with a more gradual incline.
I parked at the leisure centre and, to be honest, it doesn't add much to the journey and the car is very well parked, unlike at the Chesnet car park. What's more, at Chesnet, it's difficult to pass other cars. I really recommend the Orange leisure centre as a starting point. Start climbing from the car park, just to the left as you exit it, and of course don't go to the Chesnet car park by road!
I used the GPX file saved on my watch, which worked perfectly.

Machine-translated

domicharlo
domicharlo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb viewpoint at the summit, which is well worth the effort, with a 360-degree view.
On the way back, we took a short break at the Balme chalet, which was very pleasant.
I always use Visorando and I'm never disappointed; using the GPS track, it's impossible to get lost.
Thank you for this walk!

Machine-translated

passion rando
passion rando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I parked at Orange Montisel. I may not walk as fast as some people because it took me half an hour to reach the starting point of the hike (instead of the recommended 10 minutes). The forest is beautiful, covered in moss. I found the climb a little difficult and rocky in places. There was a majestic view after the paragliding take-off point, overlooking the entire valley on one side and Mont Blanc on the other. The Balme chalet was closed. The descent after the chalet was very difficult because the path was extremely rocky. Conclusion: it was a great effort, but I don't regret it because the view was breathtaking.

Machine-translated

FannyCL
FannyCL

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A few snowfields at this time of year, a few hikers and mountain bikes at most. It's still quite a climb. The Pointe du Sur Cou offers incredible views. The rest of the hike is nothing special. The Chalet de la Balme is open all year round and is very pleasant! Taking a coffee break, a picnic break and a break to enjoy the views, it took me 3 hours and 23 minutes.

Machine-translated

FannyCL
FannyCL

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A few snowfields at this time of year, a few hikers and mountain bikes at most. It's still quite a climb. The Pointe du Sur Cou offers incredible views. The rest of the hike is nothing special. The Chalet de la Balme is open all year round and is very pleasant!

Machine-translated

Abeille 74
Abeille 74

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Popular hiking trail

Machine-translated

Abeille 74
Abeille 74

Beautiful hike. Quite physically demanding on the way up. First part in the forest. Enjoyable in summer. The Visorando trail is very useful, as there are not many directional arrows

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking Roche Parnal and Montagne Sous-Dîne crossing

Visorando Member
Roche Parnal et Montagne Sous-Dîne en traversée
↔9.06 mi ↗+3,609 ft ↘-3,619 ft ◔8 hrs ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from La Roche-sur-Foron (Haute-Savoie)
Roche Parnal and Montagne de Sous-Dîne are advanced viewpoints of the Bornes massif, ahead of Glières, and dominate the La Roche-sur-Foron area. The circular route offers a varied and interesting but demanding itinerary: some sections are exposed and several cable passages require caution, particularly the Col du Câble, which justifies the rating given.

Walking Col de Cou, Col du Freu, Col du Câble

Visorando Member
Col de Cou, col du Freu, col du Câble
↔6.05 mi ↗+2,083 ft ↘-2,067 ft ◔4 hrs ▲Extremely difficult
⚑Departure from La Roche-sur-Foron (Haute-Savoie)
A beautiful circular not far from Orange station, passing through three passes with a little adrenaline rush on the descent from the Col du Câble!

Walking Chalet de Balme from Mont-Piton

Visorando Member
Chalet de Balme depuis Mont-Piton
↔6.66 mi ↗+1,913 ft ↘-1,913 ft ◔4h 45 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Thorens-Glières (Haute-Savoie)
A hike offering beautiful views of the Pointe de Sous-Dine and the Roche Parnal, the access route to the Col de Spée and the Glières Massif. The view also extends to the Jura, the Salève and Lake Geneva.

Walking Col de l'Enclave and Col de Landron

Visorando Member
Col de l'Enclave et Col de Landron
↔4.96 mi ↗+2,215 ft ↘-2,218 ft ◔4h 10 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Thorens-Glières (Haute-Savoie)
Close to Montagne de Sous-Dîne, a lovely route through magnificent scenery. Nature is dressed in its finest and offers us a symphony of autumnal colours. The route between Col de Landron and Col de l’Enclave takes you through a superb, fairly wild environment and an explosion of colours in the trees.

Walking Circular Sous-Dine loop via the Passage du Monthieu

Visorando Member
Boucle de sous-Dine par le passage du Monthieu
↔6.48 mi ↗+2,943 ft ↘-2,927 ft ◔5h 35 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Thorens-Glières (Haute-Savoie)
The Sous-Dîne plateau, whose summit is just under 2,000 m, offers a magnificent view of the cliffs that form it. The Aravis and Mont Blanc massifs seem close enough to touch.

Walking Chemin de la Vuettaz

Visorando Member
Chemin de la Vuettaz
↔4.34 mi ↗+1,496 ft ↘-1,476 ft ◔3h 20 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Thorens-Glières (Haute-Savoie)
A walk offering spectacular views in good weather.

Walking La Montagne de Sous-Dîne via the Pas de la Truie

Visorando Member
La Montagne de Sous-Dîne par le Pas de la Truie
↔3.17 mi ↗+2,195 ft ↘-2,175 ft ◔3h 20 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from La Roche-sur-Foron (Haute-Savoie)
In the "Grandes Classiques" collection, a hike starting from the Chalets de la Balme, a route taking the Pas de la Truie, a path along the side of the rock face to reach Pointe de Sous-Dîne, then a route along the summit ridge of the Soudine (or Sous-Dîne) chain to reach the authentic summit of Montagne de Sous-Dîne. Return via the Col du Câble.

Walking Montagne de Sous-Dîne from Usillon

Visorando Member
Montagne de Sous-Dîne à partir d'Usillon
↔8.95 mi ↗+4,209 ft ↘-4,213 ft ◔7h 45 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Thorens-Glières (Haute-Savoie)
Starting from Usillon, I suggest you head for the Montagne de Sous-Dîne, taking in various lovely views along the way. The route, which is relatively easy, first takes you to the Belvédère de La Pierre Taillée and the Col de l’Enclave, then returns via the Col de Landron.

For more walks, use our search engine .

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