Pointe de Tréchauffé

At an altitude of 1,627 metres, Pointe de Tréchauffé rises between the Dranse d'Abondance and Dranse de Morzine valleys. The route is often shaded but offers some beautiful views of these two valleys and the surrounding peaks. Superb panorama from the summit.

Details

n°168925

Creation:
28 Oct 2015

Last update:
05 May 2023

Last review:
14 Aug 2022

Activity: Walking
Distance: 3.56 km
Average duration: 2h 00
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 351 m
Descent: - 351 m
Highest point: 1,593 m
Lowest point: 1,242 m

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Chablais
District: La Forclaz (74200)
Start/End: N 46.314111° / E 6.628712°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3528ET, 3528ETR
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Description of the walk

Departure from Col de Tréchauffé, at the end of the road that climbs from Col du Grand Teillet, passing a viewpoint and then the Chalets de Tréchauffé. Parking area at the pass before a final chalet isolated from the others (map of the hike to be undertaken, entitled "Tour de Tréchauffé" on the sign).

Signposts at important locations plus a few signposts with yellow arrows.

(S/E) The hike starts on the Dranse de Morzine side. With your back to the isolated chalet, you will see the summit you are aiming for slightly to your right and, to your left, the Chalets de Tréchauffé and a grassy valley above the road. The first pass you will reach is at the top of this valley. Walk slightly up the road towards the chalets.

(1) A few metres after two picnic tables on the left-hand side and before the chalets, leave the road and take a path on the right that enters the mountain pasture (gate). Follow a few bends in the mountain pasture. Be careful, there are several paths that cross each other... Do not go too far towards the starting car park, turn left towards the valley and pass just above a "sentinel" spruce tree. Wind your way through a small beech forest and come out into the valley.

Climb up the valley (the path disappears, aim for a rock with a yellow circle) and come out onto the mountain pasture track that comes from the Chalets de Tréchauffé. Follow the track to the right, then take a sharp left turn. At the three-way junction that follows, turn right and you will quickly reach the Col de l'Aiguille (not named on the 1:25,000 map).

(2) At the pass, turn right towards Pointe de Tréchauffé and follow a path that quickly enters a spruce forest. At the signpost, turn right and climb up to the ridge on a faint path through beech undergrowth with a barbed wire fence on your left.

After a slight flat section, go through a gate and continue along the winding path under the beech and fir trees. Look out for the metal steps above. When you reach the foot of a rock face, be sure to turn left (cairn). Climb the metal stairs and, when you come out, veer left to continue along a winding, barely marked path. Climb towards a bright clearing and you will reach a signpost. Then head for the summit, located about 50 metres to the right.

(3) Return via the same route in reverse to the Col de Tréchauffé (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,242 m - Col de Tréchauffé - View of the - Lac Léman
1 : km 0.25 - alt. 1,256 m - Trail start
2 : km 0.95 - alt. 1,401 m - Col de l'Aiguille - View of the valley - Dranse de Morzine (rivère)
3 : km 1.78 - alt. 1,593 m - Pointe de Tréchauffé
S/E : km 3.56 - alt. 1,242 m - Col de Tréchauffé - View of the - Lac Léman

Notes

Hiking boots and equipment are required. Only undertake this hike in dry conditions: in wet conditions, the trails, which are often in the forest, can become very slippery.

In summer, the mountain pastures are in use: if there are animals present, dogs must be kept on a leash.

On some sections, the trail is poorly marked: after the Chalets de Tréchauffé road and up to the Col de l'Aiguille (hence the importance of marking the route from the starting point); after the metal stairs to the summit. Remain vigilant so as not to lose the route.

A 1:25,000 map is required (at least the one accompanying this description). A compass has never weighed down a rucksack..

Alternative starting point:
It is possible to start from the large car park at the viewpoint, well before the Col de Tréchauffé. Follow the path that starts in the mountain pastures (signposted), take the numerous hairpin bends up to the Pointe du Saugeon, then descend to the Col de l'Aiguille and rejoin the main route. To return from the summit, either take the same path as on the way up, or follow this route and then climb the road from the Col de Tréchauffé to the viewpoint.

Hike completed by the author on 28 October 2015.

Worth a visit

Place names:
Depending on the map or document, the summit of this hike is referred to as "Tréchauffé" or "Tréchauffex", with the final consonant not pronounced, as is often the case with Savoyard place names. On site, on the 1:25,000 IGN map, and in this description, "Tréchauffé" has been used.

Superb views along the way:
- Over the Dranse de Morzine valley, Lac du Jotty and the peaks above (including Mont Billiat and Mont Ouzon): from the starting point, from the summit, and along the initial and final sections of the hike.
- Overlooking the Dranse d'Abondance valley, the Mémises-drystone shelter-Oche massif and the Cornettes de Bise: from the Col de la Crottaz.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5

Based on 12 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5

Route interest
4.6 / 5

Netra

14 Aug 2022 at 12:34 7200

Hello Yves, and thank you for your feedback. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed the hike.

Initially, this hike was described as circular with a descent via the Col de Nicodex. The closure of the trail at the foot of Pointe de Tréchauffé, due to the risk of rockfalls (which is real), led me to change the hike to a round trip. Thank you for updating the information and confirming the closure of the trail in question.

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Yves Gilet

13 Aug 2022 at 14:47 7200 • Edited: 13 Aug 2022 at 14:50 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely hike, with pleasant shade during this heatwave!
Start from the viewpoint variant with a slightly steep and slippery climb under the needle peak, but nothing too difficult.
Note that the alternative route back via the Col de Nicodex (not described) is apparently impassable due to landslides (oops, I didn't see that this had already been pointed out, sorry. In any case, it has not been reopened and this route is still marked as closed on local signs).

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Crapet

25 Jul 2022 at 16:54 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely hike, well described, with a superb view at the summit (and three rather rustic benches!).
We took the alternative route from the car park at the viewpoint, via Pointe de Saujon, which added an extra attraction. The iron staircase has 120 steps, though...

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Netra

27 Jul 2020 at 09:31 7200

Hello Ludo,

Thank you for the information about the permanent closure of the return route! It's a shame, but understandable for safety reasons.

I will amend the description accordingly.

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Ludo540

25 Jul 2020 at 14:42 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Please note: signs posted by the local council now indicate that the return section of the circular from Nicodex is permanently closed due to frequent rockfalls. The section between Pointe de Tréchauffé and Nicodex is still passable but offers little interest after the viewpoint: you will have to turn back and follow the same route as on the way there.

Departure from the Col de Tréchauffé, car parked in the car park next to the restaurant "La Chèvrerie du Tréchauffé". The second part of the climb is through the forest, where the ground can quickly become slippery after rain the day before without modest crampons. Superb panorama at the point.

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agibix

29 Sep 2019 at 16:50 7200 • Edited: 29 Sep 2019 at 16:55 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Departure from the Tréchauffé viewpoint. Hike accessible to all. However, we felt that towards the end of the route, particularly after the steps, it was not recommended for young children (minimum age 8-9), especially after rain. The path is slippery, muddy and steep. But once you reach the top, you'll be rewarded with an exceptional view of the Chablais and Lake Geneva. Return via the same route as the Nicodex path is closed.

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Berbey

20 Jul 2019 at 08:10 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

It's very pretty once you're at the top. However, it's difficult to find your way and there are some rather unpleasant passages on the way back.

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Netra

02 Apr 2019 at 11:29 7200

Hello Nanos, and thank you for your comments.

Glad to hear that the circular is working again, thank you for letting us know.

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nanos

02 Apr 2019 at 11:26 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 02, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very beautiful hike
Quite steep climb + snow to reach the peak
Important information: no sections closed, the circular is open again!

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Jacques Delbarre

12 Oct 2018 at 19:34 7200

For safety reasons (rockfalls), the section between the Nicodex Pass and the Tréchauffé Pass is officially closed. A municipal notice is posted on site.
Jacques

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Netra

17 Sep 2018 at 16:29 7200

Hello Agnès, and thank you for your comments.

I'm sorry to hear that the return section is closed again. It was closed some time ago, and I put a warning on the hike page. I removed the warning when I heard that the section had reopened. I will put the warning back.

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agnesdickson

17 Sep 2018 at 16:24 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely little hike in an unexpected spot. A bit disappointed that we couldn't complete the entire route. We had to turn back after Pointe de Trechauffé because the section between Poisat/Col de Nicodex and the car park was closed due to rockfalls. September 2018.

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Netra

01 May 2018 at 11:13 7200

Hello oursinette,

Thank you for your comments. Thank you especially for the information about the opening of the trail for the return circular!

I'm not surprised to read that there was still snow, given how much fell this winter...

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oursinette

01 May 2018 at 10:05 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

It is now possible to reach the Tréchauffé Pass from the Nicodex Pass, thus completing the circular route. In fact, the only tricky section was between point 2 (Pointe de Tréchauffé) and point 3 (Col de la Crottaz), due to the presence of snow, which made it difficult to see the path.

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Netra

30 Oct 2017 at 20:46 3600

Hello m.h,

Thank you for your comments!

Can you tell me if you did this hike as a round trip, as is now recommended, or if you tried to do it as a circular route, as was originally intended?

In other words, do you have any information about the closure or possible reopening of the trail from Col de Nicodex to Col de Tréchauffé? Thank you in advance for your response.

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Author

Netra
975 Walks

Visorando member

District: Boulogne-Billancourt (92100)

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