Access and starting point:
North of Villeneuve, on the shores of Lake Geneva, follow the narrow, steep road to Sonchaux. At a fork, leave the road to Sonchaux on the left and follow the road on the right leading to the pass. Park in the small car park at the pass.
Markings: White-Red-White + Directional signs
(S/E) Take the path that climbs above the memorial stone, heading towards the Rochers de Naye (signposted as 1h15, optimistic estimate). Climb a few steep switchbacks through the forest then emerge into open terrain.
(1) Go round a rocky outcrop to the left, descend briefly and climb up the switchbacks through the mountain pastures. Reach a ridge and follow it to the left (north-west). Pass a hillock (1,852m) and descend through the alder trees to an unnamed pass.
(2) Continue north. Ignore a path branching off to the left and veer right towards an alpine chalet. Pass a drinking trough on your left and head for the chalet.
(3) Pass the chalet on your right, then take a wide hairpin bend to the left. Climb diagonally eastwards, then follow a series of short switchbacks to reach a small pass overlooking the Naye slope.
(4) Continue westwards on the mountain-side path. At a fork in the road, climb up to the left to reach the hut marking the entrance to the Rambertia Alpine Garden.
(5) Continue westwards on the path overlooking the rack railway track. Note a small Himalayan-style monument, then take a footbridge near the rack railway’s terminus.
(6) Leave the station and the refuge-hotel on your right and continue along a good stony path. Turn left directly below a ski lift line, then follow a few switchbacks to reach the summit (large antenna, triangulation point).
(7) Begin the descent via the same route as on the way up.
(5) At the entrance to the alpine garden, there are two options:
- Turn right into the alpine garden (route marked on the map). Descend to the right, follow a path with railings, then climb back up (handrail). Pass a bench, then rejoin the path taken on the way up, which you should follow to the right.
- Continue along the path on the left, following the same route as on the way up
(4) At the small pass, head back down the same path as on the way there, easily reaching the rocky outcrop.
(1) Directly below the rocky outcrop, after a very short climb, turn sharply left and continue on level ground for a few metres (do not take the path that descends very steeply opposite). Descend back into the forest and return to the Col de Chaude (S/E).