From Lignon to Refuge Alfred Wills and descent via Refuge des Fonds

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This route presents no difficulties other than the distance and elevation gain, and can be completed in one go by well-trained hikers.

The route is fully signposted and can be completed in its entirety by following the directions on the signs and markings (a little more difficult when the "high" part is snow-covered, as it was during our last hike :-) ).

Details

n°5012
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.47 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,162 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,162 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,038 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 992 m
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Hello!
Trail on 21/08/21
Trail on 21/08/21
Trail on 21/08/21

Description of the walk

Depart from the Fardelay car park. To get to the starting point by car, turn right at the exit of Salvagny and take the Rouget waterfall road; the car park is located on the left shortly after the waterfall.

(S/E) Head south-west and follow theGR®5(red and white markings). Pass the Chalet du Lignon car park and continue south-west. In the forest, climb up the Torrent de Sales valley on a wide path. You will reach the Sauffaz and Pleureuse waterfalls.

(1) Shortly after the waterfalls, turn left towards the Alfred Wills Refuge (Refuge d'Anterne), still on theGR®5. The climb becomes steeper, with a few hairpin bends. When you leave the forest, you will come out at the small pass of Anterne.

(2) Descend slightly, heading south then south-east. Cross the Ruisseau d'Anterne and climb back up to the Chalets d'Anterne with the Alfred Wills Refuge.

(3) After the refuge, leave theGR®5, which climbs southwards on a ridge, and turn left towards the small Col d'Anterne. Descend east-southeast to the Petit Col d'Anterne.

(4) Turn north, descend the switchbacks and return to the forest. Under a high-voltage power line, the trail turns left (west) then right (northeast). Pass under the high-voltage power line again.

(5) At an altitude of 1,445 metres, turn left (north), descend, pass under the high-voltage power line again and reach the Refuge des Fonds.

(6) Head west and follow the winding path. Descend the Giffre des Fonts valley (west).

(7) Turn left onto the path that descends towards Le Lignon. Cross the stream and return to the Fardeleys car park (S/E).
Cross the bridge and continue to your starting point: the car park, or climb back up to the chalet following theGR®5.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,042 m - Fardelay car park
  2. 1 : km 2.07 - alt. 1,447 m - Cascades de la Pleureuse et de la Sauffaz
  3. 2 : km 3.87 - alt. 1,793 m - Collet d'Anterne
  4. 3 : km 5.91 - alt. 1,813 m - Refuge d'Anterne Alfred Wills
  5. 4 : km 7.25 - alt. 2,038 m - Petit Col d'Anterne
  6. 5 : km 10.94 - alt. 1,442 m - Elevation 1,445 metres
  7. 6 : km 11.82 - alt. 1,368 m - Refuge des Fonts
  8. 7 : km 14.29 - alt. 1,114 m - La Célière
  9. S/E : km 15.47 - alt. 1,042 m - Fardelay car park

Notes

Water and toilets are available at the Alfred Wills Refuge and the Refuge des Fonds.

Variations:

1) It is of course possible to descend from the Alfred Wills Refuge via the same route as the ascent (in this case, park at the Lignon car park, slightly higher than the Fardeley car park).

2) From the Alfred Wills Refuge, you can climb to the Col d'Anterne by following theGR®5. Climb the ridge to the south, walk along Lake Anterne and continue south-southwest to the pass. From the pass, there is a splendid, very close view of Mont Blanc. Allow between 2 and 2½ hours extra for the round trip. Then continue the route via the Refuge des Fonds.

Worth a visit

On the way there or back, be sure to stop and admire the Rouget waterfall.

 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.

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Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 10 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
FlickaPatsy
FlickaPatsy

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike where we pushed on to Lake Anterne, the Anternes Pass and the ridge between the Tête de Moede and the Tête de Villy.
A great hike with no technical difficulties but nevertheless demanding due to its length (24 km) and elevation gain (1,680 m).
Spectacular scenery dominated by the Fizz mountain range on the way there and the Buée and Cirque des Fonts on the way back.
There were people on the way to the lake, but no one on the way back between the lake and the Fonts refuge.

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BNM
BNM

If you are still in the area, don't miss the section between Lignon and the Sales chalets, where the landscapes are different but just as beautiful.

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kaolak1
kaolak1

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

I had been hearing about Sixt for so long that I was really intrigued by the idea of hiking there, and indeed, the place is superb. The landscape is quite unique, with streams and waterfalls everywhere.
The place is very popular, so I went off-season, during the week, and it was nice in terms of how busy it was.

As for the route, it's true that it's very long, but in my opinion, that's because the elevation gain is very gradual, which is good for those who have difficulty.
At first, I didn't really understand the point of parking at the indicated spot, as the start of the hike isn't very interesting until you reach the Lignon, but at the end of the circular, I realised that it was actually more convenient (the descent is also extremely long!).

However, I think the detour to the lake is ESSENTIAL, as it would be a real shame to miss it and it adds to the enjoyment of the hike (I didn't try the pass as it was too foggy that day). What's more, there are lots of marmots on the path to the lake at point 4!

Be careful, if it rained the day before or if it is damp on the day you set off, it is very muddy and therefore very slippery.

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boize
boize
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk, although the descent to the Fonds refuge and the return to the Lignon car park are less interesting, even if the view from the Fonds refuge and the chalets are truly beautiful.

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Cathy21200
Cathy21200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful route done in the opposite direction.
We quickly reach the Fonts refuge (1½ to 2 hours) from the car park where we spent the night.
The signage is very clear!
The next day, end of the route: Head towards Lake Anterne, then the Alfred Wills refuge and descend towards the car park, passing by the magnificent Pleureuse and Sauffaz waterfalls.
I imagine that in wet weather, the descent must be quite slippery...
Six hours of walking with 909 metres of elevation gain and 1,274 metres of elevation loss on this second day.
Plan to leave early to avoid the intense summer heat and crowds on this route.

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berarde
berarde
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike done in the opposite direction.
No particular difficulties to note.
Magnificent scenery as soon as you leave the undergrowth.
We took a detour to Lake Anterne (+ 45 mins), a very beautiful green lake.
Overall, we took the indicated time, but that included the detour to the lake.
We'll do it again to push on to the Anterne Pass, or even further.
The only downside was the number of people after the Alfred Wills refuge and all the way down.

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Adrien28
Adrien28

Thank you for your reply . We will look for something else. Have a nice day.

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Regis SaintJust
Regis SaintJust

Yes, Adrien, it's a nature reserve, so no pets allowed.

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Regis SaintJust
Regis SaintJust

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike completed in trail mode. Superb scenery , crowded but normal for August.
I did the variant that goes up to the lake. I walked around it because the view is fabulous.
However, instead of going back down to the refuge to resume the route, I headed for the Fonds refuge at the start of the lake.
In total, I covered 24 km with 1,500 m of elevation gain in 3 hours 50 minutes.
I didn't even need the trail, as the route is well marked.
Just be careful at the end when you descend onto the wide path, make sure you take a small path on the left towards the Fardelay car park, otherwise you'll end up in Salvagny.

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Adrien28
Adrien28

Hello,

Does this hike go through the nature reserve? I would like to do it, but I have my dog with me. Are there any aerial passages?

Have a nice day,
Adrien

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galumo
galumo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A magnificent hike offering a variety of landscapes and terrain (woodland, scree, meadows) and beautiful views from the top of the small pass.
The GPX route is fine, and the signage on site is very clear and reliable.

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Alain Poai
Alain Poai

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

It's a very pleasant hike, but it's prettier on the way up than on the way down. We did it under the blazing sun, but thanks to the altitude, we didn't feel the real heat. Halfway up, you can see the mountains with slate cliffs, which make the mountain look completely black. I don't regret doing it.

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popopontverre
popopontverre
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The weather is fairly clear, but there has been a lot of rain over the last few days, which makes for stunning scenery with numerous waterfalls and pools of water everywhere.
The detour to the lake is worth it, especially during the week and outside of holiday periods, as it gets very crowded the rest of the time. I didn't go as far as the pass, which was shrouded in fog.
The little valley where the Alfred Wills refuge is nestled is magnificent.

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flonugues
flonugues

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Lovely walk, magnificent view of Mont Blanc.

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