Below the Moine, Col de Séron and summit of La Chaux from Lake Rétaud

Access by car: just before reaching the Col du Pillon from Les Diablerets, take the small road on the left that climbs up to the Lac Rétaud car park. There is a snack bar/restaurant and a hidden lake behind it.
Access by bus: go to Col du Pillon. Then walk up to Lac Rétaud (well signposted), which is the start of the circuit.

(S/E) Leave the car park on the right of the restaurant and walk down towards the lake. At the intersection by the lake, take the path on the left. At the road, take the footpath on the right which climbs towards La Marnèche and Isenau. Take a hairpin bend to the right and you will reach an intersection.

(1) Continue north towards La Marnèche. After a left turn, climb up the west-northwest crossing. At a fork, turn right towards La Marnèche.

(2) At the Marnèche farm, follow the track towards Isenau, heading north-east then north.

(3) At Iseneau, turn left, pass between two buildings and take a track (do not follow the yellow markings).

(4) At the signpost, turn left onto a path towards Arpille/Col de Séron and follow the white-red-white markings. Climb quite steeply, heading west-northwest, then northwest. Follow the path. At an intersection (chalet on the right), continue north towards Col de Séron.

(5) At the next intersection, turn left towards Col de Séron. Climb northwest to the pass.

(6) Descend to the previous intersection.

(5) Turn left (east) towards Col des Ardenets. Pass directly below Cape au Moine.

(7) Between two rocky escarpments, turn left at a right angle as indicated by a yellow sign. Shortly afterwards, stay on the side of the slope and follow a few red and white markings (do not descend the slope). Then climb northwards and reach the ridge at an altitude of 2206 metres.

(8) Follow the wide ridge to the right and climb to the summit of La Chaux.

(9) Descend on the other side, following the ridge. Further on, turn left (north) then right (east).

(10) At the fork, turn right at an acute angle. Walk along small lakes and reach a crossroads where a track ends.

(11) Follow the track opposite (south), take a hairpin bend to the right and immediately leave the track to descend to the left (south-west) in the middle of the mountain pasture on a clearly visible trail. Cross the track several times and return to Isenau.

(3) Turn left and take the path you came on in the opposite direction to La Marnèche.

(2) Continue the return journey along the same route as on the way there, towards Lac Rétaud.

(1) At the intersection, descend to the left to reach the lake. Go around the lake on the right and climb back up to the car park (S/E).

Please note: This route should only be attempted in dry weather as there are long sections on steep slopes. Also avoid if you are afraid of heights. Wear suitable footwear.
The restaurant was closed when we hiked in October. There are no water sources along the route.

Lac Rétaud can be reached on foot from the Col du Pillon

From the point (5), the climb to the Col du Seron (altitude 2,152 metres) is optional and does not offer any significantly different views. Allow around 45 minutes for the round trip and a 140-metre climb.
The route details include this return trip

On a weekday and on a beautiful October day, we only saw three people! Except at the lake.

Don't confuse this with the Cape au Moine above Vevey!

On the ridge before the point (7): chamois can sometimes be seen on the north side.
Lac Rétaud: Beautiful light at the end of the day, illuminating the Sex Rouge mountain range.

Other ideas: You can take the cable car up to the Sex Rouge glacier.
Tour de la Palette on foot.