On the heights of Lake Aiguebelette

A moderately challenging hike overlooking the beautiful Lac d'Aiguebelette. You’ll follow part of the old trade routes between France and Italy and discover the François I Cave.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.71 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,834 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,841 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 3,097 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,335 ft

Description of the walk

Park in the car park behind Saint-André Church

(S/E) Return to the road and turn right onto the route indicated by an information sign. Stay on the road as it climbs until you reach a right-hand bend.

(1) Leave the road and take the path opposite the bend. Further on, you’ll come to a road again; take it to the right. At the junction, cross another road and take the path opposite. After a few steep inclines, you’ll meet the road again; follow it to the right until you reach the Allemands car park.

(2) Turn right. After the house, leave the tarmac and take the path called Beauregard on the left. Steep gradients are to be expected on this section, which runs entirely through woodland. Halfway along, there is a hairpin bend to the left leading to a junction of paths on the Voie Romaine.

(3) Turn right and head for the Col Saint-Michel.

(4) Turn left towards Col du Crucifix. Enjoy the beautiful view of the lake on this section.

(5) Cross the forest track and follow the path towards the François I Cave, which descends behind the cross. You’ll reach another junction on the Voie Romaine.

(6) Turn left and head straight on at the crossroads to reach the François I Cave.

(7) Turn back.

(6) Keep left on the Roman road towards Aiguebelette, passing the orientation table. Stay on the Roman road until the junction at Rocher du Corbeau (signpost)

(8) Turn right, leaving the Roman road, and head for the Rocher du Corbeau and its viewpoint.

(9) After enjoying the views over the lake, take the small path that descends to the left and rejoin the Roman road.

(10) Continue down the path leading to the Allemands car park, which you passed at the start of the route.

(2) Simply follow the same route as on the way there but in the opposite direction to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,342 ft - Saint-André Church car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.34 - alt. 1,463 ft - Road bend
  3. 2 : mi 0.92 - alt. 1,873 ft - Parking des Allemands. Junction of the circular loop
  4. 3 : mi 1.85 - alt. 2,894 ft - Crossroads/Signpost
  5. 4 : mi 2.08 - alt. 2,959 ft - Col Saint-Michel
  6. 5 : mi 2.66 - alt. 2,989 ft - Col du Crucifix
  7. 6 : mi 2.95 - alt. 2,799 ft - Junction. Return to the François I Cave
  8. 7 : mi 3.09 - alt. 2,759 ft - François I Cave
  9. 8 : mi 3.91 - alt. 2,497 ft - Signpost for Rocher du Corbeau
  10. 9 : mi 4.08 - alt. 2,359 ft - Rocher du Corbeau, viewpoint
  11. 10 : mi 4.29 - alt. 2,126 ft - Junction with the Roman Road
  12. S/E : mi 5.71 - alt. 1,342 ft - Saint-André Church car park

Notes

Watch a video of the hike at the following link https://youtu.be/KmWxfuVaEss
A hike with plenty of shade.
Don’t miss a visit to the François I Cave at (7).

Worth a visit

Orientation table and viewpoint at Col de l’Épine to the north.
Swimming area and various water activities available at Lac d'Aiguebelette.
Lac du Bourget to the north.
Mont Grelle (summit of the Épine to the south).

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
User 7003811

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

This is undoubtedly the busiest route. Access to the Col Saint Michel is slightly difficult due to recent rainfall, so please take care on the descent.

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Rosane
Rosane

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk. I took a slightly different route. Instead of taking the path from the car park, I took the one that branches off to the right before the car park.
Stunning views.

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Jumanjee
Jumanjee

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

A lovely walk, though the views are few and far between and often obscured during the season when the vegetation is dense.

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GabrielFauchon
GabrielFauchon

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The route via the Beauregard trail presents a few challenges and is not suitable for a group of inexperienced hikers.

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Nico de Lyon
Nico de Lyon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 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, mostly through woodland, with lovely views of the lake.

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