Tête des Fieux and Pointe de Pelluaz circular from Vacheresse

Departure from the car park at the waste collection centre and the Revenette stadium, on the road leading to Bise and Ubine.

Signposts are located at major intersections.

(S/E) Follow the Bise-Ubine road to the left (i.e. in the direction you arrived) and immediately take the first left. Walk along the stadium on your right and continue on a track that enters the forest. Climb steadily along a stream, stay on the main track and ignore a few turnoffs on the right.

(1) At a fork, take the left-hand path (do not cross the stream). Climb steeply through the forest. This will take you to a ridge, still in the forest.

(2) Follow the ridge to the right (north-east) and continue climbing. When you reach some small chalets, ignore a path branching off to the left and continue straight ahead towards Tête des Fieux. Climb through increasingly open terrain to reach the summit.

(3) Turn right towards Pelluaz (red and white markings) and walk east-northeast along a pleasant, gently sloping ridge. Pass an orientation table and descend to an unnamed pass (information panel on herd protection dogs; shepherd's hut below).

(4) Continue straight ahead (due east) along a steep track. Pass the chairlift arrival station, turn right and reach the (narrow) summit of Pointe de Pelluaz (360° panorama).

(5) Descend on the other side (east). Head north-east, climb then descend to an intersection.

(6) Join the GR® Balcon du Léman (red and white markings) and follow it to the right and downhill to the Col de la Casse d'Oche.

(7) Turn right towards Darbon and descend into an ancient glacial cirque.

(8) At a T-junction, turn right and pass between the Darbon chalets. Cross a stream and you will immediately reach a triangular junction.

(9) Keep to the right and follow an alpine track westwards. Descend along this track and follow a stream on your right. Further on, enter the forest. Make a hairpin turn to the right, then one to the left, and you will come to an intersection.

(10) Turn right and then immediately left (do not cross the stream). Continue downhill until you reach the junction you took at the start of the hike.

(1) Continue straight ahead and follow the track downhill to the Bise-Ubine road, then turn right into the car park (S/E).

Hiking boots are required.

No water sources identified along the route.

Recommendation:
In summer, the mountain pastures are grazed by herds of sheep and goats with guard dogs between Tête des Fieux and Pointe de Pelluaz, and cows around the Chalets de Darbon. In all cases, pets must be kept on a leash.

Superb panoramic views from the two peaks (3) and (5), and from the ridges between (3) and (7): Lake Geneva, Dent d'Oche and Château d'Oche, Mont Chauffé and, in the distance to the south, the Mont Blanc massif.