Tête du Danay

de fr

This hike is interesting in both summer and winter. On snowshoes after a good snowfall, on a beautiful sunny day, the forest passages offer opportunities for beautiful photos.

Details

n°14935
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.53 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 786 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 778 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,731 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,029 m
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Photos

From the summit.
Passage through the forest
The Belvedere.
Start ramp

Description of the walk

Access by car: On the road between Saint-Jean-de-Sixt and La Clusaz, between the quarry and the entrance to the village, look for a widening of the road on the left; there is a car park with wooden steps leading up into the forest. Park there. It is advisable to drive to the roundabout at the entrance to La Clusaz and then return to park.

(S/E) Whether on foot or snowshoes, take the same path, which is well signposted. Some sections are steep but do not present any technical difficulties.
Head towards the Col des Mouilles.

(1) After the viewpoint, leave the path that branches off to the right and turn left towards Mouilles de la Perrière.

(2) Turn left and follow the signs, keeping to the right, to reach the Tête du Danay.

(3) Return via the same route to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,029 m - Parking at the side of the D909, oche du - Nom (torrent) - Affluent du Fier
  2. 1 : km 1.26 - alt. 1,350 m - On the left. Near the oratory and the - Belvédère du Christ Roi
  3. 2 : km 2.57 - alt. 1,367 m - Mouilles de la Perrière
  4. 3 : km 4.76 - alt. 1,731 m - Tête du Danay
  5. S/E : km 9.52 - alt. 1,029 m - Parking at the side of the D909

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 27 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
stme10496
stme10496

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

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schelker
schelker

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely hike to the Tête du Danay, which overlooks the valleys of La Clusaz and Grand Bornant. 360-degree panoramic view. A few steep climbs but no particular difficulty.

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Reinold
Reinold

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant hike, with most of the elevation gain at the beginning of the route. No major difficulties, just follow the trail, which is well marked.
Most of the route is through forest, so it's shaded, and the best views come at the end.

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pierre huraux
pierre huraux

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

An easy hike, except for the elevation gain. The route is mainly through forest and is recommended for hot days.
The view of the landscape only reveals itself at the last moment, when you reach the summit (iron cross).
A good warm-up for the rest of our stay.

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Hélénalban
Hélénalban

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent view at the Tête du Danay. The path is very well signposted throughout. It is also possible to descend via the Covagnet-Est (a little longer and less shaded, but offering beautiful views).

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Pauline lcrx
Pauline lcrx

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike with beautiful views. A few people at the summit but none along the trail. Fairly accessible and pleasant trail through the woods. Just be careful when crossing the Col du Mouillé, as there are several paths that do not all go in the same direction. Take the time to check your map.

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Chris7644
Chris7644

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Beautiful view from the top!

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DGE38
DGE38

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A beautiful hike with pleasant shaded sections and stunning views from the summit.

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Nicole Guil
Nicole Guil

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike, with shaded paths through the woods and a magnificent 360° view from the summit, where there are three orientation tables
We made our way down to our lodge near the Confins car park via Sur Frête and the ridge that runs through the woods.
Very good signposting
Thank you for this beautiful hike.

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philibert.sylvie
philibert.sylvie

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A beautiful walk in April. The trail is still a little snowy but well marked. A magical 360° view from the summit. Even though the weather wasn't great, the walk was a success. Don't forget to make a detour on the way back to see Lac des Confins, a small mountain lake along the road.

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Tinia201
Tinia201
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Very beautiful hike, lovely route. The climb through the forest is very pleasant and we enjoyed it. Thank you for posting this route on your website.
For our part, we descended on the Les Granges trail and then joined the Col des Mouilles to return to the car park.

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gilles62431507
gilles62431507

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

works very well as a supplement to the maps. I exported to Viewrangers

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jchbdn44
jchbdn44

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Nice climb, lots of people at the top. Nice descent on the other side. Easy to follow

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clo54
clo54

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike without much difficulty but with quite a few elevation gains! Practically shaded all the way to the Tête du Danay. Magnificent views.
We decided to walk back to the car park at the edge of the road on the outskirts of La Clusaz as it is very small. After the chapel, the first few hundred metres of elevation gain is a steep, narrow, winding path through the forest, dotted with roots and stones. The second part is a kind of plateau, with small slopes going up and down, still in the forest. Finally, there is another particularly steep slope at the end, first to the Danay farm and then to the summit.
After a picnic, we returned to the village via La Perrière (after climbing the track, at the sign for Sur la Perrière, turn left towards La Clusaz via La Perrière. Then, turning right at each junction, you will reach the eco-trail and then Le Parc)

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vincetraveller
vincetraveller

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 26, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A beautiful hike with quite a bit of elevation gain for the distance.

The first few hundred metres of elevation gain are on a steep, narrow, winding path through the forest, dotted with roots and stones. The path is fairly dry, even in November (without recent snow or rain). You are rewarded with a beautiful view.

The second part is on a kind of plateau, going up and down small slopes, still in the forest but the path is a little wider.

Finally, there is another particularly steep slope at the end, first to the Danay farm and then to the summit. There is a first viewpoint just above the Danay farm, then of course at the summit. This last part is mostly in coniferous undergrowth, with a fairly wide path and ground covered with pine needles. There are a few roots but fewer stones. A small section just above the Danay farm is exposed.

On that day (late November), there was 20 cm of snow on the exposed section above the Danay farm and at the summit.

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Other walks in the area

Walking From La Clusaz to Lac des Confins and back via Bossonnet

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↔10.67 km ↗+542 m ↘-556 m ◔4h 35 ▲Moderate
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A beautiful circular route around La Clusaz that allows you to discover the nearby mountain pastures. The first part takes place in the forest: ideal in summer because it is shaded, and in autumn because it is exposed to the sun's rays. At the edge of the forest, the view of the valley is breathtaking, with beautiful panoramas of Les Aravis and the village of La Clusaz.

Walking The Belvédère du Christ Roi from the Chapelle du Parc

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Short, easy route to discover the beautiful village of La Clusaz from different perspectives. Follow the signs for the “Tour du Village".

Walking The Tête du Danay in a circular loop from Saint-Jean-de-Sixt

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In summer, this gradual climb will take you through the forest, then the mountain pastures to halfway around a beautiful artificial reservoir. (medium level) You will then climb a very steep forest path (difficult rating) leading to the viewpoint at 1980m, offering an incomparable view of La Clusaz, the Col des Aravis, the Mont Blanc massif and the peaks of the Jura. The second part of the descent, after the reservoir, is easy and informative (plants and habitats).

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