Tour of the Pointe de Chavasse

- Access by public transport: Cluses SNCF station, then bus Y93 towards Taninges - Praz-de-Lys. Get off at Taninges - Praz-de-Lys, Les Molliettes. From there, make your way to the start of the hike by following the beginning of the route.
This will add about 1 hour’s walking time (there and back). See also §Practical information.
- By car: from Praz-de-Lys or Sommand, take the Col de la Ramaz road and park in the car park opposite the Pierre Rouge chairlift.

(S/E) Carefully follow the D308 towards Sommand for a few hundred metres, until you reach the group of chalets at Ramaz on the left-hand side of the road.

(1) Turn right onto the track, Montée du Coin, pass the Chalet du Coin, then reach a farm at the end of this track.

(2) Look out for the path leading uphill a little further up on the right. Reach the Col de Chavan.

(3) Continue straight ahead towards the Refuge de Chavan and Plan des Rasses. Descend to the junction with the route coming from the Col de Chavannais.

(4) Continue down the slope on the right to the Refuge de Chavan.

(5) Turn right. From here, the path becomes more rugged. Cross several scree slopes before reaching a steep section.

(6) Cross this short section, using the fixed equipment provided. You will then emerge into a small valley; follow it upwards until you join the path coming from the Chalets de Pététoz.

(7) Turn right and climb up to the Col de Vésinaz.

(8) Ignore the two paths on the right and left. Continue along the well-marked path, which veers slightly to the left. Follow it down to a junction with the path descending from the Col de Chalune.

(9) Look out for the path on the right that allows you to bypass the Chalet Blanc (private property), and follow it to a track.

(10) Continue to the right along the track for an easy walk back to the Col de la Ramaz car park (S/E).

Please note: the Y93 bus route only operates during the summer and winter seasons.
Timetable information: https://www.laregionvoustransporte.fr/cars-region/cars-region-de-haute-savoie/
- Equipment: good walking shoes and walking poles.
- Signposting: this walk presents no navigation difficulties due to the presence of numerous signposts. Between points (3) and (7), yellow and red markings or a few posts with yellow arrows on a green background.
- Difficulty: the short steep section at point (6) may be daunting for those prone to vertigo and can be slippery. Although partially secured, it therefore requires some care and could correspond to a technical level 5 according to the French Hiking Federation. The rest of the hike could correspond to a technical level 3. For more information on the hiking difficulty scale established by the FFRP, see here
Important note: these hikes would not be nearly as rewarding without the contribution of the people who live in and look after the mountains. But they need us too. Please remember to support local businesses.

(8) From the Col de Vésinaz, it is possible to climb the Pointe de Chavasse