Tour of Crêt de Montieux

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This hike around Crêt de Montieux offers beautiful views of Mont Pilat, the Couzon dam and the Col de Pavezin.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.17 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 369 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 363 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 686 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 387 m
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Photos

Let's smile!
Yaks at a place called Le Carré
Le Crêt de Montieux
The cows of Montieux

Description of the walk

Park at the Fabriques picnic area.

(S/E) Head south-east, then take the first road on the left to reach Croix des Fabriques.

(1) Turn left and take the road that climbs towards Vergelas.

(2) Turn right after the cross and follow the path marked "Crêt de Montieux Farnay". Two viewpoints over Mont Pilat.

(3) Continue along the path heading north-east and turn right at the junction with another path. You will reach a T-junction at an elevation of 590 metres.

(4) Turn right, continue for about 50 metres, then turn left and follow the path down to Ban, where it joins a road. Continue straight ahead on the downhill section of the road, pass the Saint-Antoine farm and reach Ban. At the hairpin bend, leave the road and continue straight ahead for about 20 metres.

(5) Follow the path on the right to reach the Croix du Cerisier after passing several turnings on the right and left.

(6) Turn right towards the Croix du Mazet.

(7) Take a short break on the climb to admire the view of the Couzon dam and then the Col de Pavezin.

(8) Continue south to reach the Croix du Mazet.

(9) Turn right and descend the road for 50 metres until you reach the sign for Le Carré.

(10) Turn right and continue along the Carré road to reach this hamlet. Follow the "Tour du Parc" signs to the hamlet of Montieux.

(11) Take the path on the right alongside the road to reach a T-junction near Les Granges.

(12) Turn right, pass through La Quinary and reach the Croix des Fabriques crossroads.

(1) Turn left then right to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 387 m - Car park at the Les Fabriques picnic area - Dorlay (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 0.35 - alt. 415 m - Croix des Fabriques
  3. 2 : km 1.07 - alt. 490 m - Croix de Vergelas
  4. 3 : km 1.33 - alt. 512 m - Viewpoints of Mont Pilat
  5. 4 : km 2.12 - alt. 590 m - At elevation 590, turn right
  6. 5 : km 3.45 - alt. 540 m - Saint-Antoine Farm
  7. 6 : km 4.78 - alt. 535 m - Croix des Cerisiers
  8. 7 : km 5.03 - alt. 570 m - Viewpoint over the Couzon dam
  9. 8 : km 5.52 - alt. 641 m - Viewpoint over the Col de Pavezin
  10. 9 : km 7.58 - alt. 651 m - Croix du Mazet
  11. 10 : km 7.75 - alt. 646 m - Signpost towards Le Carré
  12. 11 : km 9.87 - alt. 561 m - Turn right at Montieux
  13. 12 : km 11.69 - alt. 434 m - Les Granges sign
  14. S/E : km 13.17 - alt. 387 m - Car park at the Les Fabriques picnic area

Notes

Alternative at (12): you can turn left at the end of the path and go up the road to visit the museum: the Maison des Tresses et Lacets (House of Braids and Laces).

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 17 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
joma01
joma01

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Despite the freezing temperatures, I enjoyed the beauty of the route and the passage through Le Carré.
I took the alternative route suggested by many hikers (passing by Le Maigre and L'Orme).
A beautiful, easy hike – thank you!

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Yamaska
Yamaska

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike in the February sunshine!
The return route via LE MAIGRE and L'ORME (yellow and white markings) from MONTIEUX is very pleasant.
But I also suggest you return to the car park after L'ORME, without going via LES GRANGES (or reaching point 12), continuing along the banks of the River Dorlay (marked LES FABRIQUES), which is very pretty with its waterfalls, well fed in winter, and its bucolic path through the undergrowth and fields! the complete route is thus a little over 14 km long with little additional elevation gain.

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rsefsaf
rsefsaf

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful circular and therefore a very pleasant hike.
I agree with all the reviews already posted and recommend turning off at point 11.
Incidentally, camels and dromedaries make for a change of scenery.

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François69003
François69003

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A circular loop, often on open terrain and wide tracks and paths. Before reaching the Mazet cross, it is advisable to make a return trip to the edge of Crêt de Montieux, as the summit is not accessible due to fencing (70 m elevation gain and 1.6 km). You can enjoy your picnic here with a view of Crêt de la Botte, one of the main peaks of Pilat.
Similarly, in the hamlet of Montieux, you can extend the hike by around 1.2 km (and +120 m) by leaving the suggested route. To do this, descend to the Sellon stream to reach the place known as Le Maigre, then via Le Fieu and L'Orme, rejoin the suggested route. The circular is then 16 km long with a total elevation gain of just over 500 m.
Note: at Le Carré, there is an animal sanctuary (under the auspices of the Brigitte Bardot Foundation) with yaks, llamas and camels, among other animals.

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marco07
marco07

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

i confirm that it is better at point 11 to turn left towards Maigre, Le Fieu, L'Orme, following the brown and white markings
, which avoids the road and brings the hike to 15 km

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pechal
pechal

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike.
I did this hike with the Visorando app, which made it easy to follow the route.
An unusual passage through animal parks just after the Mazet cross: fallow deer, deer, camels, elk...
I also agree with the previous hikers' reviews: in Montieux, it's better to take the left path via Le Maigre, Le Fieu and L'Orme.

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DD 42
DD 42

Thank you for your comments
i didn't include the hike via Le Maigre, Le Fieu and L'Orme so as not to make the route any longer, but I agree with you that the tarmac section isn't very pleasant
enjoy your hike
DD 42

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VERNAY Albert
VERNAY Albert

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike through magnificent landscapes.
I agree with Guytout42's advice. At Montieux, it is better to leave the route suggested by the website and follow the route suggested by the park, passing through L'Orme. It is a very pleasant, shaded path and avoids the return trip on tarmac.

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Guillaume Chabanon
Guillaume Chabanon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike! With animals to encounter along the way, a pleasant surprise

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Guytou42
Guytou42

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Make sure you specify that you need to go via a place called L'Orme to avoid the road, as the satnav always suggests going left when leaving a place called Montieux (point 11 on the map – which is also fine, but it's just a tarmac road).
Otherwise, it's a lovely, easy hike with beautiful scenery

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ANNE2669
ANNE2669

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 22, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A pleasant walk through typical Pilat landscapes. Along the way, you may encounter elk, alpacas and other animals!

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bandjo42
bandjo42

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 29, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

At the farm, the markings have disappeared, so follow the map carefully.
The return journey is on tarmac, which is a shame

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gefa65
gefa65

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 26, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello, a pleasant hike in natural surroundings, beautiful panoramic views with pleasant paths, perfect for a day out. Setting off at around 11:45 a.m. with a snack break, we finished at around 4:30 p.m., taking our time. Thank you, I recommend this hike.

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smadore
smadore

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A good hike to get back into shape. The GPS on the map is great!

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gazok54
gazok54 ★

Thank you, Gonina
I don't think it's too complicated. This hike is still over 13 kilometres long. Personally, I think it's better to have a little too much information than not enough.

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