Tour du Flumen via La Roche Blanche and Sur les Grès

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This loop will allow you to discover the bottom of the Flumen valley (and its waterfalls) as well as the ridges above it.

Details

n°266786
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.70 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,155 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,146 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,141 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 445 m
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Photos

From way up high to down here
And in the middle flows a river
Lost in the mist
Flumen Waterfall

Description of the walk

The starting point is located in MontBrilland (D436 between Saint-Claude and Septmoncel, just before a mill.

(S/E) Follow the D436 road towards Septmoncel for about 700 m (be careful!)

(1) After a tunnel, take a path downhill to the right towards the bottom of the valley and the Flumen river. Leave a path on your right and join the river.

(2) Once you reach the river, you can access the Flumen waterfalls after a short detour to the left (option shown on the map). Go back and continue straight ahead towards the power station overlooking the Flumen river.

(3) At the power station, take a path on the left towards Roche Blanche. About 300 m higher up, take the path on the left, which is quite steep overall. You will reach the Roche Blanche viewpoint (1,140 m), which offers a beautiful view of the valley and Saint-Claude.

(4) After admiring the landscape around the Roche Blanche, continue along the path on the right; be careful, as the route has been changed (the yellow markings will help you find your way). Once you reach a tarmac road, follow it to the left for about 300 m, then turn left (follow the yellow markings).

(5) Turn left, then left again just before the road (D25) onto a fairly pleasant path which will take you to Les Moulins after a short while

(6) Follow the road (D436) to the left downhill for about 250 m. Take a path downhill to the left which joins the road a little further down. Turn right onto the road uphill. After a hairpin bend, take a path on the right which joins the road a little higher up.
At the road, go right for a few metres, then take a path on the left towards Septmoncel and Chapeau de Gendarme (you can actually see the latter if you make a small detour by continuing along the road for 300 metres and then returning).

(7) At thefirst intersection, take the path on the left towards Sur les Grés. The somewhat steep climb is mainly through pastures.

(8) At the summit (1089 m), enjoy the view, then continue along the path on the right towards Septmoncel and the "Chemin des Moines".

(9) At thefirst intersection, turn left onto the Chemin des Moines (the main road between Saint-Claude and Septmoncel until 1884). It descends towards Montbrilland (no particular difficulties).

Once you reach a building, turn right and join the D436. Turn right to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 555 m - Parking at MontBrilland
  2. 1 : km 0.91 - alt. 607 m - RD436 (shortly after the tunnel)
  3. 2 : km 1.71 - alt. 488 m - Fork in the road towards the Cascades du - Le Flumen (affluent du Tacon)
  4. 3 : km 3.57 - alt. 445 m - Power station
  5. 4 : km 5.88 - alt. 1,140 m - Belvédère de la - La Roche Blanche
  6. 5 : km 6.59 - alt. 1,104 m - Chayères
  7. 6 : km 8.03 - alt. 800 m - Les Moulins
  8. 7 : km 8.74 - alt. 751 m - Le Chapeau de Gendarme (Septmoncel)
  9. 8 : km 10.03 - alt. 1,089 m - On the sandstone
  10. 9 : km 10.81 - alt. 1,021 m - Chemin des Moines
  11. S/E : km 13.7 - alt. 555 m - Parking at MontBrilland

Notes

Good hiking boots are recommended.

For a shorter alternative route, I suggest the following itinerary: click here.

The signs along the entire route are yellow.

Updated on 07/07/2017: a new trail called "Sentier des Chamois" has recently been created. This well-designed trail (with information panels at points of interest) follows part of the route described above. Read more here.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 31 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
PascaleB.
PascaleB.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 08, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I drew inspiration from this guidebook and the "Sentier des Chamois" route for the following hike starting from Le Martinet: the Leat des Parres trail (via the Riôte waterfall), climb to La Roche Blanche, descent to the Moulin d'Aval waterfall, climb to "Sur les Grés", descent to Montépile via the small dotted IGN trail (just before reaching Le Replan), Chapeau du Gendarme, descent to the Flumen waterfalls; a "sporty" 16 km circular loop with 1,190 m of elevation gain, offering varied landscapes, superb views and waterfalls (except for the 10 minutes under the high-voltage power lines...). The arrival on the grassy ridges of the Roche Blanche cirque (chamois) is fantastic! Please note: there are a few very steep sections and narrow, steep paths, but these do not present any difficulties for regular hikers.

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Mu&Jp-du-Jura
Mu&Jp-du-Jura

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike.
Quite challenging, the kind that makes you regret your love of beer, sauerkraut, cassoulet...
We found it much more difficult than the tour of the Bavella needles (hike No. 38552) we did two weeks earlier. Yet the latter is classified as "Very difficult".

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ppillon
ppillon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with magnificent views, but only suitable for very experienced walkers.
The route is very well marked.

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Natha53
Natha53

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful but fairly difficult hike with two long, steep climbs. Recommended for experienced hikers. The trail is very well marked.

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Arathor 27210
Arathor 27210
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike in the peaks around Saint Claude.
Two steep climbs, especially the second one.
But what a view!

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john107
john107

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike with beautiful views....Be warned, the first climb is really difficult...Only for experienced hikers

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Claude L2.
Claude L2.

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk, but the two climbs are quite challenging: only to be attempted if you're not afraid of a bit of exercise.

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Irina Guérin
Irina Guérin

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The route was very pleasant, quite challenging but doable

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FanchChe
FanchChe

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route is fairly simple and very well marked. We took our time and completed the entire route in exactly 5 hours and 15 minutes.
We started with the waterfall and then went straight up the slope from the power station. Be careful in autumn with the slippery sections (dead leaves and roots), especially near the waterfall, but otherwise it's a very beautiful hike. Apart from the power cables on the first climb, the scenery is quite magical and varied, so you won't get bored.

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CLO26
CLO26

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route was exactly as described. We did this hike the day after heavy rain, and the waterfalls were impressive.
Lovely views from the highest points.

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zbh0170
zbh0170

Hello,

The elevation gain was indeed incorrect.
I made a slight adjustment to the route last week and it seems that my arm must have been a little heavy (although I was also a little surprised in another way)

Thank you, Likioumama, for pointing this out.
Thanks also to Denis26 for the adjustment.

Best regards

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Denis26
Denis26 ★

Thanks for pointing that out.
The elevation difference has been corrected

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LIKIOUMAMA
LIKIOUMAMA

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

WE ARE FAR FROM THE 1,550 METRES OF ELEVATION GAIN.

IT'S MORE LIKE 1,150 TO 1,200 MAX...

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barbiervallet
barbiervallet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Shortened version of the route (8.5 km) done in the opposite direction to the description in 4 hours. Departure from the power station. Very challenging hike with steep climbs but magnificent waterfalls and panoramic views.
The only downside is the high-voltage power line on the descent from Roche Blanche. Be careful, as it can be very slippery in wet weather.

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christineram
christineram

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful but challenging hike.

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