The tour of Mont Chauffé

A circular trail around Mont Chauffé with superb views of the north face of this summit (an impressive limestone wall), the Cornettes de Bise and the Dents du Midi. The Vallon d'Ubine offers a wild setting, enhanced by the presence of herds of livestock.

N.B. Route within a protected natural area: see recommendations in the practical information section.

Details

77536
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.68 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 938 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 934 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,695 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,215 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from the Chevenne car park, located at the end of a road leading from the village of La Chapelle-d'Abondance.

Signposts are located at major intersections, as well as yellow arrow markers at intervals along the route.

(S/E) Head towards Col d'Ubine and Chalets de Mens, following the road and crossing a bridge over the Chevenne stream. Ignore a path on the left and continue straight ahead on a wide, gravelly mountain track.

(1) At the sign for "Chalets de Chevenne 1235 m", cross the Séchet stream via a wooden footbridge without railings and follow an alpine track uphill towards the Chalets de Mens. Further on, cross a stream at a ford and, at the fork that appears immediately, take the right-hand branch, which is less steep.

(2) At the sign for "Altitude 1320m", take thesecond path on the left towards Chalet de la Raille (red star on a small rock). The path is steep and winds through the woods. Once the slope levels out, the path opens onto a grassy valley. Cross this valley to reach the Chalet de la Raille.

(3) Continue along a wide path that descends towards the south-west and passes Chalet de Chez Trosset and then Chalet de Crébin. The path then turns sharply to the right, running between the mountain pastures (on the right) and the forest (on the left).

(4) The path turns sharply left and becomes a stony track that descends steeply to the car park at Le Sauvage (ignore several turnings on the left).

(5) At the car park, take a track on the right (west) that climbs towards the Col de La Plagne and the Chalets d'Autigny. Stay on this main track, heading generally west, roughly parallel to the high-voltage power line shown on the map (ignore three successive turnings on the left). The track is steep and sometimes very steep, winding its way through meadows and undergrowth to reach the base of the western ridge of Mont Chauffé. After a final steep climb, you will reach Col de La Plagne (cross).

(6) Turn right (north then east-north-east) towards the Chalets d'Ubine, on a path that rises gently at first and then levels out, running through the undergrowth or along the edge of a meadow. The path then descends towards Ubine (north-east), first through the undergrowth and then across pastures. Cross a stream, go around the Chapelle d'Ubine chapel on the right and reach the chalets of the same name.

(7) At the information board, turn right towards the Col d'Ubine. Pass the Amis de la Nature refuge on your right and climb up an alpine path, passing a cross on your left. Continue along the path and cross a few streams.

(8) Leave the path when it climbs towards Pointe de Lachau and take a fairly flat path on the right towards the clearly visible Col d'Ubine. Cross a stream near a group of spruce trees. Just below the pass, the slope becomes steeper: follow a few hairpin bends to reach the pass.

(9) Then take a path heading north-east towards the Chalets de Mens. Descend directly below Pointe de Lachau and reach the Chalets de Mens (large cross).
N.B. It was once possible to descend directly to Chevenne without passing through the Chalets de Mens (a route that still appears on the 1:25,000 IGN map). The corresponding path has in fact been erased and it would be unwise to attempt to follow this route, which is heavily overgrown with vegetation.

(10) Then turn right (south) towards the Chalets de Chevenne. Descend gently through the mountain pasture and then more steeply through the forest. Ford the Ruisseau de Séchet stream directly below Mont Chauffé, turn left and continue descending.

(2) Continue straight on towards Chevenne. Further on, cross the Séchet again.

(1) At the end of the footbridge, descend to the right and quickly reach the Chevenne car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,215 m - Chevenne car park
  2. 1 : km 0.3 - alt. 1,235 m - Western sector of the - Chalets de Chevenne
  3. 2 : km 0.86 - alt. 1,313 m - Sign Altitude 1320m
  4. 3 : km 2.01 - alt. 1,610 m - Chalet de la Raille
  5. 4 : km 3.56 - alt. 1,464 m - La Lavanche
  6. 5 : km 5.01 - alt. 1,232 m - Le Sauvage
  7. 6 : km 7.06 - alt. 1,544 m - Col de la Plagne
  8. 7 : km 8.63 - alt. 1,490 m - Chalets d'Ubine
  9. 8 : km 9.61 - alt. 1,584 m - Fork
  10. 9 : km 10.18 - alt. 1,695 m - Col d'Ubine
  11. 10 : km 11.19 - alt. 1,594 m - Chalets de Mens
  12. S/E : km 13.68 - alt. 1,215 m - Chevenne car park

Notes

Hiking boots and equipment required.

Water is available at the Chalets de la Raille (3) and Chalets d'Ubine (7) (however, as the hike is long, you should still bring reserves with you). There is a bar-restaurant and refuge at the Chalets d'Ubine (7).

In summer, herds graze on the mountain pastures around the Chalets de la Raille and Chez Trosset, between (3) and (4), as well as in the Vallon d'Ubine, between (7) and (9): dogs must be kept on a leash.

A 1:25,000 map is required (at least the one accompanying this description).

Possible starting points:
- Chalets de Chevenne (S/E) (municipality of La-Chapelle-d'Abondance).
- Le Sauvage (5) (municipality of Abondance).
- Chalets d'Ubine (7) (municipality of Vacheresse).
It is recommended to start at Chalets de Chevenne, as in the description above, as this allows you to complete the steepest part of the route during the coolest hours of the day.

Recommendations:
The Chevenne, Raie and Ubine mountain pastures are grazed by herds of cattle: dogs must be kept on a leash at all times.
This route crosses the Cornettes de Bise protected natural area. The following are prohibited: picking and gathering plants; leaving any waste behind; motor vehicles; campfires; wild camping and bivouacking.
See detailed regulations: Biotope Protection (APPB) - Pays d'Evian Vallée d'Abondance

Hike completed three times by the author, the first on 12 August 1991, the last on 9 August 2004.

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Worth a visit

- Panoramic views of Mont Chauffé, Cornettes de Bise and Dents du Midi.
- Beautiful alpine atmosphere in the Ubine valley.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 12 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
bbn35bzh
bbn35bzh

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely hike. I enjoyed the alternating ascents and descents. Beautiful mountain pastures and, if the weather is good, a view of Mont Blanc in the distance...

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fuedbwa
fuedbwa

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Great day 😎
With a little practice, it's easy to do.
No difficulty. It's smooth going. A good part of it is on jeep tracks.
Very beautiful mountain pastures.

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Clos Marie Madeleine
Clos Marie Madeleine

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route, even more beautiful in its final section.
Physical!

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Berbey
Berbey
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, in my opinion, but too many rocky paths, which I don't like because of the slippery conditions. Otherwise, a beautiful route that I would recommend.

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Normann74
Normann74

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 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 two-day route, spending a night in Ubine and completing the route at Pointe d'Autigny.
Did it last weekend in the opposite direction to the guidebook. Take care on the descent after the Chalet de la Raill. Superb view at Pointe d'Autigny.

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Netra
Netra ★

Hello matis2007, and thank you for your comments.

What about the reliability of the route on the map justifies the rating "Disappointing"... for this "magnificent route"? Thank you in advance.

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matis2007
matis2007

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

magnificent route - very pleasant circular - you need a bit of training to do this hike

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jefkty
jefkty

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Nice circular, we added a return trip to Les Trois Croix from the 5 Col de la Plagne (an extra hour but a very nice view). Passage 8-9 (towards Chalet de Mens) can be tricky if the ground is slippery (mud or snow).

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dacrettol
dacrettol

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

magnificent route, especially on the way back, gliding through the snow (return on the north side of Mont Chauffé)

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Libaipire
Libaipire

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike in light rain, with alternating ascents and descents. Refreshments available in Ubine.
The climb to the Raille chalets is very steep.

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oberried
oberried

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A very interesting circular offering various views of Mont Chauffé: the imposing north face, south face, east and west ridges, as well as the Cornettes de Bise after the Col d'Ubine. The description of the route from the Chevenne chalets is useful for several reasons. Firstly, it allows you to tackle the steepest sections before the afternoon heat sets in, but also means you don't end the circular with the least interesting part (a long descent followed by a somewhat tedious climb on a stony track from the Trosset chalet to the Col de la Plagne) if you choose to start from the Ubine chalets.
The descent from the Col d'Ubine to the chalets in Mens offers superb views of the Cornettes de Bise and passes through flower-covered meadows.
No particular difficulty apart from a few fairly steep sections.

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grosmollets
grosmollets

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We did this hike at Pentecost in beautiful sunshine with a group of 10 people. The estimated time of 6½ hours was just right for our pace.
The hike is easy to follow with the directions provided. At (2), there are no directions to the "Chez Trosset" chalet, but the sign points towards "Le Mont" and further on there is a sign for the "Chalet de Crébin".

Right from the start, you are treated to a breathtaking view of the Cornettes de Bise. And when you arrive at the Raille chalet, the fairly steep climb is amply rewarded by the superb panorama with Mont de Grange, then further on a beautiful view of Châtel.
On the other hand, the path to Le Sauvage is a little depressing as you have to descend everything you have climbed
The Ubine valley is as beautiful as ever, and the Mont Chauffé rock face is impressive! The climb to the pass is not too difficult in the end, but it is followed by a slightly tricky section for those prone to vertigo...
We encountered a little snow in the valley before the Raille chalet and at the Col d'Ubine, but nothing insurmountable, and we found the trails without any problems.

A very beautiful, challenging hike that comes highly recommended.

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benold
benold

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Great hike! I definitely recommend it, but in the other direction.

Time taken: 6 hours, including breaks.

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