A loop at Mont Joigny

de fr

A very beautiful hike, not very long but with a steep section.
Magnificent view of Mont Blanc just before the summit and of the entire Chartreuse range from the summit.
The route is very well signposted throughout.
Ascent time indicated on the signs: 1 hour 35 minutes (it took us a little longer as we had a 2½-year-old girl who walked part of the way)
Time for the descent: 1 hour 10 minutes.

Details

n°1554450
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.61 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 423 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 424 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,555 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,131 m
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Description of the walk

Reach the Col du Granier via the D912. Park at the pass, in front of the restaurant or on the other side of the road (start of the walk).

(S/E) The walk starts opposite the restaurant, where the route to Mont Joigny is signposted. Follow the path for about 1 km until you reach the fork on the right.

(1) Leave the main path (otherwise you will go to the barns of Joigny) and turn right onto the path that climbs up through the grass. The climb is quite steep, especially towards the end as you reach the ridge.

(2) Continue left on the easy path that climbs to the summit.

(3) Come out onto the ridge, pass Mont Joigny and arrive at the summit (1,556 m), where Mont Blanc is visible in good weather.

(4) The summit is marked by a cross and offers a beautiful view of the Chartreuse. Descend towards the Col de la Gorgeat. The descent is a little steep and can be slippery in wet weather at the start.
At the first intersection, continue straight ahead towards the pass, which is about 200m away.

(5) At the Col de la Gorgeat, turn left towards the Granges de Joigny. Continue until you reach them.

(6) Continue straight ahead on the almost flat path that leads back to the initial crossroads.

(1) Follow the same route as on the way there to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,133 m - Col du Granier
  2. 1 : km 0.99 - alt. 1,201 m - Intersection
  3. 2 : km 2.11 - alt. 1,489 m - Summit of the climb, ridge trail
  4. 3 : km 2.55 - alt. 1,545 m - Mont Joigny (1553m)
  5. 4 : km 2.95 - alt. 1,552 m - Summit at 1,556 m after the - Mont Joigny (1553m)
  6. 5 : km 3.42 - alt. 1,436 m - Col de la Gorgeat (1438m)
  7. 6 : km 4.7 - alt. 1,204 m - Granges de Joigny
  8. S/E : km 6.6 - alt. 1,131 m - Return to the Col du Granier car park - Col du Granier

Notes

Bar Restaurant at Col du Granier.

At Les Granges de Joigny, do not walk in the meadows, which are used by sheep and goat farmers who produce organic cheese.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 23 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
frith.richard@wanadoo.fr
frith.richard@wanadoo.fr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a lovely walk with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains

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User 12483252

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful walk, magnificent view and good restaurant at the Col du Granier

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champet67
champet67

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant circuit with plenty of shade, which is much appreciated in this heat.
The only downside is that the tip of the Bornée is invisible because there is too much wood and no maintenance!
Very pretty view at Mont Joigny over all the peaks of the Chartreuse and, at the Pointe de La Gorgeat, the entire Chambéry basin and beyond.
Be careful, as the slopes are quite steep on the Col de la Gogeat side, depending on the direction you are coming from.

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GAVET Bernadette
GAVET Bernadette

A beautiful hike, a little steep in places. To enjoy a stunning view, continue the walk to the cross.

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michdupuy
michdupuy

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Loop starting 200 m to the left before the Col du Granier (Chambéry side).
The first part is a barely visible trail with no signs; then there are several intersections of trails or forest tracks that are not marked with directional signs, so without a GPS, it is difficult to follow the correct route.
You cross a beautiful forest of fir and beech trees before finally reaching the first signpost indicating Joigny and the Col de la Gorgeat.
The summit of Joigny is reached via a steep climb with a few rocks, but no difficulties.
The descent trail that joins the track: Granges de Joigny Col du Granier is steep and very muddy (due to the weather conditions in spring 2024).
In summary, this is a beautiful loop, longer and easier than the simple return trip via the south face, but with more variety. However, it is very poorly marked, which is incomprehensible in a nature park for a route so close to Chambéry.

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JB38850
JB38850
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike. After a short 10-15 minute false flat, you start a steep climb of about an hour through the woods (half an hour for the more athletic). Once you reach the top, it's almost flat until you get to Mont Joigny. Beautiful views of the mountains and Lake Bourget. We didn't come back down via the loop because there was too much icy snow. We'll do the loop again in summer.
The route is only marked in this direction.

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Céline 38
Céline 38

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Visited during the week, outside of holiday periods, with a few hikers but not too many. Beautiful views and accessible hike.

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papydompointcom
papydompointcom

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

follow the route clockwise, as going in the opposite direction, the descent to the pass can be slippery and frightening for inexperienced hikers.
as indicated in comment dated 23 May 2022 at 07:27

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sioucat
sioucat

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

beautiful, easy route, a bit muddy in wet weather

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Cécilette
Cécilette
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike completed over the weekend.
Superb loop. Forest, meadows, ridge walk and magnificent views.
Be careful on the steep descent, which can be slippery.

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BAZU07
BAZU07

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A bit slippery on the way down in wet weather. Good shoes and walking sticks recommended

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Pascal67200
Pascal67200

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Before the first fork, do not go to the viewpoint, even if it is indicated as being 5 minutes away: the trees have grown in front of it!

the climb is difficult but worth it. Avoid in rainy weather.

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alain gellie
alain gellie

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

very parish-specific to Brittany viewpoint, lovely walk through partly rural countryside

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phinic
phinic

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike done during a heatwave, but it went well because we were at altitude and there was a lot of undergrowth.
The climbs were really difficult, with lots of rocks and steep slopes, especially the last one to reach the summit.
The descent was all in one go, through the undergrowth, easy and monotonous. Definitely not to be done in the other direction, as the climb must be endless and the descent very difficult.

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bwanachichi
bwanachichi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant hike with magnificent views of Mont Blanc and the Chartreuse mountains.

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