A circular from Cuvery to Catray

de fr

This is a lovely little route that takes us through Catray, home to a welcoming inn, before winding our way across the northern part of the Retord plateau along relatively quiet paths. With very little elevation gain, this route is straightforward despite being at altitudes above 1,000 metres. It can also be tackled on snowshoes.
Views of Mont Blanc, weather permitting.

Details

n°1698865
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.04 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 715 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 705 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 4,068 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,478 ft
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Photos

Remarkable tree, large-leaved lime tree near the living area
The old oak tree and the stone table
The plateau in the mist

Description of the walk

Park at the car park for the “Chez Lisa” chalet in the hamlet of Le Raimont, near the Col de Cuvery.

(S/E) Take the wide path heading south, which is a snowshoe route when there is snow.

(1) At the ‘Le Jet’ sign (1,215 m), take the path on the left for 450 metres. The direction to Catray is signposted.

(2) Continue straight on along a pleasant path, passing close to a farm, before reaching the tarmac road (D101).

(3) Follow the road to the right as far as the Catray inn; reach it by taking the hairpin bend to the right at the small car park.

(4) Viewpoint with a view of Mont Blanc. Go through the large gate towards the inn, then carry on straight ahead on theGR®®9, which also forms part of theGRP®® of the Grand Tour de la Valserine. From the inn, head south for about 900 metres.

(5) At the junction, turn left onto the snowshoe trail and the GTJ, heading towards Le Retord. You’ll come to a meadow.

(6) Go through the gap in the fence. Go round the large beech tree on the right and continue along the path to the left, heading south-west.

(7) At the next crossroads, leave theGR®® and carry on straight ahead until you reach the high-voltage power lines.

(8) Turn right under the high-voltage power lines to join theGRP®® of the Grand Tour de la Valserine.

(9) At Pra Devant, pass between two buildings, then immediately take theGRP®® on the right towards “La Raimont”.

(1) Carry on straight ahead to return to the starting point at “La Raimont” (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,835 ft - Car park at the visitor centre chalet
  2. 1 : mi 0.77 - alt. 3,993 ft - “Le Jet” crossroads 1215m
  3. 2 : mi 1.05 - alt. 3,881 ft - Crossroads, go straight on
  4. 3 : mi 1.92 - alt. 3,638 ft - D101, turn right
  5. 4 : mi 2.41 - alt. 3,481 ft - Inn - Le Catray
  6. 5 : mi 2.95 - alt. 3,576 ft - Junction
  7. 6 : mi 3.25 - alt. 3,688 ft - Pré
  8. 7 : mi 3.46 - alt. 3,753 ft - Crossroads, go straight on
  9. 8 : mi 4.1 - alt. 3,891 ft - Crossroads: turn right along the high-voltage power lines
  10. 9 : mi 4.52 - alt. 4,068 ft - Tour de la Valserine junction, turn right
  11. S/E : mi 6.04 - alt. 3,835 ft - Car park at the visitor centre chalet

Notes

Note that the car park at the start has several different spellings: ‘le’ or ‘la “Raymond”’ or ‘Raimont’. The chalet has changed its name and is now called ‘Chez Lisa’.
You can do as we did: set off in the morning, then stop for a bite to eat in Catray before completing the circular route. But you can also easily set off from one of the two inns and complete the circular route without stopping for a bite to eat, either in the morning or in the afternoon.
This easy walk doesn’t require any particularly high-performance kit (unless there’s snow or the ground is very wet); a good pair of trainers will do.
If, like me, you don’t always have your nose glued to the GPS, then do take particular care not to miss the turn-off at point (5). The enormous and striking oak tree can serve as a landmark.

Worth a visit

(4) Information about the Catray inn
At point (5), you’ll see what must once have been a settlement, with a well, a stone table, a shelter and a huge, remarkable lime tree.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 13 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
User 22115686

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 01, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk, shame the view of the Alps was very cloudy. We left Ochiaz via the GR 9.

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viking71
viking71

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant circular, without any difficulties.
Be careful on the section of road without a hard shoulder, which fortunately is short.
Beautiful view of the Alps and Jura mountains.

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jphil1
jphil1

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

relaxing route, nice

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randonneur_beta
randonneur_beta

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Easy hike through woods and mountain pastures under the autumn sun. Some beautiful views of Cret d'eau, Cret de la neige, Bellegarde and the Fort l'Ecluse gorge. However, there are a few hundred metres on a tarmac road with little traffic towards Catray.

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Patrixdemex
Patrixdemex

Following various comments, I decided it would be useful to revisit the route today. This led me to make a few changes which, I hope, will prevent future hikers from encountering the same problems as their predecessors.
Best regards,
The author: Patrixdemex

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Armelle01
Armelle01

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike, even though we were unable to follow the original route.
At the start: the welcome chalet is not called La Raymond.
And from number 4 onwards, I think we completely lost track of the route: we couldn't find the place with the well and the stone table. Then there were no directions to Le Retord.
We hadn't downloaded the GPS track.
Nevertheless, the environment was very pleasant and uncrowded, and above all, there was a breathtaking view of the car park on the main road!

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Nano22
Nano22

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2021
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, a little difficult with snow covering two-thirds of the route, but we knew that going in. One of the most beautiful views of the Alps I have ever seen. Majestic.
No judgement on the route as I use a GPS and/or the GPS on my phone app. The physical signage is a bit basic, which is probably why there are so few people. Technology sometimes has its advantages. Thanks to Patrixdemex.

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Patrixdemex
Patrixdemex

Author's response.
I "transformed" the oak into a lime tree
I have nothing to add regarding point 6. Perhaps, in case of uncertainty, refer to your GPS?
Best regards,
Patrixdemx.

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Gerard.REYNAUD
Gerard.REYNAUD
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Reliability of description between 6 and 7, to be specified
Picnic spot in a very pleasant location, but the remarkable tree is not an oak but a lime tree, which is even more remarkable!
We wonder about the origin of this structure: a shepherd's hut?

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michele 01
michele 01

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 16, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

nice weather, pleasant hike

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esteban_fr
esteban_fr

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely family walk on a quiet route on Ascension Day 2020 (the end of lockdown!).
No difficulty whatsoever with either the map provided or the GPS route (Suunto Spartan).

Although there were quite a few people at the start (in the car park), they quickly dispersed.
This walk was done with the family (ages 6 to 15) and presented no particular difficulties.
The diversity of the landscapes we passed through was interesting: meadows, forests, fields, paths, trails...!
You need to be careful when crossing the road, but the route isn't long.
A bonus for the view of Mont Blanc.

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Patrixdemex
Patrixdemex

Hello.
The route was mapped using GPS tracking. As a result, I don't see how the points could be incorrectly located. Are you using a GPS? An IGN 1:25,000 map? Have you at least found the starting point?
Please take the moderator's response into account.
Kind regards.

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henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

Thank you for your feedback.

The points indicated are not at all along the route. We had to turn back because we couldn't find any markings after 45 minutes.

The points indicated (S/E) and (1) are virtual points marked on the IGN Visorando 1:25,000 map to facilitate the link between the map and the description.

Visorando does not recommend following markings as these can be changed or removed, whereas information about the terrain is stable.

Visorando provides a detailed description (which can be improved) and a 1:25,000 IGN map. And, if markings are essential for you, Visorando provides virtual markings: a GPS application.

This tool, offered free of charge by Visorando, allows you to validate waypoints and thus remove any doubts about orientation.

See you soon!

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choll
choll

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The points indicated are not at all along the path. We had to turn back because we couldn't find any markings after 45 minutes.

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ESCUR CORINNE
ESCUR CORINNE

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A very pleasant walk, which we extended to point No. 9 to set off again from Retord farm and return via Col de Cuvery.
Very pleasant even in cloudy weather, with beautiful scenery.

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.