A short circular above Le Grand-Bornand

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Half-day route on a scenic path with beautiful views of the Aravis mountain range.

Technical sheet

n°2668698
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.33 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 356 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 348 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,683 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,348 m
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Photos

La Grand Montagne.
Les Aravis

Description of the walk

Park in the Croix car park near the Arces ski lift.

(S/E) Head east, passing through the hamlet of Les Touillettes, then Plan Baudry. After a left turn, you will reach the Grand-Montagne signpost.

(1) Head west. Cross the hamlet of Les Acrets before reaching the Col de Châtillon.

(2) Follow the track that winds downhill and runs alongside the Col de Châtillon ski lift. Pass under the ski lift and continue downhill to reach the Côte crossroads.

(3) Take the Chemin de la Taverne on the left, which runs alongside the chairlift of the same name. You will arrive near the station shared by the Taverne and Joyère chairlifts.

(4) Turn left, pass under the Arces ski lift to reach the Croix car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,348 m - La Croix car park
  2. 1 : km 2.9 - alt. 1,599 m - The Great Mountain
  3. 2 : km 4.21 - alt. 1,683 m - Col de Châtillon
  4. 3 : km 5.82 - alt. 1,462 m - La Côte
  5. 4 : km 6.76 - alt. 1,382 m - Chairlift station
  6. S/E : km 7.33 - alt. 1,348 m - La Croix car park

Practical information

A short, easy hike on well-marked trails.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 14 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
Doudougnette
Doudougnette

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

Easy to follow, beautiful view of the Arabis and the plain.

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Eterle
Eterle

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A beautiful hike that we completed with the climb up Mont Chatillon du Lachat (an additional 200 metres of elevation gain) with a magnificent 360-degree view from the summit. Easy-to-follow markings and descriptions. A herd of goats on the path to the Col de Chatillon, guarded by a very "professional" dog: he didn't bark, but came up to us to sniff us and then let us pass quietly.

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Stef74
Stef74

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A very easy hike with excellent signposting
Magnificent views of the Aravis mountain range
However, it is important to note that most of this hike takes place on a small road or a wide path. This makes the hike easier but also less fun, depending on what you are looking for.
In addition, the presence of livestock at this time of year means that all the fields are fenced off and it is impossible to leave the path, which is bordered by electric fences.
But once again, this does not detract from the landscape!

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MainaLr
MainaLr

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

Be careful around people walking their dogs. There was a Kangal (a large sheepdog) in one place (I can't remember exactly where, sorry), which wasn't aggressive if your dog was passive and you remained calm, but it was still very tense..

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CHEVELU Jean-marc
CHEVELU Jean-marc

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very beautiful hike with wonderful scenery.
Worth mentioning: moderate difficulty.
Would happily do it again.

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cajoba
cajoba

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A lovely walk with beautiful views of the Aravis mountain range.

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Jyfop88
Jyfop88

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : Yes

first hike of my week's holiday, a good way to warm up.
Best done on a rainy day, as it's scorching hot from start to finish.

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crisbo
crisbo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

very pleasant hike. Beautiful views

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damal
damal

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very beautiful route, pleasant and not too difficult. Beautiful panoramic views

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cariouma
cariouma

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very pleasant route with beautiful views.

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Hélénalban
Hélénalban

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very beautiful views throughout almost the entire hike. Part of the hike is on tarmac, but a walking stick is useful for the descent.

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Christophe PEZET
Christophe PEZET

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very pretty landscapes with magnificent views of the Aravis mountains.
Impeccable map, clear and easy to follow.
Picnic in the meadows at the pass below Mont Lachat.
Don't hesitate to take the road to the left of the car park to park if there are no spaces near the inn.
And thank you for the GPS coordinates to find the starting point, without which it would have been complicated!

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Lisemona
Lisemona

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant route with superb views of the Aravis mountains. My only regret is that too much of the journey is on a road, albeit a quiet one, but a road nonetheless.

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gerlandais
gerlandais

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

relatively easy, especially if you follow the directions carefully

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