Five ideas for easy walks in the heart of the Bauges

Le Bauges massif is sandwiched between Lake Annecy, Lake Bourget and the Isère Valley. Its peaks at over 2000 meters above sea level act as observation towers of an almost impregnable fortress. Apart from a passage through narrow gorges on the Aix-les-Bains side, the other passages all involve crossing a medium-altitude pass around 1000 meters above sea level. A few villages stretch along the narrow, wooded valleys of the massif. A pre-Alpine foothill but already with a distinctly Alpine aspect. wallows are striking for their harsh climate and for a population accustomed to the long isolation of yesteryear. This is why the Bauges massif, today largely protected by the Regional Natural Park of the same name is appreciated by many new neo-rural inhabitants who have come to find a simple lifestyle and a change from the fast pace of our society. In this article, AlpAddict takes you to discover beautiful landscapes in the heart of the Bauges massif through a first series of easy walks accessible to families from Chambéry, Aix-les-Bains, Annecy and Albertville.

The balconies of the Bauges towards the Isère valley and the Belledonne and Chartreuse massifs
The balconies of the Bauges towards Lake Bourget
The tip of Galoppaz
The Bellevaux Valley
The Semnoz ridges

The balconies of the Bauges towards the Isère valley and the Belledonne and Chartreuse massifs.

The starting point of the hike is located at the edge of the charming little Lake La Thuile at an altitude of 880 meters in a pretty valley within the first fold of the massif between the Cluse de Chambéry and the southwestern edge of the Bauges. It is a hilly and wooded landscape that surrounds the visitor. The small village of La Thuile seems lost in a very remote valley in the heart of a wild massif, while just behind the ridge line we find the highways, the railways and the hectic life of the Chambéry basin. Yet it is silence that welcomes the hiker here.

What landscapes can we see from Les Bauges? — The ridges of the Belledonne massif from Les Bauges

Leaving the village and following the eastern edge of the small lake, we pass through a last small hamlet, to the south of it before beginning a continuous climb by an accessible slope to the Col du Mont at an altitude of 1015 meters. After a long walk through the undergrowth, the landscape finally opens up. We can see the peaks surrounding the La Thuile valley to the north, but above all, we overlook the Isère valley above the Combe de Savoie, almost overlooking the small historic town of Montmelian. Opposite, the northernmost part of the Belledonne massif reveals its imposing slopes covered in snow until mid-June. The Grands Moulins, at almost 2500 meters, the Pic du Frêne at 2800 meters and the Pic Gris at 2900 meters form an imposing barrier above the Breda Valley. A little further down, we see the ski slopes of the resort of Collet d'Allevard, located in a very panoramic position. The view then escapes above the mists of the Grésivaudan – this section of the Isère Valley between Grenoble and Pontcharra – by aligning all the peaks of the Belledonne massif up to the Grand Pic de Belledonne. The orientation table of the very aerial Rocher de Manettaz allows you to locate all these iconic peaks.

To enjoy the landscape a little further east, towards the Lauzière massif, the Grand Arc and the summit of Mont Blanc, it is better to continue the hike along the grassy slope which climbs on the right of the path, towards the Roche du Guet, at an altitude of 1209 meters. As you gain altitude, the view opens up to the East and West. The Chartreuse massif also appears in its entire length above the Isère valley.

It is also the same type of vast and open landscape that accompanies the hiker along the ridge path passing by the Tarpin, the summit of the Savoyarde (emblematic mountain with folded contours visible from the motorway between Grenoble and Chambéry and marking the entry into Savoie, up to the Roc de Tormery (1135m) from the summit of which one also appreciates the view over the Chambéry basin.

At this point, and depending on the physical abilities of each person, one can consider a direct return to Lake La Thuile or a continuation through the forest above the Chignin vineyard in the Montgelas mountain before returning by a small road to the La Thuile basin in order to perceive its discreet and secret aspect.

A walk to do in the fall or spring to enjoy the differences in scenery between your path and the snowy slopes of the Belledonne or Chartreuse mountains.

The balconies of the Bauges towards Lake Bourget

This second route allows you to discover the richness of the flora and landscapes of the BaugesThis is a hike that can also be done in winter on snowshoes to enjoy an even greater change of scenery.

The starting point is the cross-country ski center of Saint François de Sales, on the descent from the Col de Plainpalais between Les Déserts and Lescheraines. The hiker immediately discovers the silence of the forest, from the Gorets valley and up to the vast, airy space occupied by the Creusates peat bogIn winter, the presence of high humidity often creates a thin film of mist on the ground which makes the places mysterious.

What to do in the Bauges in winter? — Very cold day in the Bauges

The altitude remains high since the start, around 1300 meters, which makes the surrounding ridges quite low and flat. We skirt the Creusates plain towards the Shepherds' Cross at the summit of Molard at 1371, the dominant point of this vast plateau. Along the way, a few gaps allow you to see Lake Bourget and Mont Blanc looms above the eastern peaks of the Bauges. Going back down the hill, you take the path towards the Chalets Gralette, lost in nature, then the Tipi village with its unexpected tents. The path in the forest runs alongside the cross-country ski trails of the Crolles-Revard center before reaching the foot of the Revard stationAt the top, suspended platforms dominate the Bourget lake. At an altitude of 1540 meters, it is not uncommon to admire a sea of clouds in winter. It feels like you are flying above the landscape. On the other hand, when you see the lake below, the view is striking. The line of mountains, opposite, rises north to the Jura. The sunset, clear, is phenomenal from Le Revard. By turning 180 degrees, the ice of the Mont Blanc massif appear in the distance above an ocean of fir trees and other conifers.

We continue to enjoy this view by following the ridge line towards the north at the level of the Tour de l'Angle-Est and the Tour des Ebats, at the top of the ski resort.

The return to the Creusates plain can be done by the same route as on the outward journey or by continuing through the chalets of La Clusaz and Le Golliat, but be careful, you go down first and then back up.

It is the immensity of the Bauges landscape that is offered here in this hike.

The Pointe de la Galoppaz

Here is a more sporty route with, at the end, the pleasure of finding yourself at the summit of a mountain with a slender profile. The Pointe de la Galoppaz is visible from ChambéryIt is therefore a classic destination for the inhabitants of the historic capital of Savoy.

To get there, the best thing is to stop at the small parking lot just before the Col des Prés (1100 meters) which connects the balconies of Thoiry to Aillon, at the foot of Margeriaz. The Pointe de la Galoppaz Located at an altitude of 1680 meters, it is a difference in altitude of almost 600 meters that you will have to swallow! Important to know before starting, because the beginning, in the forest, is quite trying. The path leaves from the road near the Chalet du Fournet and its small waterfall and climbs by tight bends in the forest. By a steep slope, and about an hour of climbing, you quickly reach a pass at an altitude of 1500 meters. The landscape then reveals itself and all along the ridge passing through the Buffaz Pass (1436 m) you can enjoy clear views to the South and East towards Lauzière and the first peaks of Maurienne.

Beautiful hikes in the Bauges — Landscape of the Bauges from the tip of Galoppaz

Then, a second steep climb looms, taking in the last two hundred meters of elevation gain. This section is completely clear of any forest, so it's a feast for the eyes. The panorama unfolds at 360 degrees and takes in the iconic peaks of the wallows, the massifs of belledonne, Lauzière, Mont Blanc on one side and the Chartreuse to the first foothills of the Jura on the other. On the slopes, herds of cows bask in the lush grass often watered by ocean rains.

The descent is made by continuing the path, going back down towards the south towards the Grange de Chenaillon and then going back up via the Col Servenne (1292 m) along the GR of the Bauges Massif Country between forest and meadows.

The climb to Pointe de la Galoppaz is a more challenging hike than the others, but it gives the impression to those less keen of having truly reached a summit.

The Bellevaux Valley

This route is the complete opposite of the previous one. You don't reach any summits; you stay at the bottom of a valley. It's a contemplative and meditative route, whose goal, precisely, is a magnificent chapel built at the level of a spring. Mystical.

We are in the northeast of the Bauges massif, where the peaks are highest and the valleys deepest. The starting point is the village of Jarsy, a charming, sunny village at an altitude of 850 meters, located under a plateau, or school, a small village at the bottom of the valley, a little lower down at 732 meters in the Chéran Valley.

The route goes up the Chéran at the foot of Mont Pécloz (2192 meters). The Lézine chapel is a first stop on the way. The peaks perfectly frame this small, very photogenic religious building. The route then takes place in the forest or at its edge above the deep notch at the bottom of which flows, impetuous, the Chéran, a long river which, after leaving the Bauges, joins the Fier, at the level of Rumilly to feed the waters which cross the famous gorges before merging into the waters of the Rhône. At the Pont du Carlet, the more athletic will continue along the mountainside on the GRP of the Massif des Bauges to the Pont de l'Etang ford while the others can continue on the road in the same direction. The landscape remains hidden by the deep forest and from time to time, we see a peak that emerges like that of Mont de la Coche or Pécloz. The Pont de l'Etang ford is located in a vast open flat area encircling high mountains. Nearly a thousand meters of elevation gain give the place a very wild appearance. For many, it is the starting point for numerous hikes in this corner of the Bauges: tour of Mont Pécloz, Grand Roc, Chaurionde, Arcalod… Real mountain hiking.

In the heart of the valleys in the Bauges — Bellevaux Oratory in the Bauges

As part of this route, we will simply retrace our steps to the Cariat car park in order to go up the valley of the Lanche stream. After a short climb, we find ourselves at a crossroads in a beautiful clearing occupied by a chapel (an oratory to be precise) and some ruins of an old priory. The path continues on a small slope before revealing an imposing chapel: Our Lady of BellevauxA beautiful fountain adorns a landscaped area in front of the chapel. Inside the small church flows a stream, and an opening carved into the rock serves as a baptismal font. In this environment, one senses the spiritual strength of the ancients, revolving around water and faith. The silence is deafening. The place is perfect for a moment of inner rest.

The hike ends with a return to the starting point by a path which goes down to Carlet on the banks of the Chéran before continuing towards Ecole or going back up towards Jarsy.

The Semnoz ridges

Due to its position in the far north of the Bauges massif, its uniqueness in the Annecy landscape and its distance from the central Bauges valleys, we almost forget that the Semnoz is an integral part of the geography of the Bauges massif.

It is especially the mountain of the Anneciens. Their oxygen getaway. Its climax, the Châtillon ridge at an altitude of 1702 meters also constitutes the summit of a small ski resort which dominates the great plains of the Albanais on one side and the valley of Leschaux on the other. Annecy lake and its blue waters appear through gaps along the hikes just below the summit of Mont Blanc which dominates the landscape although it is several dozen kilometers away.

A vast, windswept landscape. Paragliders play with the wind in both summer and winter. During the cold season, snowshoe hikes take on a very Nordic feel in the harsh climate of the ridges, and the snowy, sunny valleys bordered by forests offer beautiful, exotic stops. Farms dot the landscape. A place where animals gather in the summer and ghosts emerge from the layer of snow in winter.

What can we see from Semnoz? — Artistic rendering from the Semnoz

Without necessarily encouraging the hiker to leave from Annecy (it is possible but very, very long), the best is to start the hike at Crêt de Châtillon parking lot. Then, you will have to continue to the orientation table, on the summit of the Semnoz before letting itself go back down towards the Leschaux chalets and Gruffy chalets on a small, gently sloping plateau at an altitude of between 1550 and 1650 meters. In winter, on snowshoes, you can have fun crisscrossing the spaces in complete freedom. In summer, the trails leading to the mountain farms allow you to crisscross the area at altitude while respecting pastoralism. But in all cases, at Semnoz, it's the landscape that's the attraction of the walk. So take advantage of it to feast your eyes.

These five easy walks do not constitute a true crossing of the Bauges or an in-depth discovery of the mountains. On the contrary, they represent an introduction, an open door to a wild and unspoiled universe to which one must return with a more adventurous spirit. Conquer the peaks of the Bauges, it's about experiencing mini-adventures outside of time, far from the crowds and in the open air. These five easy walks in the heart of the Bauges allow you to glimpse the diversity of the landscapes, enjoy beautiful panoramas, cross forests and follow ridge paths to appreciate mountain activities, summer and winter.

See you soon in the Bauges.

Destinations

Blog