Hiking : At the foot of Roc d'Enfer

The ‘At the foot of Roc d’Enfer’ walk takes you on a superb circular route beneath the watchful gaze of the ‘King of the Aulps Valley’. Starting from Graydon, you’ll cross hills and mountain pastures in the heart of an unspoilt natural landscape.

WARNING: A flock of sheep and guard dogs are present during the summer season. Remember to follow the correct behaviour guidelines (slow down, stay calm, give the flock a wide berth if possible, avoid walking through the group of sheep, signal your presence calmly, stop or move forward slowly, avoid sudden movements, do not stare the dog in the eyes, let it observe you or sniff you...).

Setting off from the stunning Graydon mountain pasture, you’re in for a challenging climb up to the Col Ratti. From this highest point, enjoy a superb panoramic view of Mont Blanc and the peaks of the Aravis range.

Whilst the climb is tough to begin with, the rest of the hike is pure bliss! Amidst sparse forests, chalets, pastures and mountain pastures, you’ll explore remote and unspoilt corners of our beautiful Haute-Savoie.

Don’t be surprised if you spot a herd of chamois: they’re abundant in this area, which is designated as a Natura 2000 site.

Start from the Graydon car park in front of the refreshment bar.

1/ Take the path on the left, located about 20 metres before the refreshment bar. Follow the direction of ‘Col Ratti’ from the signpost. You will climb up the entire Graydon mountain pasture, and the path will be quite steep at times.

2/ After climbing the entire mountain pasture, you will arrive at a ridge at the foot of Roc d'Enfer. Stay to the right on the path, then choose the trail that goes to the left. Follow the directional markings: yellow arrows on a green background. There are numerous stakes to guide you.

3/ Once you are further into the valley, you can choose between the path on the left and the path on the right. Choose the one on the left. The one on the right takes you towards the summit of Roc d'Enfer, which is a very dangerous route and not recommended (there is a warning sign). Once again, follow the directional markings: yellow arrows on a green background. Toward col du Ratti.

4/ Once at Col Ratti, begin your descent towards Col de la Basse by following the sign.

5/ At Col de la Basse, take the path on the left towards Les Pâquis. You will begin a descent along the mountain.

6/ At Les Pâquis, follow the signs for Les Praz, 200 metres further on. From there, follow the signs for Graydon via Plan de Criou, by yhe forest track.

7/ From the ‘Sur Lachaud’ sign, take the climb on the left, still heading towards Graydon via Plan de Criou, as indicated by the markings (yellow arrows on a green background). You then descend through the forest before arriving at Plan de Criou.

8/ At Plan de Criou, continue on the left, following the sign for ‘Graydon’.

9/ At ‘Devant’, continue straight on the forest path towards Graydon.

10/ You will exit the forest at Les Places. Go up the asphalt road (on the left) following the signs for Graydon. At the end of the road, you will be back at the Graydon car park.

Alternative route: You can also start the hike from the Col de l'Encrenaz. In that case, head to the Col de la Basse and begin the hike at stage 5. This alternative route adds about 1 hour and 45 minutes and 200 meters of elevation gain.