Hiking Roc de Tavaneuse is a must if you are keen hiker and visiting Chatel or the Abondance Valley. This 5 hour circuit hike starts from the stunning hamlet of Charmy in Abondance, a 15 minute drive from Chalet Cannelle. Charmy showcases some of the most beautifully classic chalets that you will see in the Abondance valley.
Hiking Roc de Tavaneuse : Route Summary
This route is 11 km with a 1130m+ ascent (and an optional lake dunk en route!) so suited to those used to mountain hiking.
The Roc de Tavaneuse Hiking Trail
A gentle start following a small river leads up to a bergerie for the cows in the summer, which opens up into a bowl surrounded by peaks. From here you can almost see your summit point, and you get a good idea of the ridge you will climbing to get there. Continuing through the valley floor for another hour or so until a steep section before you arrive at the ridge. If you are in luck, there are often plenty of mouflon frolicking on the rock faces of Pointe de Salovaire, a rock face you will pass directly under.
After reaching the top of the steep section there is a cross where you can take a breathe and admire the views, with Saint Jean D’aulps on one side and Lake Geneva and Month Chauffe the other. From here it’s up again along the ridge (with a void on one side but easy to keep away from the edge), through fields of wild garlic and beautiful flora until reaching a very small section where you need to scramble a little to reach the peak. Careful foot placement and maybe having your hands pole free is a good idea at this stage.
Take some time to admire all of your surroundings at the summit and prepare yourself for the most amazing view of the Lake de Tavaneuse. Descending quite steeply through fields of brambles and small shrubs you quickly arrive at the lake. On a good sunny day and at the right time of year this is a perfect place to have a dip and cool off. With the impaling rock face of the mountains Entre Les Deux Pertuis the lake is like a small oasis, nestled in a mountain paradise.
A small but steep 20 minutes climb on the other side of the lake in order to descent via Aiguille de Pertuis. Into the marshy, lushious green valley bowl and then a steep descent crossing over many little rivers and mini waterfulls all the way back down to the car park.
Chalet Cannelle is the perfect base for summer hiking in the French Alps. Read more about walking in the alps or our Bed & Breakfast holidays in Chatel, France.