Summer path 1 - Roc de la Lune

Located between the Belleville Valley and the Allues Valley, the Col de la Lune offers a superb view of Mont Blanc. You reach it by crossing lush mountain pastures and a coniferous forest. It’s an accessible hike, but the climb is challenging.

From the parking lot, head up the street on the right, where you’ll find the sign marking the start of routes 1 and 1b. At the intersection, turn right at a right angle into the alley marked “dead end.” Take the dirt path that continues from there and climbs very steeply, keeping to the left. To complete this hike successfully, it is important to start very slowly on this particularly steep section of the route (about 20 minutes). Stay on this path until you reach the Mia chalets, beyond which the terrain levels off.
The dirt path disappears into a meadow. Leave it and turn left onto the trail along the valley slope. Follow this single trail, which alternates between ascents and descents. You will pass through coniferous woods (spruce, Scots pine, mountain pine) where the shrill call of the spotted nutcracker is often heard. In the open, you’ll find beautiful junipers and large-flowered foxgloves. Climb a steep, zigzagging slope (notable Scots pine on the left) to reach the Roc de la Lune. Magnificent view of Mont Blanc.

Turn right onto the trail that climbs along the ridge to the Col de Leschaux. You can also descend the opposite slope to the Col de la Lune (1,785 m), where you should turn sharply right to climb back up toward the Col de Leschaux via a wider, less steep, but longer trail.
At the pass, veer right onto a wider trail. After a short climb, you reach a fork.
Route 1 and 1b split here. Take the right-hand trail, which crosses a slope covered in alpine heathland on level ground. There is a beautiful view to the right over the Belleville Valley and, below, of the Chalets du Mia, which you passed earlier. The trail then descends through the alpine pastures, passes above the Chalet de l’Arpette (a corruption of “Alpette,” meaning small alpine pasture), then turns left to descend into the Dogettes valley, which it follows along its left flank. You’ll reach the junction of two dirt paths. Junction of routes 1 and 1b. Take the descending path that passes to the left of the Chalet des Dogettes. At the next intersection, continue descending to the right, initially quite steeply, then in switchbacks down to the village. Take advantage of this return trip to explore the village of Bérenger, with its fountain, pretty chapel, and bread oven (guided tours led by local elders—information available at the Tourist Office).