Summer Trail 2 – Béranger from La Rochette

A hike featuring a beautiful variety of landscapes and views of Mont Blanc.

Pass Notre Dame de la Vie and leave the turnoff to Saint-Martin on your left. At the next intersection, turn right onto the small road that leads to the village of Béranger. 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 running along the valley slope. Follow this single trail, which alternates between ascents and descents. You’ll pass through coniferous woods (spruce, Scots pine, mountain pine) where the shrill call of the spotted nutcracker is often heard. In open areas, 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 must turn sharply right to climb back up toward the Col de Leschaux via a steeper trail.
Continue climbing along the wide trail on the left. After a few switchbacks, you’ll reach the summit of Dos de Crêt Voland, the highest point of this hike. Enjoy the 360° panoramic view. Then follow the single trail that winds along the ridge, alternating between short ascents and descents, and passing by the Jean-Claude Cross (a beautiful viewpoint over the Allues Valley). At the Col de Jean, pass the trail on your left that descends toward Méribel and continue in the same direction to the Grand Lac. Despite its name, this small lake is shallow and often dry by late summer. You can see many Alpine newts there.
Junction and shared section with Route 17b. Just before the lake, turn right. After about 200 m, pass an old, poorly marked trail on your right and veer slightly left. At the next fork, leave the ridge trail and descend to the right. The trail winds gently down the valley slope through alpine heathland dotted with wetlands. After passing through a rocky ravine on your right, you reach Cacabeurre. Turn right onto the dirt path that circles the chalet. Stay on this same path, which winds down the edge of the Goffay woods, passes by the Fleurettes chalets, and ends at Les Dogettes.
Junction of routes 1 and 1b. The end of the hike is the same as for route 1. Refer to that route and follow it starting from point 6.

This trail is marked with yellow signs.