Tour of Mont de Grange from Chapelle d'Abondance

Mont de Grange is a Natura 2000 and hunting reserve. This hike enables to discover a nature shared between wildlife and alpine pastures. This itinerary offers you beautiful views of Abondance, La Chapelle d'Abondance and Châtel.

The Mont de Grange tour is a hike for experienced walkers. Mont de Grange is a 3,000-hectare nature reserve, classified Natura 2000. It's also a hunting reserve where deer, chamois, roe deer, mouflons, marmots, black grouse, ptarmigan, golden eagles... all live side by side. You can easily observe them early in the morning. This hike also invites you to discover wild flora such as martagon lily, paradise lily, alpine columbine, gentian and genepi. From the Plan des Feux in La Chapelle d'Abondance, take the gravel path towards Enquernaz. You cross the La Chapelle d'Abondance ski area and the Plaine Joux mountain pasture. From l'Enquernaz, head towards the Saint-Théodule chapel. On the way to the chapel, you'll pass through a number of local villages and discover the traditional houses of Charmy l'Adroit in Abondance. After the Chapelle Saint Théodule, you'll take a mountain path to the Lenlevay viewpoint, passing the Bailly and Jouly mountain chalets. You'll meet Abondance cows on these mountain pastures during the summer season. A beautiful panorama of Abondance and Châtel awaits you. From Lenlevay, take the GR5 path via the Etrye, Pron and Mattes chalets. You'll follow the Pointe des Mattes down to the Chalet de Trebentaz and then back to the starting point. Variations: possible departures from Chapelle Saint Théodule in Abondance or Tré-les-Pierres in Châtel.