This 7km Franco-Swiss route is for experienced snowshoe walkers only. It offers exceptional panoramic views and different variants, with a start on the French side or a start on the Swiss side.
From Châtel :
The trailhead is at the Super-Châtel gondola arrival point, so you'll need to take a pedestrian round trip.
On arrival, follow the Nordic route to Lac de Conche.
From the chalets of the same name, after a short loop through the spruce forest, you can continue on the Renard trail towards Chalet Neuf and the Col des Portes de Culet, a pass offering exceptional panoramic views of the Dents du Midi, the Vaud and Valais Alps and Mont Blanc.
From the Col Portes de Culet, follow the pink Swiss snowshoe signs for "Les Ecottis", then descend through fields to the sign for "Les Ecottis".
From here, follow the snowshoe sign to "Refuge du Corbeau", crossing the Culet ski lift (watch out for skiers) and then the Ecottis ski lift.
Take a flat right to the Refuge du Corbeau restaurant and enjoy a break with a view of the Dents du Midi.
Pass behind the Refuge du Corbeau and follow the sign to Super Châtel. The forest path takes you to Sur le Bord in France.
From here, either descend to Pas de Morgins to reach Châtel, or continue uphill to the viewpoint over the Vallée d'Abondance, before descending to Lac de la Mouille.
Continue as far as the Portes du Soleil chairlift to make the descent with your lift pass.
From Vonnes, take the shuttle bus or the Balcon de Châtel trail to the center.
Variant : Sur le Bord
Departure point Parking Pas de Morgins - Duration 2h30 - Ascent 300m - Difficulty: Difficult
The path starts on the other side of the road (cross with care), in the forest on a slight downhill slope.
At the first exit from the forest, continue on the forest track on your right to begin the steep ascent to Sur le Bord. After several hairpin bends, the path passes close to the Sur le Bord alpine chalet before reaching the highest point a few hundred metres further on.
After admiring the view, you can retrace your steps back to the starting point, or head for Lac de la Mouille.
From Morgins :
Variant from the Corbeau restaurant under the chairlift of the same name.
The forest trail takes you :
- either into France, to the Sur le Bord sector, then on to Lac de la Mouille, with a breathtaking view of the Abondance valley.
- or to Switzerland, up to the Ecotis ski lift, then to Portes de Culet, Chalet Neuf, Conche and Super-Châtel.
The return journey takes the same route.
Variant from the top of the Corbeau chairlift:
Descend about 300m to find the path that crosses the Ecotis ski lift.
From here, follow the Renard trail in either direction: towards Portes de Culet - Lac de Conche - Super Châtel or towards Restaurant le Corbeau - Sur le Bord.
Safety and rules of good practice:
- All routes are undertaken at the hiker's own risk, as they are not supervised.
- Before setting off, make sure you are aware of the weather conditions and the risk of avalanches, and remember to bring warm, waterproof clothing. Mountain weather changes very quickly. A high avalanche risk means that trails are closed.
- Choose a route suited to your level and physical condition.
- Follow the signposting instructions.
- Do not stray from the marked routes.
- Tell someone close to you about your outing and the route you have chosen.
- Never hike alone.
- Don't leave too late in the afternoon to make sure you're back before dark.
- Do not use the cross-country or downhill ski runs. Crossing the pistes is only permitted on marked crossings.
- Take plenty of food and water with you. Mountain sports require a lot of energy. Mountain inns and high-altitude restaurants exist on certain routes.
Equipment required :
- A hat
- Gloves
- Sunglasses
- Poles
- Mountain boots
In the bag :
- Warm clothing
- Hot drinks and snacks
- Mobile phone
- First-aid kit
- Sun cream.
The trailhead is at the Super-Châtel gondola arrival point, so you'll need to take a pedestrian round trip.
On arrival, follow the Nordic route to Lac de Conche.
From the chalets of the same name, after a short loop through the spruce forest, you can continue on the Renard trail towards Chalet Neuf and the Col des Portes de Culet, a pass offering exceptional panoramic views of the Dents du Midi, the Vaud and Valais Alps and Mont Blanc.
From the Col Portes de Culet, follow the pink Swiss snowshoe signs for "Les Ecottis", then descend through fields to the sign for "Les Ecottis".
From here, follow the snowshoe sign to "Refuge du Corbeau", crossing the Culet ski lift (watch out for skiers) and then the Ecottis ski lift.
Take a flat right to the Refuge du Corbeau restaurant and enjoy a break with a view of the Dents du Midi.
Pass behind the Refuge du Corbeau and follow the sign to Super Châtel. The forest path takes you to Sur le Bord in France.
From here, either descend to Pas de Morgins to reach Châtel, or continue uphill to the viewpoint over the Vallée d'Abondance, before descending to Lac de la Mouille.
Continue as far as the Portes du Soleil chairlift to make the descent with your lift pass.
From Vonnes, take the shuttle bus or the Balcon de Châtel trail to the center.
Variant : Sur le Bord
Departure point Parking Pas de Morgins - Duration 2h30 - Ascent 300m - Difficulty: Difficult
The path starts on the other side of the road (cross with care), in the forest on a slight downhill slope.
At the first exit from the forest, continue on the forest track on your right to begin the steep ascent to Sur le Bord. After several hairpin bends, the path passes close to the Sur le Bord alpine chalet before reaching the highest point a few hundred metres further on.
After admiring the view, you can retrace your steps back to the starting point, or head for Lac de la Mouille.
From Morgins :
Variant from the Corbeau restaurant under the chairlift of the same name.
The forest trail takes you :
- either into France, to the Sur le Bord sector, then on to Lac de la Mouille, with a breathtaking view of the Abondance valley.
- or to Switzerland, up to the Ecotis ski lift, then to Portes de Culet, Chalet Neuf, Conche and Super-Châtel.
The return journey takes the same route.
Variant from the top of the Corbeau chairlift:
Descend about 300m to find the path that crosses the Ecotis ski lift.
From here, follow the Renard trail in either direction: towards Portes de Culet - Lac de Conche - Super Châtel or towards Restaurant le Corbeau - Sur le Bord.
Safety and rules of good practice:
- All routes are undertaken at the hiker's own risk, as they are not supervised.
- Before setting off, make sure you are aware of the weather conditions and the risk of avalanches, and remember to bring warm, waterproof clothing. Mountain weather changes very quickly. A high avalanche risk means that trails are closed.
- Choose a route suited to your level and physical condition.
- Follow the signposting instructions.
- Do not stray from the marked routes.
- Tell someone close to you about your outing and the route you have chosen.
- Never hike alone.
- Don't leave too late in the afternoon to make sure you're back before dark.
- Do not use the cross-country or downhill ski runs. Crossing the pistes is only permitted on marked crossings.
- Take plenty of food and water with you. Mountain sports require a lot of energy. Mountain inns and high-altitude restaurants exist on certain routes.
Equipment required :
- A hat
- Gloves
- Sunglasses
- Poles
- Mountain boots
In the bag :
- Warm clothing
- Hot drinks and snacks
- Mobile phone
- First-aid kit
- Sun cream.
Plain text period
From 21/12 to 21/04 daily.Accessible according to climatic conditions and outside the risky period. Please contact the Tourist Office in advance to find out the conditions of access at the time.
Subject to snow conditions.
Services
Parking nearby
Pets welcome
Accessible via ski lift
Environment
- Mountain view
- Panoramic view
- Forest location
- Mountain location
