Hike to Dent du Chat & Molard Noir

The Dent du Chat (Cat’s Tooth) is a peak on the south-west side of Lac du Bourget, near Chambéry (Savoie). It has a great view on the lake. I mostly followed those instructions but, after the Dent, I continued to Molard Noir and the Relais TV du Mont du Chat before looping back to Bourdeau.

Here is the path I walked (download KML):

I took my bike on the local train from Annecy to Aix-les-Bains. Then I used the Voie Verte to go around the lake to the City Hall of Bourdeau, where I parked. From there, I went up by foot, first passing by the Tunnel du Chat and arriving at Col du Chat soon after. I then took the trail in the forest (“Sentier de Crête”) to reach the base of the Dent du Chat. The last part was a bit tricky, with a series of ladders and chains necessary to reach the summit. From there, there was a great view on the lake, as expected. It is a popular hike in the area but I was the only one at the summit, maybe because it was a bit late in the day. After getting down from the Dent, I made my way to the Molard Noir, which has a good view of the Dent and the lake. I then completed the loop by first going to the broadcast relay station (Relais TV) then taking a trail in the forest to get back to Bourdeau. Finally, I went back to the train station in Aix to take the train back to Annecy.

Above, looking at Dent du Chat from Aix-les-Bains, across the Lac du Bourget.

Above, Voie Verte towards Chambéry.

Above, beach in Bourget-du-Lac.

Above, church at the start of the trail in Bourdeau.

Above, Tunnel du Chat.

Above, on the way to Col de Chat.

Above, at Col du Chat.

Above, view of Dent du Chat.

Above, Lacs de Chevelu.

Above, ladders and chains have to be used to reach the summit.

Above, summit of Dent du Chat.

Above, southern shore of Lac du Bourget, towards Chambéry.

Above, Lacs de Chevelu.

Above, Molard Noir.

Above, Bourget-du-Lac.

Above, Aix-les-Bains on the other side of the lake.

Above, on the way down the Dent.

Above, Dent du Chat from the summit of Molard Noir.

Above, summit of Molard Noir.

Above, Relais TV. It is accessible by car and only a short walk away from the Molard Noir.

Above, view from the Relais TV.

Above, I followed the paved road for a while before reaching the trail in the forest back to Bourdeau.

Above, back in Bourdeau.

Above, Lac du Bourget.

Above, back on the east side of the lake.