Hike to Tête de la Mandallaz & Lac de La Balme-de-Sillingy

At the beginning of spring, I went on a hike to Tête de la Mandallaz and Lac de La Balme-de-Sillingy, north of Annecy.

Here is a map of the path I walked (download KML):

I had already been a few times to the Tête de la Mandallaz, starting at Bois des Machurettes and going back the same way. This time I went on a loop around the mountain, through La Balme-de-Sillingy and the fault mirror at the base of the mountain.

In late morning, I boarded a local SIBRA bus to Grand Epagny, a huge shopping area north of Annecy. I then took the paved road in order to reach the trailhead east of Tête de la Mandallaz. I walked in the forest until the summit then went down on the other side. I made a detour through a viewpoint with a great view on the area below but soon reached La Balme-de-Sillingy. I bought lunch at a supermarket then went to the Lac de la Balme-de-Sillingy to eat. At the lake, there were a lot of cherry trees in bloom: There is a collection of about 350 Japanese cherry trees in total, although, since they were planted only a few years ago, they were still tiny. After the lake, I went back to La Balme-de-Sillingy and took a trail below the cliffs of Tête de la Mandallaz, passing next to the fault mirror (Mirroir de Faille du Vuache) there. Finally, I completed the loop and arrived back at Grand Epagny to take the bus back to Annecy.

Above, Montagne de la Mandallaz seen from the bus stop at Grand Epagny.

Above, Semnoz.

Above, trailhead.

Above, Winnie the Pooh.

Above, forest trail to Tête de la Mandallaz.

Above, looking at Montagne d’Âge, from a viewpoint below the summit.

Above, Lake Annecy and La Tournette.

Above, the summit doesn’t have a view.

Above, another viewpoint next to the summit.

Above, Gorges du Val de Fier.

Above, on the way down.

Above, trail to the viewpoint.

Above, Vuache.

Above, La Balme-de-Sillingy.

Above, Lac de la Balme-de-Sillingy.

Above, primrose.

Above, near the cemetery at La Balme-de-Sillingy.

Above, Eglise Saint-Martin.

Above, bike path to Lac de La Balme-de-Sillingy.

Above, Tête de la Mandallaz.

Above, the lake.

Above, cherry tree in bloom.

Above, trail to the fault mirror.

Above, fault mirror.

Above, La Tournette.

Above, Notre-Dame des Gouilles.

Above, Parmelan. At this point, I walked on the side of the road. I had to cross a bridge with little space, which didn’t seem so safe…

Above, road to Annecy.

Above, back at Grand Epagny.