Hike to Tête du Parmelan (Summer 2019)
Last summer, I went on a hike to Tête du Parmelan, in the Bornes mountains above Annecy.
Here is a map of the path I walked (download KML):
I had already been to Parmelan a few years ago, passing through Chalet Chappuis. This time, I started from Parking des Taillées du Sautet, on the road to Chalet de l’Anglettaz on the west side of the mountain. After that, I followed a trail very similar to the one I had walked previously, except in the other direction.
In the morning, I went to the trailhead by car with my father, since there is no public transport. Part of the road to Parking des Taillées du Sautet was very bad, unpaved and with many potholes. Starting from the car park, I then took a trail through Chalets des Chappeys in order to reach the Petit Montoir (Little Ascent) trail, which goes directly to the summit of Parmelan, called Tête du Parmelan. However, I took a detour instead through Plateau du Parmelan, a large limestone pavement below the summit. The trail was quite a bit harder than I remembered, very rocky with a lot of up and down sections. Finally, I arrived at Chalet Camille Dunant, an emergency hut next to the summit. I then walked the short distance to the cross at the actual summit. There was a great view from there. I then came back to the Chalet and had lunch there. Finally, I took the Petit Montoir trail down until the fork to the car park.
Above, start of the trail near Parking des Taillées du Sautet.
Above, Tête du Parmelan above.
Above, Lake Annecy.
Above, Montagne de la Mandallaz below.
Above, Chalet des Chappeys.
Above, Rocher du Béard.
Above, on the Petit Montoir trail.
Above, fork to Grotte de l’Enfer and the trail through Plateau du Parmelan.
Above, limestone.
Above, wild carrot flower.
Above, Mont Blanc in the background.
Above, hole.
Above, start of the Plateau trail.
Above, the trail is sometimes not easy to follow but there are paint marks and many cairns.
Above, Tête du Parmelan in the background.
Above, fossils.
Above, Chalet Camille Dunant from afar.
Above, Montagne de Sous-Dine
Above, Pointe Percée.
Above, Tête du Parmelan.
Above, Montagne des Frêtes and Chaîne du Bargy.
Above, below the Chalet.
Above, some snow left in August.
Above, Chalet Camille Dunant. The hike to Parmelan is very popular and there were a lot of people.
Above, Plateau du Parmelan.
Above, Les Voirons.
Above, Aravis.
Above, Tête du Parmelan.
Above, Montagne de Lachat in Dingy-Saint-Clair, Mont Veyrier and Lake Annecy.
Above, summit cross.
Above, Annecy.
Above, towards Grand Colombier.
Above, Col de Bluffy.
Above, Salève.
Above, looking down at my starting point.
Above, the village of Villaz.
Above, Montagne de Lachat.
Above, going back down to Chalet Camille Dunant.
Above, view from the Chalet.
Above, lifting cable.
Above, Tête du Parmelan.
Above, cliffs of Parmelan.
Above, Dingy-Saint-Clair below.
Above, Mont Baret, Mont Baron and Mont Veyrier.
Above, Parmelan-Tassonnière.
Above, Col de Bluffy.
Above, on the way down.
Above, smooth rock.
Above, at the fork with the steep Grand Montoir trail.
Above, on the Petit Montoir trail.
Above, trail to the car park.
Above, Rocher de Béard.
Above, Chalet des Chappeys.
Above, Tête du Parmelan.
Above, view from the car park.
Above, view from the first hairpin turn in the road.
Above, bad road.