Hike to Barrage de Génissiat & Berges du Rhône

As my last outing of 2019, I went on a hike to Barrage de Génissiat, a large dam on the Rhône, then followed the river north to Bellegarde-sur-Valserine.

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

In the morning, I took a LIHSA bus (line 22) towards Bellegarde and got off at Éloise. I first went south towards Franclens. After the village, I took a trail to get down to the Rhône. I crossed the river at Barrage de Génissiat. The dam finished building in 1947 and was for a time the largest hydroelectric power plant in Europe. Around the dam, there is a park with a few good viewpoints. There are also guided tours to get inside (but not during winter). I spent some time there then took a trail called Berges du Rhône which followed the Rhône northwards until Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, passing Belvédère des Lades on the way. Once in Bellegarde, I boarded a bus back to Annecy.

Above, bus stop in Éloise.

Above, sunrise.

Above, A40 highway.

Above, ice on the ground. It was quite cold.

Above, the trail was flooded at a few places.

Above, powerlines coming from Barrage de Génissiat.

Above, Grand Crêt d’Eau.

Above, power station of Barrage de Génissiat below.

Above, in Franclens.

Above, arriving at Barrage de Génissiat.

Above, wall of the dam.

Above, Rhône downstream of the dam.

Above, dam reservoir.

Above, now in the department of Ain.

Above, spillway.

Above, view of the dam from the visitor center.

Above, Saut de Ski (ski jump) of the spillway on the way to the Rhône.

Above,  in a park with a good view.

Above. Rhône.

Above, I crossed the road bridge.

Above, another rest area on the other side of the spillway.

Above, memorial to the dam construction.

Above, I went down to another viewpoint.

Above, another spillway.

Above, ruins of an old castle.

Above, I walked down for a bit towards the dam but went back before I reached the Rhône.

Above, Saut de Ski from below.

Above, view of the dam and the reservoir.

Above, reservoir.

Above, on the way to Bellegarde.

Above, that area had been flooded and was left very muddy and soft. It was hard to go around, with a cliff on one side and a river on the other.

Above, Rhône.

Above, resistance memorial.

Above, at Belvédère des Lades.

Above, trash processing plant (Unité de Valorisation Energétique des déchets ménagers de Bellegarde-sur-Valserine).

Above, chimney.

Above, near the plant.

Above, Église Saint-Nicolas in Arlod, at Bellegarde-sur-Valserine.

Above, Viaduc de Bellegarde.

Above, last rays of light on Grand Crêt d’Eau.