Hike to Pointe de Bois Brûlé (Semnoz)
Last summer, I went on a hike to Pointe de Bois Brûlé, a little-known viewpoint on the south side of Semnoz.
Here is a map of the path I walked:
In the morning, I boarded a SIBRA summer bus to Semnoz. I took my bike with me in order to get down later. I got off at Les Rochers Blancs and walked the short ascent to the summit of Semnoz, Crêt de Châtillon. I then crossed Plateau du Semnoz and started walking down on Chemin de la Figlia towards Allèves. At some point, I took a fork that got me below Trou de la Poteresse, which allowed passage past the cliff. I joined a trail coming from Lescheraines and started going up. I passed by a climbing site then, at some point, went off-trail in the forest towards Pointe de Bois Brûlé, since there is no actual trail to reach it. It is a shame since the view was pretty good from there. After the Pointe, I kept going up in order to get back to Plateau du Semnoz. I walked to the summit of Crêt de Châtillon for the second time that day then grabbed my bike and rode down Route du Semnoz to Annecy.
▲ Bus station (Gare routière) in Annecy.
▲ Cross at the summit of Crêt de Châtillon.
▲ New chondola (Télémix “Le Belvédère”).
▲ Tournette.
▲ New lake for artificial snow.
▲ Towards Plateau du Semnoz.
▲ Cows on the trail.
▲ Lac du Bourget.
▲ Crêt de l’Aigle.
▲ Pays de l’Albanais.
▲ Above Chalets de Gruffy.
▲ Trail down.
▲ Cows behind me.
▲ Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-la-Vie.
▲ More cows on the trail.
▲ Walking down Chemin de la Figlia towards Allèves.
▲ I took a fork towards Trou de la Poteresse.
▲ Trou de la Poteresse. It is steep and slipping can be dangerous.
▲ Montagne de Bange and Chéran river from a viewpoint.
▲ Joining the trail coming from Lescheraines.
▲ Towards the Bauges valley.
▲ Towards Allèves.
▲ Climbing site (Site naturel d’escalade du Semnoz).
▲ After I passed this small “valley” on my left, I went off-trail through the forest in order to reach Pointe de Bois Brûlé. Actually, I should have turned left right here (this is where I arrived when I came back from Pointe de Bois Brûlé).
▲ In the forest.
▲ I missed Pointe de Bois Brûlé. I walked along the cliff.
▲ Below Pointe de Bois Brulé. I had to do a bit of easy climbing.
▲ Summit.
▲ Bauges valley, with Mont Trélod and Colombier d’Aillon in the background.
▲ Montagne de Bange and Vallée du Chéran.
▲ Lescheraines and Chéran.
▲ When I left the Pointe, I saw a couple of yellow paint marks but I lost them very quickly.
▲ I walked straight ahead.
▲ I joined the trail I started from after a while.
▲ Going up to Plateau du Semnoz.
▲ Yet more cows on the trail.
▲ Chalets de Gruffy on Plateau du Semnoz.
▲ Crêt de l’Aigle.
▲ I walked on the dirt road on the way back.
▲ Goats.
▲ Rain is coming.
▲ Les Rochers Blancs on the way down from Crêt de Châtillon.
▲ View of Lake Annecy from a viewpoint on the road near Les Rochers Blancs.
▲ Route du Semnoz. It was pretty fun riding my bike down that road: I usually take the road that goes down from Plateau du Semnoz to Leschaux then the Route du Col de Leschaux to the lake. This road is not as scenic but goes down the entire way and has no potholes.
▲ Lake Annecy. I reached home just before it started to rain.