October 4, 2021

Hike along the right bank of the Rhône in Geneva: From Pont de Sous-Terre to Russin

During the summer of 2020, I went on a hike along the right bank of the Rhône in Geneva: Starting from Pont de Sous-Terre in the city, I walked all the way to Russin.

It is not as straightforward or pleasant as the Sentier du Rhône on the left bank but the path has its moments. Since then, I also walked a third section of the Rhône in Geneva: Starting in Valleiry (in France), I crossed the border at the Far West of Geneva and walked upstream towards Russin. Here are some photos.

Here is a map of the path I walked:

In the morning I took a LIHSA bus (now Car Région), line T72 and got off at Quai du Seujet near the Rhône and Pont de Sous-Terre. I had planned on taking the Sentier des Falaises (Cliff Trail) on the right bank of the river towards Viaduc de la Jonction and Pont Butin. However, it was closed because of the risk of rockfall from the cliff, as well as some work done on the Station de Pompage SIG de Saint-Jean below Viaduc de la Jonction. So I went around, making a detour though Viaduc de la Jonction for the view, then went down towards the Rhône using a trail near École des Jardins du Rhône. It led to a beach on the river. I then walked the Sentier des Falaises towards Viaduc de la Jonction then backtracked and went on my way again.

I got on Pont Butin then continued in the forest in Vernier. At some point, I had to walk in an industrial area on the way to the Porteous building. After that, I reached the Lignon neighbourhood nearby and the pedestrian bridge (Passerelle du Lignon). I ate lunch then walked to Passerelle de Chèvres. I got out of the forest at Zone industrielle du Bois-de-Bay. There I had to walk on the side of a road for a while until Peney. I then walked along train tracks until Barrage de Verbois (Verbois Dam). Finally, I visited a small part of the Teppes de Verbois, a nature reserve in Russin, then headed to the Russin CFF train station. I took a Léman Express train from there back to Geneva and Annecy.

▲ Rhône and Quai du Seujet at Pont de Sous-Terre.

▲ Pont de Sous-Terre, an inclined bridge.

▲ Hippopotamus at the Prieuré de Saint-Jean.

▲ Closed trail towards Viaduc de la Jonction.

▲ I walked up towards Rue de Saint-Jean.

▲ Rhône and Viaduc de la Jonction.

▲ Rue de Saint-Jean.

▲ Temple de Saint-Jean.

▲ Promenade de Warens.

▲ Monkey puzzle tree.

▲ Viaduc de la Jonction.

▲ Jonction.

▲ Station de Pompage de Saint-Jean (pumping station). It looks like an abandoned building with all the graffiti but it is very much in use.

▲ Concrete rubber duck at Parc du Promeneur Solitaire.

▲ CFF train tracks.

▲ École de Cayla.

▲ I wanted to go down to the Rhône from there and indeed there is a trail. However, I misunderstood the sign warning of the closure of the trail at the Station de Pompage and thought it applied to this one. So I went on another detour…

▲ Collège de Cayla.

▲ Pont Butin.

▲ Playground at École des Jardins du Rhône.

▲ Rhône.

▲ Pont Butin.

▲ Model photoshoot.

▲ On Sentier des Falaises, towards Viaduc de la Jonction.

▲ Viaduc de la Jonction.

▲ Towards Station de Pompage de Saint-Jean.

▲ Pointe de la Jonction.

▲ Towards Pont Butin.

▲ On Pont Butin.

▲ Rhône, towards Geneva.

▲ Passing below the bridge.

▲ In the forest in Vernier.

▲ Dock. There are some sightseeing boats passing through here during summer.

▲ At an industrial park.

▲ Porteous, a former building for the waste treatment plant of Aïre. It is now a squat I think but it may be transformed into either an official art place or a jail in the future.

▲ High-rise of the Lignon in view.

▲ Floating.

▲ Arriving at the Lignon neighbourhood. I walked around the area before moving on.

▲ Some work on Place du Lignon, looking towards the catholic church.

▲ Protestant temple.

▲ Migros.

▲ École du Lignon.

▲ Happy goat.

▲ Passerelle du Lignon. I crossed it then walked back.

▲ Trail in the forest towards Passerelle de Chèvres.

▲ At the Moulin des Frères.

▲ Lignon upstream.

▲ This barge brings garbage loaded at the port below Viaduc de la Jonction (on the left bank) to Usine d’Incinération des Cheneviers (waste burning plant) near the Verbois Dam.

▲ The path is below the Givaudan factory.

▲ Passerelle de Chèvres.

▲ Pont d’Aigues Vertes.

▲ Entering Satigny.

▲ Rhône.

▲ At Zone Industrielle du Bois-de-Bay. I walked on the main road but I probably should have taken a smaller one to Peney since there was a lot of traffic.