June 26, 2022

Hike to Lac Bénit

A few weeks ago, I went on a hike to Lac Bénit, a small lake located below Petit Bargy.

Here is a map of the path I walked:

In the morning, I took the train to Cluses then boarded a local Arv’i Mobilité bus (line 5) to Marnaz. I started walking from there on the way up to Mont-Saxonnex. At Mont-Saxonnex, I made a detour to Église Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption, which can be seen from the valley, and Belvédère du Faucigny. There was a good view on Vallée de l’Arve from there. I then walked to Parking du Bété and started on the trail proper to Lac Bénit. After a while, I arrived at l’Anténiou above the lake and walked down from there. I walked around Lac Bénit and ate lunch. I then started on the way down towards the valley: I first passed through Les Bottes then walked in the forest on the way to Neyrolles. I kept walking down in the forest in order to reach Scionzier in the valley, where I waited for the bus to the Cluses train station.

▲ Grand Bargy seen from Marnaz.

▲ Chapelle de Marnaz.

▲ Factory in Marnaz.

▲ Wood sculpture and bell.

▲ Oratoire de La Biolle.

▲ Ruisseau du Chêne.

▲ Ruins of a chalet.

▲ Arve valley.

▲ Pointe d’Andey.

▲ Shrine in Mont-Saxonnex.

▲ Église Note-Dame-de-l’Assomption.

▲ Le Môle.

▲ Pointe de Marcelly and Mont Orchez.

▲ Pointe du Midi and Pointe Dzérat.

▲ Église Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption.

▲ Inside the church.

▲ Pénouclet. I went on a hike there a few months ago.

▲ Belvédère du Faucigny.

▲ Grand Bargy.

▲ Towards Cluses.

▲ Vallée de l’Arve.

▲ Pointe Rousse des Chambres.

▲ Giffre in Marignier.

▲ Pic de Tenneverge.

▲ Parking du Bété.

▲ On the path to Lac Bénit. It first follows a dirt road then ski slopes.

▲ Metal structure around the horns of a cow. Not sure what it is for.

▲ Le Môle.

▲ On a ski slope.

▲ The Eyes of Bargy.

▲ Towards l’Anténiou.

▲ Lac Bénit.

▲ View of Lac Bénit from l’Anténiou.

▲ View of Combe du Bronze. Rochers de Leschaux are visible in the background.

▲ Towards Dents du Midi (in the background).

▲ On the way down to Lac Bénit.

▲ View towards Col de l’Encrenaz.

▲ Lac Bénit.

▲ Tadpoles. According to a sign, there are frogs and newts in the lake.

▲ Small fish. I also saw a couple of large fish.

▲ Reed.

▲ Waking on a path next to the lake.

▲ One of the Eyes of Bargy.

▲ I went around the lake and came back to the place I had arrived from L’Anténiou. However, the path I had to take for the way down was on the other side of the lake so I had to walk the same part again.

▲ On the way down.

▲ I walked on a dirt road at first.

▲ Then, I walked on a smaller path.

▲ Quarry in Saint-Jeoire.

▲ Le Môle.

▲ In Les Bottes.

▲ Butterfly.

▲ Forest road. I wanted to follow a path I found on the IGN map. It was generally accurate, although I couldn’t find the path marked on the map at some point, but I found it again a bit lower.