Hike to Mont Durant & Tours Saint-Jacques
At the end of the summer of 2022, I went on a hike to Mont Durant and Tours Saint-Jacques on the west side of Semnoz. I had already been to Tours Saint-Jacques before but I was a bit out of time then. This day, I had a proper visit.
Here is a map of the path I walked:
- Download path KML
- Download large map
- More photos on Flickr
- Day of the hike: September 9, 2022
In the morning, I boarded a Sibra summer bus to the top of Semnoz. Then, I crossed the plateau towards Chalets de Gruffy. From there, I went down through the forest to Mont Durant: Despite its name, it is not really a peak, although it looks that way from below. I kept going down towards Tours Saint-Jacques (Towers of Saint-Jacques): They are an interesting rock formation that slowly slides down the Semnoz. I spent some time to visit them. Finally, I walked back up to the Plateau du Semnoz, crossed it again, and reached the bus stop after a while.
▲ Crêt de Châtillon from the bus stop.
▲ Bauges.
▲ Mont Blanc.
▲ Towards Lac du Bourget.
▲ Viaduc du Chéran.
▲ Montagne de la Mandallaz.
▲ Dent du Chat.
▲ Chalets de Gruffy.
▲ On the way down to Mont Durant.
▲ Salève.
▲ Mont Durant.
▲ Tours Saint-Jacques.
▲ Vallée du Chéran.
▲ Crocus.
▲ Below the Tours Saint-Jacques.
▲ Montagne de Bange on the other side of the Chéran.
▲ On the way back up.
▲ Alpine arum.
▲ Dent de Rossanaz.
▲ Large group of cows on the trail. I had to make a detour to avoid them.
▲ Chalets de Gruffy, back on Plateau du Semnoz.
▲ Crêt de l’Aigle on the left.
▲ Roc des Boeufs.
▲ La Tournette.
▲ Mont Blanc.
▲ Crêt de Châtillon.
▲ Mont Trélod.
▲ Mont Blanc.
▲ Sibra summer bus.
▲ Dent de Rossanaz & Colombier d’Aillon.
▲ Crêt des Mouches.