In Doucy-en-Bauges, a hiking route to Mont Trélod starts at the Parking des Cornes. When planning your trip, it is worth first considering the hike you want to do and its starting point: options include a long circular hike, trails through the Hautes-Bauges and a section of the GRP® Tour des Bauges. This lets you decide on your hiking itinerary before looking for accommodation.
Hiking: circular route or trail section
The GRP® Trélod circular route is classified as difficult. It is 12.3 kilometres long, with a walking time of 6 hours and 25 minutes. It involves 1,143 metres of ascent and 1,149 metres of descent. This gives you a more concrete idea of the hike’s scale than the distance alone. Weather and trail conditions can affect the duration and difficulty.
Another option is the third section of the GRP® Tour des Bauges, between Bellecombe-en-Bauges and Jarsy or École. It passes through the Golet de Doucy and combines a pastoral atmosphere with views of the Hautes-Bauges. The circular route and this trail section follow different paths, so choose the format that suits your plans.
Alpine pastures, panoramas and geology
The GRP® circular route passes through the alpine pastures of the Hautes-Bauges. From the summit, a 360-degree panorama takes in the Vanoise, Mont Blanc and the Belledonne range. GRP hiking trails leading to Mont Trélod intersect in the Charbonnet research zone. Chamois and black grouse can be observed there; please follow the reserve’s protection rules.
The rocky landscape also tells of different geological periods. In the Trélod syncline, rudists are visible in the Urgonian limestone. This limestone dates to the Early Cretaceous and formed around 120 to 130 million years ago. Trélod-Charbon, in turn, is one of the Bauges Massif’s most prominent elevated synclines. Its form resulted from the folding of a thick layer of limestone during the formation of the Alps, almost 20 million years ago. The two dates therefore refer to the age of the rock and the later formation of the fold.
Mont Trélod lies in the heart of the Bauges National Hunting and Wildlife Reserve, where remarkable fauna and flora can be observed. Check the regulations in force before setting out. Wildlife sightings are possible, not guaranteed: chamois and black grouse can be observed in the Charbonnet research zone when conditions allow.
Chalets du Golet and alpine farming
The Chalets du Golet consist of three buildings arranged across the contour lines. They are considered characteristic of chalets in the large mountain region and illustrate how their use has changed: historically, this type of chalet and its surroundings were associated with pastoral and agricultural activities; today, the chalets are used more for tourism than for grazing.
The Charbonnet alpine pasture is also an example of continued agricultural use. It has been used again since the 2000s. Several shepherds manage it jointly and are organised as a group or as members of the same family. Together, the chalets and the pasture illustrate two different but connected aspects of mountain farming: the built form and the organisation of work.
Access and trip planning
To reach the route to Mont Trélod, travel via La Compôte and the D60 to Doucy-en-Bauges. Bus route 30 goes to La Compôte; from there, an on-demand transport service can be used to reach Doucy-en-Bauges. Check the current timetable and the service’s availability before travelling.
Trélod-Charbon can be reached on foot from Bellecombe-en-Bauges via the Reposoir car park and Ecuries-devant, passing below the Dent des Portes. Charbon can also be reached from Doussard or Bellecombe-en-Bauges via the Col de Bornette and the Chalet de la Combe. As weather and trail conditions can affect access, take them into account when planning your trip.
Discover more destinations: Villaroger, Champagneux, La Ravoire, La Trinité, Voglans, Granier, Motz, Saint-Alban-Leysse.
For the broader travel overview: Savoie.
