Hiking Trail: Doran via the Gypaète trail

This forest trail, with slightly steeper slopes than the classic route, offers coolness in summer and allows you to avoid the 4x4 vehicles. At the end, enjoy magnificent views of Pointe Percée, our “little Matterhorn” of the Aravis! An alpine pasture atmosphere worthy of Heidi.

Starting from Plan Chevallier, the Gypaète Trail offers an alternative to the classic route to reach the Doran mountain pasture. Steeper in places, this forest trail allows you to enjoy the coolness of the woodland in summer while staying away from the track used by 4x4 vehicles.

As you climb, the forest occasionally opens up to beautiful views over the Arve Valley and the Mont Blanc massif. The trail then gains height until it reaches the spectacular Doran cirque, dominated by the cliffs of Pointe Percée, the highest peak in the Aravis massif (2,750 m).

On arrival, take the time to discover the mountain pasture and its pastoral activity, particularly lively from June to September. The mountain farm, chapel and charming Doran mountain refuge invite you to linger and discover this authentic setting. Open and staffed in summer, the refuge welcomes hikers for meals and also offers overnight accommodation. You can buy cheeses produced on site at the farm. The shepherd also lends you the keys to visit the chapel, built by Scouts in the 1950s.

The mountain pasture is also closely linked to the history of the bearded vulture. The first birds were reintroduced in Haute-Savoie in 1987, followed by the creation of a second reintroduction site at Doran in 1999. A remarkable story that continues today in the mountains around Sallanches.

For the return journey, a loop via the forest track allows you to discover a different route and avoid descending along the steepest sections of the trail.

Start: Plan Chevallier car park

From the car park, you can either follow the road or take the Gypaète forest trail, which joins the road further on.
Continue along the road towards the hamlet of Outredière (889 m).
In the hamlet, follow the signpost marked “Doran par le sentier du Gypaète”.
Just before taking the trail on the left, take a moment to admire the Pierre à Voix in the distance.
Take the trail on the left, following the small signposts.
You will reach a junction at a place called “Les Pendants”. Continue along the Gypaète Trail. You can, however, take a short detour to the Pierre à Voix, about 10 minutes away.
Continue along this forest trail until you reach the next signpost, which indicates a left turn onto a dirt track climbing through the fields and then into the forest. The climb is quite steep, but there are plenty of opportunities to stop and admire the sweeping views over the Arve Valley. In the distance, the Mont Blanc massif dominates the landscape.
As you approach the chalets of Prés d’Outredière, the route turns sharply 90° left along the edge of a field. Follow the narrow trail, which crosses several streams and climbs in tight zigzags through the maple trees to the foot of the cliff.
A short traverse across the mountainside takes you to the Torrent de Dière (water catchment).

Warning: the footbridge is dismantled during the winter season. The “open/closed” status is indicated on the trail markers installed at the exit of the hamlet of Outredière.

Shortly after the footbridge, the trail continues to the right for a short distance before reaching the Doran cirque and its chalets.
For the return journey, we suggest taking a loop via the track used by 4x4 vehicles, allowing you to discover a different route.
On the plateau, shortly before reaching the destination, turn left towards Plan Chevallier and follow the forest track back to the starting car park.