Hiking Aillon-Le-Jeune

One of the park's emblematic hikes, called the "Chemin des Crêtes", starts in Aillon-le-Jeune. It's a 14 km loop, offering around 4 hours' walking with a 600 m vertical drop. Following rocky slopes and grassy paths, hikers traverse this varied landscape until they reach the crests. At this point, the climb offers magnificent panoramic views. The route is relatively easy and leads all the way to the Carthusian monastery.

Weather permitting, why not come and explore this easily accessible tourist trail? It's an ideal half-day hike for children, lasting around two hours for the short version (otherwise, allow around four hours for the slightly longer version). The trail, which is both fun and partly forested, reveals some astonishing geological formations. But that's not all, as you can also enjoy magnificent panoramic views from the Leysse plateau, as well as alpine landscapes. The mountain reveals many facets, and on a clear day you can even see Mont Blanc. In any case, this hike offers a real journey back in time, to the era of tannes (chasms), dolines (circular hollows) and glacières, natural chasms where ice accumulated. This was particularly convenient for the inhabitants of Les Aillons, who used to cut up the ice and take it down by mule to sell it in town via the Col de la Verne. If you look carefully, you may still be able to see ice at the bottom of some of these chasms. In winter, the itinerary can also be covered on snowshoes or cross-country skis, but it's essential to follow the trail, as the holes and chasms are not as visible - and there are plenty of them in this region.