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Three forest routes, all giving access to the Modane - Beaune section of the Sentier Balcon. They all visit the beautiful fir-tree forests above Orelle, Bonvillard and Le Villard. IGN 3534OT
Start
From St Michel, drive up to Orelle via Le Poucet and park on the right at the entrance of the village. Then walk into Orelle, turn left immediately, go past the post office and up a narrow winding street. The path starts at the end of the street, to the right. 1100m of ascent, about 3h30. There are ONF signposts everywhere.
Route
Turn right after 50m (signposted "Pré Nadiua"). The path climbs rather steeply between hedges, then on to grass and boulders before entering Bois Noir. After a few bends under the trees, the path comes out at the end of a wide forest trail (1650m). Walk down the trail towards the Raverotte bridge, in the next coomb to the east.
From the bridge, climb the steep dirt bank to the right and then traverse up in the forest to another wooden bridge (pont de la Balme). Walk up the steep grass slopes on the other side towards a renovated chalet up above. The views on the Sarrasins massif deserve a pause. Towards 1950m, reach the junction with the path that comes from Orelette. Turn right and walk up to the chapel. It is visible at the top of a crag (2055m). The trail behind the chapel is the sentier balcon. Going up the valley towards Plan Bouchet is not really recommended now, as the site has recently been spoilt by cable-car construction works and looks very much like a disaster area now. Let nature heal itself first.
To descend, go back on the same path, but do not turn left at the junction after the ruins of La Creuva. Go straight and traverse to Le Glacet, then Plan Luel and finally Orelette. Walk 200m down the road and find the path to Orelle. It runs almost parallel to the road. The lower slopes before Orelette are very steep and sustained.
Starting from Bonvillard, this route uses a short section of sentier balcon.
Start
Drive up to Bonvillard from Orelle. Before the village, turn right on to a trail and park about 300m after the first bend to the left. A path starts on the right. 900m of ascent, 3h.
Route
The route goes up gently to the first houses of La Turra. Turn left on to a path that does not figure on IGN. Walk up to Plan Gerbout and the Arponnets houses, where you will come out from under the trees. The next part is pathless: walk up the steep grass slopes above the Arponnets and reach the sentier balcon 200m above. Go right and reach the incongruous train tracks at the top of the pressure pipeline that goes down all the way to La Praz. The path then goes down to L'Arpont. Turn right again before reaching l'Arpont and go down, crossing the pipeline several times before reaching a bend in a trail. Turn right again (west), go past the houses in La Turra and back to the car above Bonvillard.
Start
From La Praz or St André, drive to Le Villard. A good trail then goes to Montruard. 900m of ascent, 3h
Route
From Montruard, walk between the houses and take a path that will cross a forest trail at map point 1543m. Cross the trail, walk up on a new path and turn left about 400m after the trail. The route traverses the St André forest, cutting across two other forest trails. 500m after the second trail, turn left (hard to see, do not miss it!) and start going up the Côte Plane coomb. You are on the sentier balcon. Shortly afterwards, there is a junction with the green-white path that comes from Plan de l'Ours. The route becomes steeper until it reaches l'Arligne, highest point in the first section of the sentier balcon (2350m). Magnificent views on the Sarrasins massif on the other side of the valley. Watch out for animals, they are numerous and do not see a lot of visitors.
The path then starts going down. At the first intersection, go left and down to Montruard, cutting across the Riamet trail once.