Servoz to Vaudagne Loop
7
Overall rating
Good
Length
9.6km
Elevation + / -
591m / 591m
Trail type
Loop
When to go
Mid Apr - End Oct
Hike duration
2.0 - 3.5 Hours
Altitude Range
803m / 1299m
Technical level
Moderate (3/5)
Natural beauty
Nice (3/5)
Run duration
1.0 - 1.5 Hours
Families
7+ Years old
Dogs
Dogs Allowed
Provision Sources
Only inside Servoz
Contributors:
XXX
This is a wonderful route for exploring the main sights at the town of Servoz and the hamlet of Vaudagne at the western end of the Chamonix Valley. We start at the town center of Servoz at the Eglise Saint-Loup, the main church of Servoz dating all the way back to 1537. From there we make our way to the very beautiful Chapelle Notre Dame du Lac at the southern end of Servoz. This is probably one of our favorite chapels in the Chamonix Valley, perched beautifully on a rock formation above the road. Next we complete our tour of cultural highlights of Servoz by visiting the Ruins of Chateau de Saint-Michel. There is not much left of the old castle but the ruins are nicely situated and there are information signs in French and English that can help bring the place to life. From there we start our climb up to Vaudagne passing by Les Mouilles. The hamlet of Vaudagne is beautifully situated and has a few very beautiful buildings including the old school building and the Chapelle de Vaudagne. We continue our climb up and enter the forest to the side of Vaudagne and head back north in the direction of Servoz. Along the way we will be passing by some old ruins at La Vernaz of which the origins we dont know. If you do know, then please tell us. From there we make our way down and make our way back to our starting point in Servoz. Overall, a fantastic walk with a great mix of cultural and natural highlights.
Photos of this Trail
We have a large library of pictures from in and around the Chamonix Valley. All pictures are categorized and geo location tagged. These are the pictures we have for this trail. Click on any picture to view it's details and location.
Trail Directions & Safety Considerations
Children
7+ Years old
Dogs
We recommend to keep your dog on a leash
When to Go
Mid Apr - End Oct
Risk Considerations & Difficulty Assessment
This route reaches an altitude of 1299m and should be snow free from mid April to the end of October but check the local conditions ahead of time. The trails are well marked and the major waypoints are all served by trail markers. The trails themselves are easy. The steepest part is coming down from Montcoutant and the ruins at La Venaz down to the landbridge over the highway at Le Chatelard. This path is quite steep and often covered in leaves. Be carefull here.
Trail Starting Point
The trail starts at the Eglise Saint-Loup in the center of Servoz. There is parking around the church. If you are coming by public transport then the Servoz train station is on the southern end of the town and then you can adjust the trail to first directly go to the Chapelle Notre Dame du Lac. If you are going by bus then there is a bus stop right at the church.
Trail Directions
From the Eglise Saint-Loup make your way to the main roundabout of Servoz where the La Sauvageonne restaurant is located. From there head south and take the long straight road towards the train station of Servoz. Right after the bridge over the river Arve, turn left towards the Chapelle Notre Dame de Lac. At the chapel, keep going straight and follow the signs for the Ruins de Chateau Saint-Michel. This will take you up a crest with some stair cases to the ruins. After viewing the ruins make your way down and head down the hill and you will see a trail marker for Vaudagne. Head in that direction. You will come across a trail marker telling you to turn right. This is the shortest possible route for reaching Vaudagne but our trail takes a different route. Keep going straight till you pass through a little industial area and then cross the main road and follow these trail markers for Vaudagne. This will take you up through Les Mouilles. Keep going uphill and follow the signs for Vaudagne. At the hamlet of Vaudagne, you can use a trail that runs through the hamlet and cuts off the zigzags of the main road. You will come across a trail marker that points in the direction of Mont Borel. Follow this sign which takes you through Les Bouchards. Follow the trail to Mont Borel and after that keep going to Montcoutant. From there simply follow the signs for Servoz. After crossing the highway you will make your way to the valley floor. Turn left here in the direction of Vieux Servoz. You will cross a bridge over the river Arve and then keep going straight till you reach the main street of Vieux Servoz. Turn right and head towards the church where you started the trail.
Points of Interest for this Trail
We have a large database of all of the points of interests in and around Chamonix. These are the points of interest you will find along this trail:
3D Map & GPS
Trail Route Map & GPS
You can download the GPX file and load this route into your own GPS enabled device or application. If you are on Strava, then you can open this route in Strava and save it to your account.
3D Map of this Trail
FATMAP in an incredible website and mobile application that you can use to view the trail in full 3D, do a fly over of the route and get a detailed vertical profile. You can view the FATMAP of this trail below and use the 'View larger map' link to visit the trail on the FATMAP website.
