Hiking Trail: The Chapel of Jacquicourt

A very beautiful, well-marked hike, with the highlight being a visit to the Jacquicourt Chapel at the trail's highest point.

A wonderful way to explore the Loëx Plateau (pronounced “Loi”) and its peat bogs, which are protected as a biotope, just like a nature reserve.
This hike is informative both in terms of flora and fauna—featuring protected natural habitats, such as the famous “Drosera,” as well as rare wildlife, including the last remaining “capercaillies”—and culturally, with a visit to the Jacquicourt Chapel at the end of the hike!

50 Hikes in the Haut-Giffre Valley

Recommendation: Site designated as a biotope; same recommendations as for nature reserves

From the village of Verchaix, take a small road to the hamlet of “Le Frêne.”
At the edge of the hamlet, take the trail on the left that leads to “Plaigne d’Etry”.
At the entrance to this village, follow the path to the right, which, through a beautiful spruce forest,
leads you to a wide trail that you take to the right.
The path narrows again and, a few meters before the fork leading to the “Sonjeons” chalets, crosses a very pretty little dry-stone bridge.
Leave the path to the “Sonjeons” chalets on your left and take the one on the right that leads to the “Fetaz” chalets, then, a few minutes later, to the “Des Têtes” chalets.
Just above these chalets, you’ll reach a wide, vehicle-accessible road coming from Les Gets. Follow it to the right before turning left onto a forest trail (offering beautiful views of the valley and Mont Blanc) that leads to two small lakes.

Go around the lakes on the right and follow the trail to the Jacquicourt Chapel.
(View of Joux Plane and La Bourgeoise).

For the return trip, retrace your steps back to the wide road.
Turn left and follow it to its end.
Behind the “Le Pré du Four” chalet, take the path that descends into the forest.
Shortly after the ruins of a chalet, turn right onto a narrow trail leading to a hamlet.
Do not continue along the road; instead, take the path on the right that climbs up to another ruined chalet.
Turn left and follow the trail that passes in front of the chalet, leading to the hamlet of “Pralliou.”
From the hamlet, simply follow the road, which, after three hairpin turns, will take you back to Le Frêne and then to Verchaix.