Hiking Trail: The Marcelly Loop

A mid-mountain trail, part of which runs along ridges, offering remarkable views of Lake Roy, the alpine pastures, the Mont Blanc massif, and the peaks of the Chablais.

The area around Lake Roy—a natural glacial lake—and the Gron alpine pasture are a paradise for marmots and chamois. Of course, the cows also enjoy the beauty of these surroundings during the summer grazing season. From the ridge, the view opens up onto the Giffre Valley, Le Môle, and the Aravis Mountains. The 360° panorama from the Pic de Marcelly is magnificent.

IGN Map 3429 ET (Bonneville / Cluses / Le Faucigny)

About 100 m from the parking lot, follow the signs for Lac de Roy.
1/ Once there, go around the lake on the left toward the “Frêtes de Penaille.” The trail becomes more exposed and begins to follow the ridges toward the Pointe de la Couennasse.
2/ To reach the Pic du Marcelly, which rises to 1,999 m, you can avoid the Pas de l’Âne—which is equipped with a cable—by skirting the summit to the north. This route is not recommended for young children due to some very exposed sections between the Frêtes de Penaille and the Pic de Marcelly.
3/ The return trip goes through the Gron mountain pasture.