Les Voirons – My Biking Problem

Les Voirons is the massif east of Geneva, and north-east of Mont Salève. It is a nice loop, primarily on gravel roads up excessive, but in addition on some trails. Loads of views of Lac Léman (Lake Geneva).

A 3D video:

Contemplating that I’ve cycled Mont Salève most likely 100 instances or extra, it’s loopy that I don’t know the subsequent mountain over very properly.

My Strava recommendation: Give attention to following adventurous cyclists that reside close by or the place chances are you’ll need to cycle. It makes for timeline stuffed with concepts.

This route was impressed by the good journey bicycle owner Chris White – his web-site Journey Far. On Strava, he rode a for much longer loop than mine – see right here – that included the gravel climb to Les Voirons. I received the map out, designed this simpler route centered round Les Voiron that features three cols, and the excessive level: Le Sign des Voirons (1480 metres).

I began in St-Cergues, heading up instantly. As soon as above the city, the hairpin-filled highway is what I’d name “previously paved.” Horrible situation. This trip just isn’t for a highway bike. At maybe 950 metres altitude, it turns into full gravel, and is closed to automobiles …. not that I noticed any under.

It’s not loopy steep, only a very satisfying, super-quiet, climb via a lightweight forest with views right here and there of the distant lake under.

A few kilometres from the summit I joined the principle paved highway. This results in a few monasteries, and a giant parking zone for the numerous mountaineering trails.

To get the right here by highway bike, you’ll want to climb Col de Saxel (943m) and precisely on the Col, observe the indicators and head a lot greater – it’s labeled on the map on this previous put up. I cycled the extension as soon as in ….. 2006!

Because the paved highway ended near however under the mountain’s summit, I jumped onto trails and first headed to the very highest level, Le Sign des Voirons (1480m), and loved the views.

Subsequent, was the spotlight of the trip for me. I adopted a great high quality path throughout the highest of the massif for a number of kilometres, passing three cols alongside the way in which – all labeled on the map. It’s wooded, however excessive and really rideable. A lot enjoyable.

I did a fast there/again to Col du Pralère and Notre Dame du Pralére – an Oratoire on a cliff lookout.

The best way down is initially powerful. An previous forestry highway with large ruts from rain, and climate, however it quickly turns into a giant fashionable gravel highway – no automobiles although. I descended decrease, however I had designed a path to by no means get too low, lastly climb up briefly to lastly rejoin the hairpins above St. Cergues again to the beginning.