The High Colombier

The Grand Colombier dominates the upper Rhone Valley, Lake Bourget and the town of Culoz in Ain. Tracks and hiking trails continue from its balcony pass over the Bugey mountains towards the Retord plateau. It is located in the natural region of Bugey.

At the top, you can contemplate many panoramas. You may see the Écluse gorge, the Jura mountains, the Vuache and the Salève, Lake Geneva and Geneva. Without forgetting that you can also see the Bernese Alps, the “Plateau des Glières”, the “Dents du Midi”, Lake Annecy, Semnoz and Parmelan. You can also observe the Aravis massif, Mont Blanc, Vanoise, Bauges. Or, observe, the Belledonne massif, the Chambaran massif, Lyon, or the Pilat massif. In good weather, it is also possible to see the Vercors, the Vans plateau and the Ardèche mountains, the Forez mountains and as far as Chasseral, in the Swiss Jura.

The Grand Colombier pass is located between the highest point and the Colombier cross (1,525 meters); the access road, on the Bugey side (from Artemare) has percentages of more than 20%.

The D 123 also crosses the Grand Colombier mountain to the north of the summit at Golet de la Biche at an altitude of 1,310 metres.