The hike from the Le Lignon parking area to Refuge de Sales and back in Sixt-Fer-á-Cheval/Passy Nature Park, France is 11 k long with about 700 m of ascent and decent. I did this hike with some friends while we were visiting other friends who have a home in the area. My friends (and several of their friends) recommended this hike to me and after doing it, I can see why. This hike has gorgeous waterfalls, beautiful wildflowers, fantastic mountain views, an abundance of wildlife, and a hut at the top where you can get a hot lunch and a cold drink. Pretty much perfect!
Detail Summary
| Where: | Le Lignon Parking Lot to Refuge de Sales in Sixt-Fer-á-Cheval/Passy Nature Park, France Address: Le Lignon, 74740 Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, France |
| Train/Bus: | The closest town is Sixt-Fer-á-Cheval, France From there you can take the Summer Shuttle Rando’Bus to Le Lignon parking lot. We drove, so I can’t give much information about using this bus line. But we did see it running. |
| Car: | Zurich to Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, France -> 4 to 5 hours depending on traffic Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval -> Le Lignon Parking Lot – 15 minutes |
| What: | Le Lignon Parking Lot to Refuge de Sales in Sixt-Fer-á-Cheval/Passy Nature Park, France Trail Map Follow the signs for Refuge de Sales on the way up, then return the way you came by following the signs to Le Lignon. The linked map has the start (le Lignon) and goal (Refuge de Sales) of the hike marked. |
| Skill: | Medium – About 4 hrs Length 11 km, Ascent 700 m, Descent 700 m |
| Cost | No additional costs. |
Getting There
I was staying in nearby Verchaix with some friends. To start this hike, we drove to Sixt-Fer-á-Cheval and then up a twisty mountain road to the Le Lignon parking lot.
After using the WC by the parking lot, we found the signs pointing to Refuge de Sales, and we were on our way.
The Trail
The trail starts with a climb up through the forest. Some sweaty work, but after about a half-hour we started to get some fantastic views and we reached the first waterfall of the hike.
We stopped for a rest and to admire the falls for a bit before pressing on. There was some additional elevation gain and then the trail flattened out for a bit of a breather before we reached the next waterfall.
Then a steep climb up alongside the waterfall to reach more waterfalls!
Oh and the view back down the valley was also very beautiful!
A few more little waterfalls and a bit more of a climb and we were almost there.
When we reached the Refuge de Sales we stopped for lunch (quiche and salad, naturally) and a cold drink. Loved all the wild flowers blooming in this high valley!
After lunch, it was time to hike back down the trail to the car.
Getting Back
This is a there and back hike, so we simply retraced our steps back to the car following the signs to Le Lignon as we went. On the way down, I spent my time watching my feet so I wouldn’t slip on any loose rocks and when I could, admiring the views rather than taking photos. But, right after we left the Refuge de Sales we came across two Ibex and I of course took photos of them. One was standing on the rocks across the valley. The other was walking alongside our trail and then it climbed up along the rock face above the trail.
So cool to see these animals!
Thank you to the friends who hiked with me for making this such a great day and for sharing some of their photos with me to use in this post. And thank you to the friends who recommended this hike. This really was a perfect trail.
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