Location: Village of Saxon on the left bank of the Rhône plain
Description: hike not too difficult to do in March when the apricot trees are in bloom
Total length: about 5 km
Walking time: about 2 hours
Elevation: +/- 342 meters
Altitude: between 524 and 805 meters
National hiking map 1: 50’000: 272 St Maurice
Best period: in March when the apricot trees are in bloom
Difficulty : T3
Itinerary
From the Saxon church car park, follow the main road towards Sapinhaut for 100 meters and turn left onto the Tovassière road. Continue uphill for approximately 150 meters and turn right to follow Chemin de la Marée. Follow uphill until the fork in the Chemin de Champassé which joins the Rte de Tovassière, continuing uphill until the sign “ô Fâya”. Follow this direction along the place called “la Combe Arrangée” for approximately 500 meters and 4 hairpin bends. At the height of a house on the right continue straight on following the Chemin de la Combe Arrangée through the apricot fields for approximately 1 km up to altitude point 777. Continue to climb, branching off to the left while crossing the apricot fields and follow until the forest which joins the Chemin de Bonatry to follow slightly uphill until the indication Champ Laurent. From this last point, the route goes down towards Saxon to the Torrent de Vella which we cross by a bridge and then we go up towards the Saxon Tower which we see throughout the hike and join Saxon.
Useful information
The majority of hikers do this hike in the other direction than this description. The route as described is easier, the climbs are less steep after Chemin de la Marée.
