Hiking in Le Petit-Bornand
From the hamlet trail to the Glières plateau: hikes from the campsite and around Glières-Val-de-Borne, with a map and checked figures.
Updated 4 November 2026
The campsite is in the heart of the village of Le Petit-Bornand-les-Glières, in the municipality of Glières-Val-de-Borne, at 676 m. Two waymarked trails pass right by it: the hamlet trail, an easy loop for families, and the Sentier des Patriotes, which climbs all the way to the Glières plateau.
Around the village the terrain rises quickly: every pasture and summit takes several hundred metres of climbing. For Lac de Lessy, the Pic de Jallouvre or the Col de Cenise, you drive to the car parks on the Route de Puze. For the plateau, you head up to the Col des Glières.
Each page gives the figures that at least two independent sources agree on, with its sources and the date they were checked. When sources disagree, we say so.
Map of the hikes and places
Red dot: the campsite. Click a dot to open its page.
Hikes and places, one by one
Hikes
Sentier des hameaux (hamlet trail)
Le Petit-Bornand's easy loop passes 30 m from the campsite: about 2 hr 30 of walking through Les Lignières, Morat, Beffay, Saxias and Le Villard.
- about 8 km (7.7 km in the guide, 8.1 km on the GPX track)
- about 2 hr 30 for the loop
- Waymarked; rated easy by the tourist office
0.3 km from the campsite as the crow flies
Sentier des Patriotes (Patriots' Trail)
The historic trail from the church in Le Petit-Bornand, 20 m from the campsite, to the Glières plateau: about 900 m of ascent via Outan and the Refuge de Spée.
- about +900 m to the plateau
- Demanding: experienced walkers
0 km from the campsite as the crow flies
Spée loop via Lavouillon and Outan
Loop from Le Petit-Bornand: Morat, the Lavouillon path up to the Tinnaz dairy chalet, the Col de Spée, the Refuge de Spée, back via Outan.
- about 13.5 km for the loop (measured on the track)
2.6 km from the campsite as the crow flies · detailed page coming soon
Lakes
Lac de Lessy
Mountain lake at 1,733 m below the Pic de Jallouvre, reachable on foot only: three routes from Cenise, Paradis or Mayse, above the campsite.
- about 8.5 km return via Cenise
- about +590 m via Cenise
- 3 hr 45 to 4 hr return via Cenise
3.9 km from the campsite as the crow flies
Summits
Pic de Jallouvre
The Pic de Jallouvre (2,408 m) towers over Lac de Lessy and Le Petit-Bornand. An exposed climb from Cenise, for experienced mountain walkers only.
- about +830 to +860 m
- Exposed sections: experienced mountain walkers with a head for heights
- 2,408 m
4.7 km from the campsite as the crow flies
Mont Lachat
Mont Lachat (2,023 m), above Thônes, is climbed via Le Suet from Saint-Jean-de-Sixt: a long hike with over 1,200 m of ascent, outside the municipality.
- about +1,200 to +1,300 m
- Long day with demanding sections: fit hikers
- 2,023 m
9.2 km from the campsite as the crow flies
Roche Parnal
A 1,896 m summit above Morat, via the Tinnaz chalets and the Col du Freu: about 1,050 m of ascent on a waymarked path.
- about +1,050 m
- 1,896 m
3.4 km from the campsite as the crow flies · detailed page coming soon
Mountain passes
Col de Cenise
The Col de Cenise (1,724 m), above the Cenise pastures: a short climb from the car park, and the starting area for Lac de Lessy, Sosay and the Jallouvre.
- 1,724 m
4.6 km from the campsite as the crow flies
Col de la Colombière
The Col de la Colombière (1,613 m), a Tour de France road pass between Le Grand-Bornand and Le Reposoir, closed in winter. About half an hour's drive from the campsite.
- By bike, the north side (from Cluses and Le Reposoir) is the hardest
- 1,613 m
6.5 km from the campsite as the crow flies
Col des Glières
The Col des Glières, gateway to the plateau: Gilioli's monument, the Mémoire du maquis centre, the discovery trail and Nordic skiing, 30 min from the campsite.
- around 1,400-1,450 m
6.4 km from the campsite as the crow flies
Mountain huts
Refuge de Spée
Staffed mountain hut at the foot of the Col de Spée, open all year by reservation, near the Sentier des Patriotes. 35 dormitory places.
2.1 km from the campsite as the crow flies · detailed page coming soon
Trailhead car parks
Petit-Bornand church car park
Start of the Sentier des Patriotes, by the church and about twenty metres from the campsite.
0 km from the campsite as the crow flies · detailed page coming soon
Cenise car park
At the end of the Puze road: start for the Col de Cenise, Lac de Lessy via the Col de Sosay and the Pic de Jallouvre.
3.2 km from the campsite as the crow flies · detailed page coming soon
Paradis car park
On the Puze road, start of the climb to Lac de Lessy via Paradis and the Col de la Forclaz.
2.1 km from the campsite as the crow flies · detailed page coming soon
Morat car park
Below the hamlet of Morat: start for the Roche Parnal via the Tinnaz chalets and the Col du Freu.
1.1 km from the campsite as the crow flies · detailed page coming soon
Forgeassoud-Dessus car park
In Saint-Jean-de-Sixt: start for Le Suet and Mont Lachat.
9.1 km from the campsite as the crow flies · detailed page coming soon
Recommended kit
- Closed hiking boots
- Water for the whole outing
- Rain jacket and a warm layer: mountain weather changes fast
- Sun protection
- IGN map or the tourist office's official GPX track
- Picnic and snacks
Safety tips
- Check the forecast before you go and turn back if a storm is forecast.
- Lac de Lessy and the Sentier des Patriotes are not strolls: allow for the time and level given.
- Above Morat, the Lavouillon path is steep and faint in places; a "dangerous path" sign has been reported there.
- Dogs on a lead: herds and livestock guardian dogs in the pastures.
- Stay on waymarked paths and close the cattle gates.
- Swimming in the Borne is unsupervised; below the Beffay dam the water can rise suddenly.
- Tell someone your route.
Any questions about a route or a starting point? Ask us at reception or write to us.
Frequently asked questions
Which hikes can you do on foot from the campsite?
Two waymarked trails pass right by the campsite: the hamlet trail, an easy loop of about 2 hr 30, and the Sentier des Patriotes, which climbs to the Glières plateau with about 900 m of ascent.
What is an easy family hike in Le Petit-Bornand?
The hamlet trail, from the campsite, is the municipality's family walk. By car, the discovery trail on the Glières plateau, about 5 km and almost flat from the pass, is the other big family outing.
Is Lac de Lessy suitable for children?
There is no road to the lake. The most direct route, via Cenise, has close to 600 m of ascent and takes about 4 hours return, rated difficult: keep it for children who are already good walkers. See our Lac de Lessy page.
Can you swim in Lac de Lessy?
No. According to the bylaw posted by the tourist office, swimming, fires and camping are banned at the lake.
Where can I find GPX tracks for the hikes?
The official route sheets and GPX tracks are published by the Faucigny-Glières tourist office. Every page on this site links to its sources.
Stay at Camping Les Marronniers
The campsite is in the heart of Le Petit-Bornand-les-Glières, in Glières-Val-de-Borne: 40 pitches by the Borne river, right at the start of the hamlet trail and the Sentier des Patriotes.
Book a pitch