Col de Cenise: hike from Le Petit-Bornand (Glières-Val-de-Borne)

The Col de Cenise, at 1,724 m, opens above the Cenise mountain pastures, at the top of the Petit-Bornand valley. You get there along the Route de Puze, which starts in the village, to the Cenise car park and chalets, then on foot. On the far side, the pass drops towards Mont-Saxonnex.

A short climb from Cenise

From the Cenise chalets, a waymarked path climbs to the pass: it is one of the simplest outings in the area to gain some height without committing to a full day. On the Mont-Saxonnex side, Camptocamp also describes a route from Morsullaz, which it presents as a beginner's hike.

The crossroads of the Jallouvre hikes

Above all, Cenise is where the valley's big hikes begin. From the same car park you reach the Col de Sosay in about 1 hr 20 (the time given both by the signposts and by Camptocamp), then Lac de Lessy at 1,733 m: allow close to 600 m of ascent and a little under 4 hours return, rated difficult. Experienced mountain walkers also set off from here for the Pic de Jallouvre, via the Combe de Sosay and the Col du Rasoir.

In winter and by bike

In winter, Visorando suggests a snowshoe climb to the pass from the upper Puze area, only when the snowpack is stable and conditions are known. In summer, the 1000 Borne Caffè bike café in Entremont runs a guided e-bike ride up to Cenise, called "Remonte ton col, Cenise!".

From the campsite

The Cenise car park is a little under 9 km by road from the campsite. It is a mountain road: drive carefully. Bring your picnic for lunch: we could not confirm that any hut or snack bar at the pass is open in 2026.