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To the Golèse refuge

To the Golèse refuge_Samoëns
To the Golèse refuge

Description

This mountain bike route to the Golèse refuge is an unmissable classic around Samoëns: a steady climb, an unspoilt natural setting and a panoramic reward at the finish. Perfect for a sporty outing with a real mountain atmosphere.

Departing from the Plan des Arches parking lot, above the village of Samoëns, this mountain bike route takes you to the heart of an unspoilt Alpine environment, between forests, streams and mountain pastures. Accessible but sporty, it's a great way to discover the Haut-Giffre valley from a different angle.

From the Plan des Arches parking lot, take a well-marked forest track that gradually rises towards the Col de la Golèse.

The climb begins in the forest, on rolling but steady terrain, ideal for finding your rhythm. Before long, you're skirting the Clévieux torrent, bringing coolness and a typically alpine soundscape.

As the climb progresses, the vegetation opens up, giving way to alpine pastures. The landscape becomes more open, offering superb views over the Giffre valley. The slope remains constant all the way to the pass, requiring a good physical effort but no major technical difficulties.

The arrival at the Refuge de la Golèse (altitude approx. 1650 m) is well worth the effort:

panoramic view of the Giffre valley to the south
opening onto the Manche valley (Morzine) on the north side

Short stop at the Golèse refuge

Located right in the heart of the alpine pastures, the refuge is an ideal place to take a break, have something to eat or even spend the night.

Warm, authentic atmosphere
Mountain cuisine (hot dishes, Savoyard specialties)
Accommodation in dormitory or room

It's also a major hiking crossroads, crossed by several major itineraries such as the GR5.

Technical Information

Mountainbiking
Difficulty
Not specified
Duration
2h
Dist.
7.8 km
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Altimetric profile

Starting point

Parking Plan des Arches Village , 74340   Samoëns
Lat : 46.112516Lng : 6.750455

Points of interest

Date and time

  • From 01/05/2026 to 01/10/2026
  • From 01/05/2027 to 01/10/2027

Additional information

Open period

From 01/05 to 01/10 daily.

Subject to favorable snow and weather conditions.

Tips

You can make a 12 km loop by continuing in the direction of the Bostan refuge, count on about 3 hours.

Updated by

Office de Tourisme de Samoëns - 29/04/2026
www.samoens.com
Report a problem

Contact

Phone : 04 50 34 40 28

Email : infos@samoens.com

Type of land

Stone
Ground

Location complements

Departure point: Parking Le Plan aux Arches. From Samoëns, drive to "Les Moulins", then turn right onto the road to "Les Allamands". The parking lot is 800m after this village.

Topo guides and map references

Map references :
There is no specific map. Downloadable routes and GPX tracks are available on the destination website.

Reception complements

Gpx layouts given for information only.

Animals

No

Data author

Ratings and reviews

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Caution!
We have no information on the difficulty of this circuit. You may encounter some surprises along the way. Before you go, please feel free to inquire more and take all necessary precautions. Have a good trip! 🌳🥾