The Dinosaur Circuit

We recommend starting from Plagne around 10 a.m. to arrive at Lac Genin by noon and have your lunch break there! If you have time, don’t miss visiting at the end of the route the longest dinosaur footprint trail in the world: Dinoplagne®.

Hike description:
(Start/End) Park near the town hall of the village of Plagne.
A totem in front of the town hall indicates the departure. Follow the indicated direction, then continue straight along Rue de Beurria.

(1) Leave Rue de Beurria by taking the path indicated by a post on the left. After a few meters, you arrive at the reservoir junction. Cross the paved road and continue straight towards Lac Genin (1h50). After a few steps, a pretty view of the village of Echallon opens up to you. Continue the path to the left.

(2) At the junction, leave the path on your left which indicates Les Millières and Charix, and continue straight on this wide forest path towards Lac Genin via the Raverot.
Further on, leave two large tracks that go up on your left and continue on your path which slopes slightly to the right. A post indicates Lac Genin 1h30. A few steps further, another post indicates to continue on the main path, leaving a smaller path on your right.
Pass a post indicating the place called Raverot at 870m, and continue straight on your path.

(3) The main path turns slightly to the left, a place-name post indicates Le Pont 932m. After 5 minutes, a small hill followed by a small descent, you arrive at a junction where a post indicates Lac Genin by a trail on your right. Be careful with the markings, the trail is less visible here.

(4) After a little over fifteen minutes, you arrive at an open intersection, facing you is a commemorative plaque; you are at the place called the source du maquis. Take the very wide clear path on your left towards Lac Genin. 5 minutes later, you arrive at a small junction, continue the path to the left towards Lac Genin.

(5) In a bend, at the post for the place called centre aéré (829m), leave the main path to take a path that slopes slightly to the left towards Lac Genin. After a gentle climb of 5 minutes, you come out onto a road; continue the path on your left, a post indicates the direction to Dinoplagne®.

(6) The path splits into two, a post indicates to follow it to the right towards Dinoplagne®. 2 minutes later, a second post indicates to follow Dinoplagne® on your left. Continue on this path which runs alongside the road at times. At one point, you take a short section of it. Arriving at a small clearing, a post indicates to continue on a path to the left towards Dinoplagne®.

(7) You arrive at Lac Genin, the highlight of this hike. Head towards the lake inn. At the inn, do not go to the parking lot; take the road passing beside the inn (do not enter the parking). Then take the path behind the inn leading to the paved road overlooking it; you pass next to a house, then a little further a post again indicates Dinoplagne® - Plagne. Continue on this paved road for about 10 minutes.

(8) Leave the road; a post indicates a trail on the left towards Dinoplagne - Plagne. Beware, logging area, path often rough. Go right. A little further, a post indicates to take left. The path becomes less rough.

(9) You arrive at a junction with a wider path; the post indicates to follow it to the left towards Dinoplagne® - Plagne. Descend this pleasant path for about 12 minutes until a junction with a road.

(10) Take left and follow this paved road for about 5 minutes (at 100m do not take the path on your right leading to Charix). Then take the private forest road going up on the right towards Dinoplagne® - Plagne. Continue to climb this paved road until a large junction.

(11) Straight ahead, a post indicates Les Millières - Dinoplagne® - Plagne. You enter the woods again.

(12) You arrive at a junction of paths; a post signals to take right. Beware logging area, rough path. A little further, a second post indicates straight ahead Dinoplagne® - Plagne. A third post invites you to continue straight on the wide logging path.

(13) Leave the main path and follow right onto a smaller, more passable path towards Dinoplagne® - Plagne. After a small descent to the next directional post, continue on the path, then take right at the next post. At the bottom of a small descent, you arrive at a new small junction where a post indicates the right path. After about 20 minutes of walking, continue the path to the left towards Dinoplagne® – Plagne.

(14) You find a slightly wider path; take left. You leave the forest and arrive at an open view; take the path to the right towards Dinoplagne® - Plagne. Continue straight on the wide trail.

(15) Leave the trail to take left and join the road. Continue on this paved road towards Plagne. You pass in front of the entrance to the paleontological site with dinosaur footprints: Dinoplagne®.

(Start/End) Then leave the road and follow a Plagne village sign on the left side of the road. On your right, a clear view allows you to glimpse on clear days La Tournette (peak above Lake Annecy). You approach the village and find a paved road and the reservoir junction. You just have to return to the town hall by the same starting route!