Hike to Le Moléson for a Breathtaking 360° panoramic view
Starting in the village of Les Paccots, nestled in the foothills of Fribourg, this hikes ascends to Le Moléson peak with stunning 360° panoramic views to reward the climb. From Le Moléson the views stretch around you in every direction with rows of snowy mountain peaks of the Swiss Alps, the clear waters of Lake Geneva (Lac Leman), and the famous village of Gruyere with its ancient castle perching below.
| Location | Le Moléson, Fribourg |
| Start | Les Paccots – Les Rosalys |
| End | Moléson-sur-Gruyères |
| Distance | 15.3 km |
| Ascent | 1066 m |
| Decent | 1022 m |
| Difficulty | Medium |
| Season | Spring, Summer |
| Time | 5 h 40 mins |
Getting there
It takes around 1 hour 45 mins to reach to start from Geneva via public transport.
- Take the train from Geneva to Châtel-St-Denis. You might have to change trains.
- Then take the bus from Châtel-St-Denis straight to Les Paccots – Les Rosalys .
It is a slightly longer journey back, depending on the route take. It takes around 2 hours and 30 mins. Take the bus from Moléson sur Gruyere car park.
Hike description
The views on this trail get better as you go, crescendoing with a spectacular panorama from Le Moleson peak. Begin by taking the road from Les Paccots for about one km before starting the ascent through the pine tree forest.
The path emerges in alpine pastures, under the towering peak of Teysachaux. Climbing gently over the fields, the trail passes the Buvette Incrota offering refreshments and a suny terrace. The gravel path is popular with mountain bikers along this stretch, and wind around the base of the Moleson, with the Crete du Moleson towering above you to the East.
At Gros-Plane, take a sharp turn to the steep ascent towards the peak. In early May there was still some snow around but not too much to prevent the climb. The path enters a rocky bowl and you see the cable car station emerge above you as you continue to climb.
Eventually you break over the ridge and are rewarded with magnificent views in every direction, if you reach the summit on a clear day. In one direction, the historical village of Gruyere with its castle perched upon the hill surrounded by an undulating grassy landscape. Turn to view the dramatic snowy peaked mountains layer into the distance. The final vista offers a view along the mountain ridge and out the shore of Lake Geneva (Lac Leman) that stretches as far as the eye can see. In summer months the cablecar station has a returatnt providing the perfect spot to sit and soak in the breathtaking views.
When it is time to head down, take the ridge a short way before taking a sharp left to head down into the valley. The alpine pastures here are bursting with crocuses in the spring time. Continue to wind down into the valley until you join the stony road that takes you to the Moleson sur Gruyere finish, where you can enjoy some of the many activities on offer or refreshment options.
The route
Gallery
