Short Hike to Baulet via the Roman Milestones – Walking Trail

Set out to climb Petit Croisse Baulet, and along the way, discover the famous Roman boundary stones.

Start the hike at the forest road in the Jorasse Forest. After a long stretch in the shade, the landscape will open up to reveal the surrounding mountains: the Aravis Range and the Mont Blanc Massif.
Once you reach the Chalet de l’Avenaz, you’ll have one last push before reaching the pass, then continue along a ridge trail to reach the Petit Croisse Baulet. You’ll enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the Mont Blanc massif and the Aravis Range, with the village of La Giettaz in the distance.

Starting from the Col de l’Avenaz, you’ll come across three Roman boundary stones. But what exactly is a Roman boundary stone?
A Roman boundary marker is an ancient structure embedded in the landscape that was used to demarcate the parish boundaries of municipalities.

Here is where the three Roman boundary markers are located along your route:

• The Col de l’Avenaz marker
• The Petit Croisse Baulet boundary stone
• The Col du Jaillet boundary stone

Please note that these boundary stones are located in the middle of nature and do not have any facilities or interpretive displays explaining their history.

To learn more about this topic, we recommend the book by the Cordon Heritage Association “Hier pour Demain,” titled “Des Bornes Romaines aux Alpages,” available for purchase at Cordon Tourisme.

Departmental signage on a beige metal sign with green lettering

IGN Map 3430ET - LA CLUSAZ LE GRAND-BORNAND
"Les Belvédères du Mont-Blanc" map on sale for €7 at the tourist office
Snowshoe and summer trail map from Cordon Tourisme

1/ Park at the Lezaive d'en Haut parking lot.
2/ Take the forest road on foot toward Les Plaines.
3/ Once you reach Les Plaines, follow the signs for Chalet de l’Avenaz.
4/ At the Chalets de l’Avenaz, head toward Col de l’Avenaz. Caution: the trail is a bit steep.
5/ At Col de l’Avenaz, you’ll find the first Roman milestone. Continue toward Petit Croisse Baulet to discover the second one, then continue on toward Col du Jaillet to find the third.
6/ To return to the Lezaive parking lot, head back down through the Pré du Col toward the Chalets de l’Avenaz. Follow the same trail you took on the way up, and you’ll arrive at the parking lot.