Fribourg Canton, Châtel-Saint-Denis.
Distance: 6.82 km.
Elevation gain: 298m.
Walking time: 2h 7min.
Access: Car.
Parking: Ski lift Rathvel parking, Route du Moléson 107a
A scenic hike with a small elevation gain. The views extend towards le Moléson, Teysachaux, lake Léman & the pre-alps around. We saw plenty of wild flowers everywhere, making the walk even more enjoyable. We carried our toddler on the incline but he managed to walk the rest of the route himself. We came across other hikers and other kids in their backpacks. We saw cows, butterflies and bumble bees flying around the flowers.
There is a play park and a few animals at the restaurant La Cabane du Petit Oiseau, which is near the parking. There are a few picnic / BBQ sites near the single way road (the start) and a few benches at the top of Niremont.
During our hike we also came across signage for "Sentiers Gourmand", which could be a lovely idea for an active lunch!
The loop does not follow a numbered hiking route, but a recommendation from Les-Paccots tourist website. The picturesque views and surrounding flowers felt like we found a hiking gem amongst the pre-alps. The path varies between a single way road and meadow routes. Starting the path from the Southern part of the loop allows a smoother and more panoramic incline. There were a few cars, which passed us as we started following the road; but as soon as we went up a narrow path up the fields it suddenly got very quiet. We found walking amongst all of those wild flowers very joyful. The top of Niremont offers 360 degree view in all directions, which is just perfect! The route back felt quite steep and mostly covered by trees.
Useful apps for this hike:
- Picture this: to identify plants
- Switzerland Mobility: for hiking trail map
- Peak Lens: for identifying the mountains
This path can be viewed on Les-Paccots tourist website here. The routes we followed can be viewed at SchweizMobil website here. A few of the gourmand hikes can be found on Les-Paccots tourist website here.
