Free
GR® de Pays Littoral du Léman
Saint-Gingolph
GR® de Pays du Littoral du Léman: 50 km in four stages from Saint-Gingolph to Champanges via Meillerie and Évian, on panoramic balconies above the lake.
Free · Open access
ViaRhôna Haute-Savoie
145 km in Haute-Savoie along EuroVelo 17, the ViaRhôna: from Lake Léman at Saint-Gingolph to the Rhône at Seyssel, passing through Évian, Thonon, Bonneville, Cluses and Sallanches.
Joelgrandcollot · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
Type
International cycle route (EV17) - greenways plus shared roads
Access
Free · Open access
Price
Free year-round
Duration
3-4 days for the whole route · stages possible
Best season
April-October · year-round at low altitude
Parking
Free at main access points (stations, tourist offices)
Animals
Leashed dogs allowed
Stroller / Reduced mobility
Partial (yes on greenways, no on shared roads)
Town
Saint-Gingolph à Seyssel (15+ communes 74)
What is ViaRhôna Haute-Savoie
The ViaRhôna Haute-Savoie is the Haute-Savoie section of EuroVelo 17 (EV17), the international cycle route linking Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean over 815 km in total. According to the Conseil départemental, Haute-Savoie counts 145 km between Saint-Gingolph and Seyssel. The route is a mix of dedicated greenways (around 60%) and low-traffic shared roads (around 40%), fully signposted with the ViaRhôna logo and the EV17 EuroVelo symbol.
The main Haute-Savoie stages are: 1) Saint-Gingolph to Thonon-les-Bains (30 km via Évian-les-Bains, shared road and a 2 km greenway into Thonon); 2) Thonon to Chens-sur-Léman (26 km through the Bas-Chablais via the medieval village of Yvoire); 3) Chens to Annemasse, then south through Annecy, Cluses, Sallanches and Seyssel - connecting with the V61 'Léman au Mont-Blanc' route around Cluses.
Free access all year. Difficulty: easy. Distance: 145 km Haute-Savoie section, around 2-3 days by bike. Best season: April to October. Mostly accessible for visitors with reduced mobility on the greenway sections; shared roads require road-legal bikes. Free parking at the main waypoints.
Activities
What you can do here
Practical
Practical information
Address
Recommended start: Saint-Gingolph (Franco-Swiss border, south shore of Léman), Évian-les-Bains or Thonon-les-Bains · Finish: Seyssel (74910), confluence with the Rhône View on map
Coordinates
46.3917° N · 6.8056° E (Saint-Gingolph start)
Altitude
374 m (Léman) to 350 m (Seyssel) · hilly in places
Opening hours
OPEN ACCESS 24/7, year-round on the ViaRhôna Haute-Savoie. Greenways lit in urban areas. Footbridges and structures accessible at any hour. Checked on viarhona.com and hautesavoie.fr on 24 May 2026 — subject to seasonal changes.
Prices
FREE AND OPEN ACCESS to the ViaRhôna Haute-Savoie for all users and all purposes, year-round. No toll, no usage fee. Paid bike rental €15-35/day at main access points. Checked 24 May 2026.
Booking
No booking required for the ViaRhôna Haute-Savoie. Free official map available for download at viarhona.com. Electric bike rental booking recommended June-August. Checked 24 May 2026.
Parking
Free parking at the SNCF stations of Thonon-les-Bains, Évian-les-Bains, Bonneville, Cluses, Sallanches, Saint-Pierre-en-Faucigny — all accessible from the ViaRhôna Haute-Savoie. Municipal car parks at every stage.
Pets
Leashed dogs allowed on the ViaRhôna Haute-Savoie. Take care on shared-road sections (moving traffic).
Accessibility
The ViaRhôna Haute-Savoie is partially wheelchair-accessible: dedicated greenways (~60% of the route) accessible to wheelchairs and strollers. Shared roads (~40%) are not guaranteed accessible. The Cluses-Sallanches stage, 16 km, is entirely accessible. Checked 24 May 2026.
Time needed
Full ViaRhôna Haute-Savoie, 145 km: 3-4 leisurely cycling days. Saint-Gingolph-Thonon stage, 30 km: 1 day. Cluses-Sallanches stage, 16 km: half-day.
Contact
Haute-Savoie departmental council +33 (0)4 50 33 50 00 · hautesavoie.fr. Official ViaRhôna site viarhona.com. Thonon tourist office +33 (0)4 50 71 55 55. Checked 24 May 2026.
Access
How to get there
By car
Start at Saint-Gingolph via D1005 from Geneva (50 min, 50 km) or Thonon-les-Bains (20 min, 20 km). Intermediate access points at Évian, Thonon, Bonneville, Cluses, Sallanches via dedicated A40 exits. Free parking at SNCF stations.
Open in MapsPublic transport
Léman Express (the Franco-Swiss regional rail service) serves Saint-Gingolph, Évian, Thonon, Bons-en-Chablais, Annemasse, Bonneville — all stations are immediately adjacent to the ViaRhôna Haute-Savoie. Bikes carried free on trains.
Open in MapsBy bike
The ViaRhôna Haute-Savoie is itself the main cycling axis. Connections: Véloroute V61 Léman-Mont-Blanc at Sallanches, Genevois greenway at Annemasse, Tour du Léman by bike on the Swiss side, EV17 on the Savoie side at Seyssel.
Open in MapsParking
Free at main access points (stations, tourist offices)
- Free · 311 m · Go →
Parking checked on 2026-06-15 · © les contributeurs d'OpenStreetMap sous licence ODbL
When to visit
When to visit
The ViaRhôna Haute-Savoie can be ridden year-round with free, open access. Spring (April-June): optimal conditions for cycle touring — mild temperatures, low crowds, lush scenery. Summer (July-August): high tourist season, the Léman stages are very busy (cyclists plus swimmers), best to set off early in the morning. Autumn (September-October): spectacular colours, moderate traffic, grape harvest along the Rhône at Seyssel. Winter (November-March): the ViaRhôna is open but temperatures are low, with frequent fog in the Arve valley — the Léman section is milder. THE HAUTE-SAVOIE SECTION of EUROVELO 17 (EV17), which links Léman to the Mediterranean over 815 km in total. 145 KM IN HAUTE-SAVOIE according to the official hautesavoie.fr — the longest cycle route in the department. A MIX OF GREENWAYS (~60% dedicated, wheelchair-accessible) AND SHARED ROADS (~40%, electric bikes recommended). 6 MAJOR STAGES crossing every landscape of the 74: along Léman (Saint-Gingolph, Évian, Thonon, Yvoire, Excenevex), the agricultural Bas-Chablais, the Genevois, the Arve valley — industrial then touristic (Bonneville, Cluses, Sallanches). SEYSSEL-MOTZ FOOTBRIDGE inaugurated 4 MAY 2024 (98 m, a major structure). FOOTBRIDGE OVER THE ARVE at Cluses-Sallanches (stage opened December 2019). LINK TO V61 LÉMAN-MONT-BLANC at Sallanches to continue towards Chamonix (50 km).
Events : Annual ViaRhôna Festival in June-July (events along the route). Léman Express cycling rides organised by CD74. ViaRhôna Marathon cycling races. Full calendar at viarhona.com and hautesavoie.fr.
Winter
Winter season
Winter access window
Not specified
Winter infrastructure
Not specified
Snow panorama
Not specified
Equipment mandated
Loi Montagne II — winter tyres or chains required (1 Nov – 31 Mar)
Nearby
Where to eat, drink, stay
Photos
Gallery
Been there? Share your photos — we'll add them to this page with credit. Tag #loisirs74 or email photos@loisirs74.fr
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is access to the ViaRhôna Haute-Savoie paid?
No. Access to the ViaRhôna Haute-Savoie is free and open 24/7, year-round, for all users. No toll, no usage fee. Free official map available for download at viarhona.com.
How long is the ViaRhôna Haute-Savoie?
According to hautesavoie.fr, the ViaRhôna Haute-Savoie covers 145 km between Saint-Gingolph (south shore of Léman) and Seyssel (Rhône). The northern section of the EV17 EuroVelo Léman-Mediterranean route (815 km total).
What are the main stages of the ViaRhôna Haute-Savoie?
The ViaRhôna Haute-Savoie in 6 stages: Saint-Gingolph → Thonon (30 km), Thonon → Chens-sur-Léman (26 km), Annemasse → Bonneville (12 km), Bonneville → Cluses (16 km), Cluses → Sallanches (16 km), Vulbens → Seyssel.
Is the ViaRhôna Haute-Savoie accessible to wheelchairs?
Partially. The ViaRhôna Haute-Savoie is wheelchair-accessible on the ~60% of the route that runs on dedicated greenways. The ~40% on shared roads is not guaranteed accessible. The Cluses-Sallanches stage, 16 km, is entirely accessible.
When did the Seyssel-Motz footbridge on the ViaRhôna Haute-Savoie open?
The Seyssel-Motz footbridge on the ViaRhôna Haute-Savoie was inaugurated on 4 May 2024 (98 m long). According to savoie.fr, it allows safe crossing of the Fier river on foot or by bike, ensuring continuity between 74 and 73.
How many days does it take to ride the entire ViaRhôna Haute-Savoie?
Allow 3 to 4 leisurely cycling days for the full 145 km of the ViaRhôna Haute-Savoie. Daily stages are possible depending on the cyclist's fitness. An electric bike is recommended for the hillier sections.
What sites can I visit along the ViaRhôna Haute-Savoie?
The ViaRhôna Haute-Savoie passes through Évian-les-Bains (thermal baths), Thonon-les-Bains (Château de Ripaille, Tour des Langues), Yvoire (medieval village), Excenevex (beach), Sallanches (Château des Rubins).
How do I continue the ViaRhôna Haute-Savoie towards Mont-Blanc?
At Sallanches, the ViaRhôna Haute-Savoie connects to the Véloroute V61 Léman-Mont-Blanc to reach Chamonix (50 km on the 74 side). A complete cycling network across the Arve valley — Mont-Blanc reachable by bike.
Featured in our selections
Sources
Sources & verification
Multi-source verification at publication. Information may change — confirm with the official operator before travelling.
Nearby
Nearby
Other places to explore in the area and in the same category
Free
Free
Plage Municipale de Saint-Gingolph
Saint-Gingolph
Blue Flag 2026, a first (Teragir ranking, first year). The last French village before Switzerland, on the Franco-Swiss border. Peaceful, away from the crowds.
Paid
Léman Forest
Saint-Gingolph
Franco-Swiss tree-climbing park at Saint-Gingolph: 10 courses, 140 challenges, smugglers' zip-line and outdoor laser game. From age 2, 20 min from Évian.
Free
Chablais Greenway (Abondance Valley)
Abondance
Former railway converted into a greenway in the Abondance Valley: ~22 km of gentle path, ideal for family cycling, walking and prams.
Free
Arve Valley Cycle Route
Cluses
40 km of greenway from Bonneville to Sallanches via Cluses on the V61 Lake Geneva-Mont-Blanc route. Arve footbridge opened December 2019, smooth asphalt, flat.
Free
Arve Riverside Walk Cluses-Thyez
Cluses
5 km family loop along the Arve between Cluses and Thyez, leading to a leisure lake at the end - flat, wheelchair-accessible greenway in Haute-Savoie.