Chalet du Gralet

The place

Sleeping capacity: 15. Spaces on mattresses: 19. This chalet is a former alpine-pasture farm with several compartments (3), one of which has sleeping platforms with mattresses and blankets. A large wood-burning stove, dishes available. A table, two benches. Axes and a saw. Firewood can be found nearby, though the supply is already modest. As for water, on a limestone ridge and outside the snowy season, it's best to bring your own reserve! A spectacular view over Lake Geneva and the city of Geneva, not to mention the Alps. A volunteer association manages the Gralet — see their linked website, which has a very interesting section on the chalet's history. The Péron town hall centralizes "bookings" to avoid overcrowding... rates (collection box in the wall), donated to the association: €5. The hut has a cistern to collect water in summer and a firewood store at the back. Mapping: IGN 1:25000 "Top 25," sheet 3328 OT (Crêt de la Neige). This shelter is ideally located near the main ridge of the Haut Jura and is approached either from the NE: Col de la Faucille (or Lélex), Crêt de la Neige, Reculet, or from the SW: Grand Crêt d'Eau (or Bellegarde), along the GR "Balcon du Léman" trail. The side approaches, from Saint-Jean-de-Gonville (E) or from Chézery-Forens (W), are less used, especially the latter, which ends with very steep slopes and small rock bands. The forest roads or tracks require very wide switchbacks... except perhaps on the Pays de Gex side, the "Sentier des Chèzerans," which starts from the village of Feigères, between Saint-Jean-de-Gonville and Péron. Commune of Péron, AG3 association (04 50 56 31 08)