This challenging hike starts at Lake Retaud, near the Col du Pillon. The route takes you through Isenau, then along the slopes of La Chaux, winding through the Arpille mountain pastures and crossing the avalanche barriers before climbing to the summit, where you can enjoy a 360-degree view.
The hike to the summit of La Para is a demanding route and is only suitable for people who are comfortable walking on mountain trails. It takes around 5 hours to make the round trip from Lac Retaud, but it is also possible to follow other routes from the village or the Marnex mountain pasture.
Starting from Lac Retaud, the first trail takes you towards Isenau. At the edge of the forest, a fork in the trail allows you to either head to the Terrasse d'Isenau or continue towards La Marnèche, where you will also find a refreshment bar. You will cross the mountain pasture, following the road that continues to climb towards La Palette. After passing through Isenau, the road ends at the Chalet d'Isenau, where you can buy Isenau cheese. Continuing a few metres further up, still following the road, you will find a path on the left leading up the mountainside.
After skirting the slopes of La Chaux and crossing pastures along a narrow, vertiginous path, you will come out onto the Arpille mountain pasture. Several paths lead to the Col de Seron, the Combe d'Arpillette and La Chaux or La Cape au Moine and, on the left-hand side, La Para. You then take a route that winds through an alpine pasture with small plateaus and passes close to a weather station antenna. You begin to walk along a cliff towards the avalanche barriers, which you cross as you leave the pastures.
The trail then takes you up a steep slope on the grassy slopes of the mountain towards the summit. Other sheep may be grazing on this grassy area. The last stretch is even steeper, but you will then reach the summit at an altitude of 2,540 metres. From there, you can enjoy a breathtaking 360-degree view of the Diablerets massif, the Bernese Alps, the Chablais and the Ormonts valley. On a clear day, you can even see the summit of Mont Blanc.
The summit is a small, flatter platform with another antenna. You can stop here for a picnic and enjoy the view before starting your descent.
When you pass the avalanche barriers again, you can cross to the other side of the slope to reach the Col de Seron before returning to Arpille: a breathtaking view opens up over L'Etivaz. You then wind your way down to the bottom of the valley to reach Arpille, and take the same path back to Lac Retaud.
