Hiking Switzerland and the Swiss Alps, Segment 29

Swiss Alpine Panorama Trail, Segment 29 – Chavannes-de-Bogis to Genéve.

Length: 17 miles (27 km);

Hiking Time: 6.5 h;

Ascent: 925 ft (280 m);

Descent: 1,200 ft (360 m);

Fitness Level: Hard.

Swiss Alpine Panorama Trail, Segment 29, #1 – Chavannes-de-Bogis to Genéve. The trail essentially begins on the French border near the Lac de Divonne. Although several hike descriptions talk about visiting Lac de Divonne, my maps show this lake entirely within the country of France. The first road the trail crossed had an active border crossing, Chavannes-de-Bois had a random border check in town and the final crossing to France at Sauverny was wide open.

Swiss Alpine Panorama Trail, Segment 29, #2 – Chavannes-de-Bogis to Genéve. Review of the whole hike – Chavannes-de-Bogis, border patrol.

Swiss Alpine Panorama Trail, Segment 29, #3 – Chavannes-de-Bogis to Genéve. About halfway through this final stage, the trail turns back toward Lake Geneva with the Versoix River. The first town crossed is Richelien. A few more farms before the medieval town of Genthod where the Genthod-Bellevue railway station is located. Genthod is another location where the whole town is listed as a Swiss Heritage site. Several buildings are of significance. I mentioned twice on video that this town seemed like the most low-key wealthiest town I’d ever been through. The official start of Chateau Row, as I call it.

Starting the Swiss Alpine Panorama Trail

Swiss Alpine Panorama Trail, Segment 29, #4 – Chavannes-de-Bogis to Genéve. The trail walks through several suburbs, past the airport, past the WHO and finally hits the lake. If you are near the airport, realize that CERN with the Hadron Particle Collider is just on the other side of these runways.

Swiss Alpine Panorama Trail, Segment 29, #5 – Chavannes-de-Bogis to Genéve. The Chateau de Penthes is now a museum of Swiss emigration & its impact on the world.

Swiss Alpine Panorama Trail, Segment 29, #6 – Chavannes-de-Bogis to Genéve. This is the park system along Lake Geneva and behind the World Trade Organization building.

Swiss Alpine Panorama Trail, Segment 29, #7 – Chavannes-de-Bogis to Genéve. Geneva has an extensive old town with over 80 buildings listed as Swiss Heritage Sites. If this is not enough, Geneva’s lakefront is world known and creates the starting point for the Rhöne River.