Hiking Dent de Broc
My friend was in town so we wanted to do a hike where we didn’t have to get up too early coming from Lausanne, and maybe fit in a little more than just a hike. So I took her to Gruyères to see the castle and large rounds of cheese. After a coffee, we headed out of town and past all the cows in their autumn fields and up the mountain. This one is not easy you guys, but well worth it. If you want to summit Dent de Broc, you should bring via feratta gear with you and go on a day where the rocks are not covered in snow. This is also a great climbing area but obviously with a long approach. I do not recommend you starting in Broc because the trail is extremely steep and sketchy - unless you like that kind of thing.
Location: Start in Gruyères, Switzerland
Difficulty Level: Challenging - steep most of the time with some flat sections to catch your breath
Distance and Duration: 12.3 km / 7.7 mi
Accessibility: This is not an accessible route.
Elevation Gain: 1,061 m / 3480 ft
Trail Type: Point to point
Gear and Equipment: Bring everything you would for a half day/day hike. I recommend lunch and plenty of water.
Essentials: Always bring the 10 essentials!
Permits and Fees: No permits or entrance fees for hiking here.
Weather Check: This mountain is on the edge of the alps, so it often gets less severe weather. This is why we hiked here while the rest of the mountains were getting snow in the autumn. You can check here for a more accurate forecast, but Dent de Broc does not exist, so I gave you the next mountain over.
Trailhead Description: You will want to see the castle before you go, then you can descend towards the big river. Cross a covered bridge and you will see the trail signage.
Seasons: Late spring to early autumn.
Scenic Points: The views, a mountain refuge, the cross if you summit Dent de Broc.
Challenges: It is extremely steep and coming down is even steeper. Hiking poles are a must.
Wildlife Encounters: Birds, cows, sheep, goats.
