Above the Bourne via the Rochers du Ranc and the Goulandière

From Pont-en-Royans, head up the CD531 towards Villard-de-Lans, pass Choranche and, about 2.5 km further on, take the small road on the right that descends towards the Bournillon hydroelectric power station. As parking is prohibited before this point, continue to the car park just past the power station.

(S/E) Return to the road and cross the Bourne river until you reach the hairpin bend above the power station. Head north-east along the well-marked path “Au fil de la Bourne”, which climbs along the right bank of the Bourne, crosses a few streams and passes under a waterfall before ascending to the road at the entrance to the Arbois Tunnel. Take the old road to the right to the viewing point.

(1) Before reaching the tunnel exit, climb the steps overlooking the road and ascend via a path through the forest before crossing on level ground to the ruins of the hamlet of Le Ranc.

(2) Take the hairpin bend south-south-west onto the main path coming from La Balme de Rencurel and, after passing between some boulders, turn right at a cairn in front of a signpost indicating La Goulandière.

(3) Climb towards the cliffs along a well-marked path used by climbers, pass near a pond in the heart of the forest and reach the foot of the cliff. Head off to the right to explore the start of the climbing routes, marked by their names on a sealed pebble, then head left into the boxwood. Pass in front of the Grotte Bouleyre and reach a gully in a fault, allowing you to bypass the cliff via a steep track, the exit of which is aided by a handrail.

(4) Continue climbing north-west along the bottom of a valley where the slope levels off (cairns) until you reach a cross-country path, the^GRP® du Tour des Coulmes.
Leave this immediately to continue up the thalweg, where the trail becomes indistinct, until you reach the next cross-country path, marked in yellow and green.

(5) Turn right onto it to reach the Antis clearing.

(6) Continue along the path towards Rencurel beneath the road that descends and then climbs back up to the road further down. Cross the road and, after about a hundred metres, head down into the woods towards the road visible below and turn right to discover a sinkhole topped by an arch: Balme-Riendre.

(7) A path of fallen leaves allows you to walk back and forth beneath the arch. Return to the road heading west, then take the path you took earlier back to Les Antis.

(6) Walk up the Préletang Forest Road for 400 m and turn right into the forest to follow a faint track heading due west; it fades but leads to the hamlet of La Siva if you keep heading in the right direction.
If you’re worried about this short climb, which is more or less off-trail, you can stay on the forest road, which leads to the same place.

(8) From the hamlet, head down towards the south-west then turn south onto the signposted Discovery Trail which leads to the hamlet of La Goulandière and its refuge.

(9) Follow the signposted^GR®9trail south-west, which leads to the hamlet of La Petite Goulandière.

(10) Continue south to the Ranc viewpoint.

(11) From the viewpoint, follow the cliff edge westwards to the Pas du Ranc.

(12) Take the signposted path down a fairly steep gully that leads down the cliff, then continue along the path that veers left to descend eastwards at the foot of the Rochers du Ranc cliff.

(13) After this traverse, the path turns right to cross level in the other direction and finally descends towards the road to the Grotte de Choranche.

(14) At Les Cuilleriers, continue straight ahead along the small road which descends and then becomes a track leading to Le Sellier.

(15) The track turns left to join the CD531, which you should follow to the left for 150 m with caution!.

(16) At the junction, take the small road down to the Bournillon Power Station, which leads back to the car park (S/E).

Most of the route follows marked trails, mostly yellow and green as is typical throughout the Vercors. The sections between (3) and (5), and the climb to La Siva between (6) and (8), are unmarked and even include sections that are clearly off-trail, though the forest is not difficult to traverse.

It is best to tackle this circular route in dry weather, as some sections can be slippery when the ground is wet: the ascent of the gully at (4) and the descent from the Pas du Ranc at (12)

It is possible to shorten the circular path by continuing straight on at (3) to reach either La Goulandière or La Petite Goulandière directly.

Between (15) and (16): A detour normally allows you to avoid the road: after Le Sellier, at a right-hand bend, continue straight on along a path that cuts across meadows before descending to the road. From there, walk down 20 m along the road to find a level path heading east. It crosses the entire hillside to join the “Au fil de la Bourne” path further on, which you follow down to the right back to the car.
This alternative route is no longer recommended as the path is completely unmaintained and overgrown with brambles, making it barely passable even with secateurs!

Viewpoints at the Arbois tunnel and at Ranc

Balme-Riendre features a remarkable arch, the widest in the Vercors.

The history of the hamlets of La Siva (school) and Les Goulandières is explained by information boards which, unfortunately, have become difficult to read over time.