Around the Carabotin woods

A pleasant, easy walk that alternates between spruce forest and open stretches with views of the Dauphiné hills or the Chartreuse mountains.

Details

1969740
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.79 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 284 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 283 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 865 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 581 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐
    Area: Dauphiné
  • ⚐ District: Merlas (38620)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 45.452502° / E 5.677559°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3233SB, 3333OT, 3333OTR
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

From Saint-Bueil, take the D49c to La Chapelle de Merlas. Park in the church car park at La Chapelle.

(S/E) Take the road heading south towards Merlas (D49c Route de Saint-Bueil).
At the first fork (crossroads), turn left up towards Merliette. At La Fagotière, turn left again. Continue to the junction with the Chemin Neuf.

(1) Ignore the path leading uphill to the left (which will be your return route) and continue along the road. Pass by the first cross.
Keep walking straight on until you reach a second cross. Then take the road on the left. Continue for another 80m.

(2) Leave the road and take the path on the left towards the Col des Mille Martyrs.
The remains of yellow markings show you the way. Continue to the junction in the Bois de Carabotin.

(3) Turn left. After 400m, you’ll emerge from the forest and see the Chartreuse massif ahead of you.
Head down to the D28 and follow it to the left for 200m.

(4) At the fork, turn left, then turn left again heading north.
Then take the first path on the left leading to a house. Just before the house, turn onto the path on the right.
Walk to the Croix de Saint-Roch.

(5) Head down to your left until you reach a clearing.

(6) Do not take the marked path that goes down to the right, but continue straight ahead.
The path is quite pleasant, wide and slopes gently downwards.
Reach the junction with Chemin Neuf.

(1) Take the road to the right and head for the church car park at a place called La Chapelle (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 581 m - Church car park at La Chapelle
  2. 1 : km 1.05 - alt. 679 m - Chemin Neuf junction
  3. 2 : km 2.29 - alt. 728 m - Path to the left
  4. 3 : km 3.34 - alt. 854 m - Bois de Carabotin junction
  5. 4 : km 4.44 - alt. 822 m - Fork
  6. 5 : km 5.74 - alt. 804 m - Cross of Saint Roch
  7. 6 : km 6.18 - alt. 729 m - Junction. Continue straight ahead.
  8. S/E : km 8.79 - alt. 582 m - Church car park at La Chapelle

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
kathyvisorando
kathyvisorando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 18, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk, though it does involve a long stretch along the road. On the way back, at point 701, a small turn-off to the right – marked by a small sign – means you don’t have to go back along the road as far as La Fagotière. It’s a much more pleasant path than the road. Beautiful scenery and pleasant paths.

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jean.brini@wanadoo.fr
jean.brini@wanadoo.fr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk. A short climb through the forest rewarded by a magnificent view of Cartourian.

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MarieMcl
MarieMcl

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route in autumn, really pleasant to run but quite a bit of road, especially in the first few kilometres (a quiet road). The route is truly beautiful.
Be careful at point 6: there’s an (unofficial) sign saying ‘Private property’ on the path the guide suggests taking. I preferred not to risk trespassing with my dog, so I stayed on the marked path, which is very steep and very stony. It’s good proprioceptive training whilst running, but for less experienced walkers it makes the route a bit more difficult, even though this section isn’t very long.
Thank you for this lovely route. On a sunny day in November, I didn’t come across a single soul.

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Marion_Migette
Marion_Migette

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, pleasant walk

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