Belledonne walks

A pretty lake in a rocky landscape, overlooking the Grésivaudan valley. From the lake, you can enjoy a magnificent panorama of the Chartreuse mountains.

A good hike in the crystalline Belledonne massif, the Combe Madame refuge is not very high up, but it provides access to areas for experienced and hardy mountaineers. Water is everywhere, lakes are nearby, wildlife inhabits the vertiginous slopes and hikers are treated to breathtaking views.

A classic hike in the heart of Belledonne, ending at one of the great lakes of Belledonne, outside the Sept Laux. Round trip hike.

A hike in the heart of nature on the outskirts of Grenoble. The trail takes you through woods to Lac Archard, where you can enjoy a leisurely stroll. Then, in a more open area, the path climbs up to the Robert Lakes.

A beautiful hike in the north of the Belledonne Massif. The ridge route offers sweeping views of the surrounding mountains. A few information boards mark the route.

This is a very pretty route through the mountain pastures to the Col de Claran, offering panoramic views of all the mountains in the Bauges and Chartreuse regions in particular, but also far beyond, as far as Mont Blanc and Mont Aiguille. The circuit is very well marked with traditional yellow signs and markings on the rocks at regular intervals.

Hiking with lakes and streams in the Belledonne mountains, parking thirty minutes from Grenoble.Important note: please take into account the opinions of hikers on this outing. These opinions can be found at the bottom of the page in the Comments and Discussions section.

A hike to reach a very pretty lake in the Belledonne mountain range. Best done in spring to see the lake and its snowfields.

A stone's throw from town and you're high in the mountains. But pay attention to the risks.

This short walk gives you an overview of the village and the Champagnier plateau. After the Saut du Moine, you can enjoy views of the Jarrie hillside with the Belledonne mountain range and the Chartreuse mountains in the background.

A lovely day's hike with breathtaking views of the Aiguilles de l'Argentière, offering plenty of refreshment thanks to a myriad of lakes and, in the background, the Aiguilles d'Arves and La Meije.

This is a magnificent circuit in the Belledonne massif that will take you to the shores of the Robert lakes, a site well known to skiers who visit the Chamrousse resort. The difficulty is not technical, but should be taken into account due to the steep slopes in places and the particular nature of this mountain range, which is often shrouded in fog.

This wild hike takes place in spectacular, uncrowded locations, with a good third of the route on a faint but obvious trail that presents no technical difficulties. There are many ibex and chamois as soon as you leave the marked trails, and it is easy to observe them if you set off early enough. A recommended alternative is to climb to the Pointe Centrale du Ferrouillet from the Col de la Brêche, which does not increase the difficulty (allow 30 minutes there and back).

We're going to walk on the ocean! Or how to tour a ski resort without seeing the slopes, but with a few beautiful lakes and a summit that is much more impressive than the famous Croix de Chamrousse.

A family walk through forests and meadows in the Belledonne Massif with superb panoramic views of the Grande Chartreuse Massif on one side and the Vanoise and Sept-Laux on the other.

Among the routes available near the city of Grenoble, here is a relatively short one with a reasonable elevation gain, which will give you an overview of the mountains surrounding the city. The route varies between forest and meadows.

This is a beautiful loop for a day trip in the Belledonne massif, with varied terrain and landscapes. The refuge can be a stopover for more alpine hikes.

Hike between lakes and mountains around the Refuge des Sept Laux.

This hike takes you to a series of lakes set like precious stones along the path from the Oursière waterfalls to the Col de la Pra, between wave-cut rocks and alpine flora. This route, which is partly off-trail, is particularly treacherous: there is no way to keep to a schedule, as the fascinating landscapes compel you to linger and contemplate. A small part of the route is off-trail but there are no difficulties with orientation.

This hike takes you to the Lacs des Sept Laux plateau from Le Pleynet. It is possible to stay overnight at the refuge.

This walk is ideal for mid-season and for discovering Belledonne from an intermediate altitude.

A pleasant hike in the Belledonne massif. Very pretty views and a wide variety of vegetation. Moderator's note (Caution): The Val Pelouse road is closed to all traffic 5.5km from the car park: following a landslide in January 2022, a large section of the road has been washed away.

A leisurely stroll in the hills above Herbeys with a magnificent view of the Vercors.

This is a beautiful, very easy walk through the forests surrounding Prapoutel, passing through various places such as the Pré de l'Arc and its holiday camp, the Gros Caillou, and the Chalet des Cortillets with its panoramic view of the Chartreuse Mountains and the Grésivaudan Valley.

This hike leaves the traditional, well-travelled tracks of the Arselle plateau to follow the domain's snowshoe trails and discover the steep, unmarked paths of the Lauze forest or along the cliffs of the Rocher de l'Homme. A wild landscape and magnificent views of the Romanche valley. The hike ends with a large loop in the Séchilienne forest to recover from your efforts. (Please read the practical information). Please note: in summer 2025, the fork at point 3 will be closed to traffic.

Well known to Grenoble residents, this hike offers superb views of all the surrounding mountains, including Chartreuse, Vercors, Grandes Rousses, Taillefer and Belledonne. As soon as you arrive at the top of the cable car, your gaze is drawn to La Meije, which looks so close.⚠️ This hike can only be done on foot from 30 June to 1 October ⚠️

A lovely hike in the Belledonne massif, allowing you to appreciate all the mountain levels, from forest to alpine meadows and up to the mineral levels of high altitude. From Pré Marcel, climb to the Refuge Jean Small Pass, then cross the Col de la Mine de Fer. Descend the opposite slope to Lac de Crop, then after a descent into its glacial cirque, reach the car park via a discreet path.There are several ravines and steep passages, some of which are secured by cables, before reaching the Refuge Jean Small Pass (altitude 1,950 m).

This is a magnificent, easy walk that takes you through many beautiful natural sites, with breathtaking views of the Grésivaudan valley and the Chartreuse mountains.

Starting from the village of Gleysin, from the Bourgeat Noire car park, this beautiful loop in Belledonne connects several iconic sites in the Haut Bréda valley.The route passes by the Chalet du Bout, then climbs up to the Croix du Léat, before descending to the peaceful Lac du Léat, ideal for a quiet bivouac with views of the Chartreuse and the Bauges. The route continues to the Refuge de l'Oule, a small, friendly alpine lodge where you can also spend the night, then descends back to the starting point. We did this hike over two days with a night at the lake, but it can also be done in a day for the more experienced. A beautiful and varied loop, between forests, alpine pastures, open ridges and wild waterways.

A beautiful family walk in the heart of the Belledonne forest, starting from the Prapoutel resort (Les Sept Laux). This easy walk can be done via several routes and paths, all leading to Pré de l'Arc, where it is impossible to get lost thanks to the clear signposting.

This superb circular hike in the Belledonne massif starts at the Muret car park. The route leads to Lac de la Coche, then crosses the slopes of Roches Jaunes before following the Ruisseau du Clétat and climbing the Col de L'Aigleton. It descends the steep opposite slope, passes the charming little Lacs du Vénétier, then climbs to the Col de la Jasse and reaches the Cime de la Jasse via the ridge. It drops down into the Vallon de la Jasse, passes over the crest of the Montagne de Bédina, and follows a wide track to Plan Cortillets. It crosses the forest to reach Gros Caillou and then Pré de l'Arc, finally taking a gently sloping forest track to complete the loop.

This magnificent circular hike begins with the fairly busy route from the Muret car park to the delightful Lac de la Coche. The trail becomes wild as it follows the GR®738 across the discreet eastern slope of the Belledonne mountain range. It passes under the Pointes du Sifflet, karstic cave de la Scia and Ferrouillet peaks, offering magnificent views of the Olle Valley and the eastern face of the Grand Pic de Belledonne. In a high-mountain mineral landscape, the trail crosses the Col de la Brèche Fendue to reach the Col de la Mine de Fer. Leaving the GR®, it descends towards the superb and popular Lac de Crop, then descends its lock and crosses the forest.

This hike in the Belledonne massif is a version of route no. 44130540, entitled "Le Col de la Mine de Fer et le Lac de Crop en boucle, à partir de Pré Marcel" (The Iron Mine Pass and Lake Crop loop, starting from Pré Marcel), which avoids the passage through the Bois de la Croix Blanche, where the abandoned trail, resembling an adventure course, may put some people off. This loop, starting from Pré Marcel, although shorter, covers the mountain levels, passing from forest to alpine meadows and high-altitude mineral levels, not to mention the magnificent Lac de Crop. From Pré Marcel, climb to the Refuge Jean small pass, then cross the Col de la Mine de Fer. Descend the opposite slope to Lac de Crop, then, after descending its glacial barrier, go around Montagne de Barlet to find the uphill trail and return to the Pré Marcel car park.

A very pretty hike in the Belledonne massif. A forest to climb in the cool, mountain pastures offering unobstructed views of the surrounding area and very pretty lakes that reward the effort it takes to get there. Raspberries and blueberries along the way in season, which is a nice bonus!

This magnificent loop trail starts at the Gâte car park and climbs through the woods to the viewpoint of the impressive and beautiful Cascade de l'Oursière waterfall, then follows the Ruisseau du Doménon stream through a welcoming grassy valley, ideal for a short rest before tackling the climb up a scree slope. At the top, you will find the stream again, which flows peacefully through an alpine meadow in a picture-postcard setting. Once you have crossed a valley, you will discover the charming Lac Merlat in a high mountain atmosphere. Take a short detour to the Refuge de la Pra before continuing on to admire the series of superb lakes: Claret, Longet, Bernard and Léama. After crossing a few rocky outcrops, you come to a cute little lake and then the three Robert Lakes at the foot of the Croix de Chamrousse. The descent from the Brèche Robert Nord leads to the Lac des Pourettes in a marshy basin and finally a passage through the forest brings you back to the car park.

This hike takes you on a loop around Lake Crozet, covering several types of terrain (scree, a mountain pass, forest, lakes). It does not present any significant technical difficulties (climbing, exposed passages), but there are some sections in full sun and a few steep slopes.

Loop between Prapoutel and Pipay, from the forest to the Balcon des Sept Laux trail, offering breathtaking views of the Chartreuse Massif and birds flying across the Belledonne sky. With a bit of luck, you may spot a bearded vulture, one of only four species of vulture in France, which is currently being reintroduced in the Alps.

A forest loop allows you to reach the Pont de la Betta, the starting point for a multitude of other hikes, while discovering the charming hamlet of Prabert and the magnificent Cascade des Avoux waterfall.

The start of the climb is very steep but rewarded by the view of the Sept Laux lakes and, at the top of the Pic de l'Agnelin, the Belle Étoile and the Cabottes on one side and Oisans and the Grandes Rousses on the other. From the point (1), there were no more traces, no more hikers, just pure bliss!