La Roche viewpoint, starting from Saint-Sauveur

West of Vizille, leave the D1091 and head up the Laffrey ramp (N 85). At point 423, turn right onto a small road that quickly leads to a car park at a place called Le Rif. It is possible to park a little further up, at the entrance to the hamlet of Saint-Sauveur, but spaces are very limited.

(S/E) Walk up the street, ignoring the roads branching off to the right, to reach the small square in Saint-Sauveur.

(1) At the edge of the hamlet, look for the start of a path heading westwards. Begin the climb, which is steep in places, before turning left to find a new path near an old low wall. Follow it to the right; it climbs quite steeply before joining a forest track at a place called Les Sources.

(2) Take a path opposite that cuts across a new track. It then becomes suddenly steep for 50 metres before continuing more gently to the right to rejoin the track crossed earlier. Follow it uphill to find, after three hairpin bends, a fork at the place known as Font de l'Homme.

(3) Then take a new path to the left. Steep at first, it soon levels out considerably, leading out above the Roche viewpoint. This viewpoint, protected by a barrier, is quickly reached via a few tight hairpin bends.

(4) Return to the path and continue southwards. Soon, a lovely trail takes over, winding its way down steep slopes. It eventually joins another path at a forest hut.

(5) Sometimes quite stony, it descends northwards where, after a detour to the right, it rejoins the start of the path passing through Font de l’Homme. Follow it down to quickly reach the track you have already encountered.
Follow it to the left for 100m before coming to the start of a path descending to the right.

(6) It descends gently before meeting another path running alongside the old low wall you passed on the way up. It then runs along the edge of the upper Festinière meadows and ends at the small square in Saint-Sauveur.

(1) Turn right and follow the route back in the opposite direction to return to the Rif car park (S/E).

Drinking water point in the hamlet of Saint-Sauveur.
(5) The hut is a pleasant shelter open to walkers.
Cars Régions bus stop at Notre-Dame-de-Mésage (junction with the Route de Saint-Sauveur), on the T90 route.
Between (1) and (2) and (3) and (6). Yellow markings with signposts.
Between (2) and (3). Unmarked section.
(6) The path from this point is unmarked, before rejoining the yellow markings at the fork by the old low wall.

The Church of Sainte-Marie and the Chapel of Saint-Firmin, situated below the Laffrey ramp, are well worth a visit.