Col du Glandon - Col de la Croix de Fer circular

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A lovely, easy hike through the mountain pastures at high altitude, between two legendary Tour de France passes.

Details

n°162028
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.78 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 453 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 453 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,273 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,892 m
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Photos

Rock thrush
Aiguilles de l'Argentière
Marmotte
Aiguilles de l'Argentière

Description of the walk

The route is easy, well marked and well signposted. The clear view across the vast pastures makes it easy to find your way.

Yellow markings on a green background on wooden signposts, direction "Col du Bellard"

(S) From the car park, cross the road. Two paths lead up through the pastures. Take the one on the right. It climbs then descends slightly into a small valley.

(1) Follow the signs for "Col du Bellard". The clearly visible trail crosses the valley towards the east and then climbs the slope to reach the plateau.

(2) "Les Chérennes": follow the signs for "Col du Bellard". Continue along the plateau until the slope breaks (the route is slightly offset from the purple line on the 1:25,000 map but follows the route as visible when zooming in).

Unmarked area

(3) Once you reach the edge of the plateau, there is no need to go all the way to the Col du Bellard and its ski lifts. On the opposite side of the Longe-Combe valley, look for the start of the path that climbs gently towards the boundary between the pasture and the rocky area. Descend off-trail to this starting point on the path (the route shown here is for guidance only).

(4) Follow this path, which climbs gently to overlook the rocky area. You will reach the ridge used by the Eau d'Olle chairlift.

(5) Turn right and climb up the ridge below the chairlift.

Follow the signs for "Col du Glandon"

(6) At the signpost, follow the direction "Col de la Croix de Fer". The path descends. At the Truchet ruins, follow the balcony path on the right.

(7) At Col de la Croix de Fer, cross the road. Descend the path marked "Col du Glandon" on the signs for hikers. At Chalets d'Olle (sign), follow the path that goes around them on the left.

(8) Cross the stream at the Eau d'Olle chairlift. The trail then crosses the Vallon stream. A footbridge allows you to cross back to the right bank. At the "Les Ribauds" sign, follow "Col du Glandon". Follow the path to reach the "Chalet du Glandon" bar-restaurant. Walk up the D927 for 200 m to reach the pass car park.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,925 m - Parking - Col du Glandon
  2. 1 : km 0.94 - alt. 1,987 m - Les Fraîches, sign
  3. 2 : km 2.24 - alt. 2,213 m - "Les Chérennes", sign
  4. 3 : km 3.09 - alt. 2,240 m - Break in gradient - Col de Bellard (2233m)
  5. 4 : km 3.38 - alt. 2,177 m - Start of the trail
  6. 5 : km 4.01 - alt. 2,254 m - Crête
  7. 6 : km 4.13 - alt. 2,273 m - Les Chansures, sign
  8. 7 : km 5.79 - alt. 2,067 m - Col de la Croix-de-Fer
  9. 8 : km 6.71 - alt. 1,950 m - Cross the - Eau d'Olle (torrent)
  10. S/E : km 8.78 - alt. 1,925 m - Parking at the start

Notes

- There is a bar-restaurant at each pass

- The passes are closed in winter and only open from May or June onwards. See itinisere.fr.

Worth a visit

At both passes, a tourist sign displays three hiking routes:
* Green circular: tour of the three lakes, 5 hours, elevation gain 466 m, from Croix de Fer to Refuge de l'Etendard and Lac Blanc.
* Orange circular: Longe Combe circular, 2 hours 10 minutes, elevation gain = 275 m, from Croix de Fer to Col de Bellard
* Red circular: route of the three passes, 2 hours 50 minutes, elevation gain 326 m, linking the Col du Glandon, Col de Bellard and Col de la Croix de Fer
The hike described here corresponds more or less to the orange and red circular loops combined into a single route

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 14 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 24604761

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 23, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

As someone who knows the area well, this guide is intended for friends who will be coming for a hike as soon as the mountain passes open.
Early in the summer, there aren’t usually many people around.

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User 6883586

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike alone in the world in a magnificent landscape.

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crhistine
crhistine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

very beautiful hikes, blueberries, marmots, sheep, vultures, goats, magnificent views. A must-do

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jeanluc38
jeanluc38

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Good. Encounter with a shepherd and his 1,400 sheep and goats – nice

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SMYKOWSKI
SMYKOWSKI

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

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Cycas
Cycas

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy and very pleasant hike through the mountain pastures. The unmarked route requires a little more precision on the map

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M Grisel
M Grisel

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Trip taken on 26 June 2021 during peak flowering season and surrounded by herds. The route is not particularly difficult and offers an almost 360° view from the summit.
One minor drawback is the noise of motorbikes on the road, but you quickly forget about it.

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Maryla
Maryla

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike through the mountain pastures, splendid panoramic views in all directions.
Very accessible, no difficulties.
A magnificent day.

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Robert Gardette
Robert Gardette

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

An easy hike in a majestic setting.
A quick note about the route between points 4 and 7: we think it's better to start at point 4 and head to the Bellard Pass (if only for the view) before continuing on to point 8

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bebert38
bebert38

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

beautiful hike, beautiful view, worth doing

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gegostet
gegostet

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely, easy hike, and what's more, in glorious sunshine

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serbert
serbert

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

I did the walk again in the opposite direction, via the Col de la Croix de Fer and the Croix de l'Ouyon. The descent is long but not very steep, and the scenery is as beautiful as ever!

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serbert
serbert

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello
a very beautiful walk, the passage through the Col de Bellard is worth the view of the Villards valley. Once at the pass, to avoid the steep climb up the road, take a path on the right that is not very visible at first and climbs up to the Ouillon pass. The climb to the top of the Ouillon (breathtaking view) and the descent along the ridge give a total elevation gain of 608 m

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Bisserain73
Bisserain73

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

In fact, I made a shortened and modified version, which will eventually lead to another description of the walk.
Departure from Col de la Croix Fer, descent into the valley, climb up to Col de Bellard Longecombe, then towards Croix de l'Ouillon and return to Col de la Croix Fer via Le Truchet.

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