Circular route in the Bois des Essarts starting from Correncon-en-Vercors

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This forest walk allows you to discover some of the sites and points of interest in this part of the Vercors Massif. You will pass by the karstic caves of the Pot du Loup, the Plaine d’Herbouilly, a protected natural site, and you will look out for the Fleur du Roy, a relic of times gone by.

Details

n°85069512
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.59 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,614 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,604 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 4,760 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,724 ft
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Photos

The Herbouilly plain
La Fleur du Roy

Description of the walk

Park at the edge of the village of Corrençon-en-Vercors in the large car park by the golf course and the Nordic ski area.

(S) Head south, pass the Hauts Plateaux restaurant and take the access road to the golf course. At thefirst junction, turn right onto the path that runs alongside the road and leads to the golf course.

(1) Leave the path and continue west-north-west.

(2) Turn slightly right, heading towards Pas de la Sambue. Continue to Pas de la Sambue, ignoring the paths to the right or left.

(3) Look out for a path on the right that descends steeply towards the Herbouilly plain. As you leave the woods, you’ll reach a four-way junction.

(4) Turn left onto the GRP® du Tour du Vercors Drômois. Enter the woods again and shortly afterwards you will find the path leading to the karstic caves of the Pot du Loup.

(5) Turn right onto this path, go round the karstic caves before rejoining the GRP® and the D221.

(6) Take the track opposite, which climbs gently. Follow a short circular route to the right to rejoin the road. Turn left onto it, then, at the next junction, keep left again to reach the Herbouilly Nordic Ski Centre.

(7) Take the track on the left, heading south-east. Walk past the Cabane de Roybon. A few hundred metres further on, you’ll reach a Y-shaped junction.

(8) Turn left onto the ascending path and head for the Pas de l'Âne junction.

(9) Start the descent straight ahead and join a new track at a place called Les Auberges.

(10) Continue straight ahead, keeping eastwards. At the next junction, in a right-hand bend, take the path straight ahead down the hill. You’ll emerge at the Fleur du Roy junction.

(11) Take the track heading east, then veering north-east, and you’ll reach the Biathlon Stadium on the descent.

(12) Continue along this track to make your way back at a leisurely pace to the car park for the golf course and ski area (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,724 ft - Golf course and Nordic ski area car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.62 - alt. 3,904 ft - Golf de Corrençon
  3. 2 : mi 1.03 - alt. 4,058 ft - Turn right
  4. 3 : mi 2.23 - alt. 4,685 ft - No - Pas de la Sambue (1446 m)
  5. 4 : mi 2.69 - alt. 4,226 ft - Herbouilly Plain
  6. 5 : mi 3.22 - alt. 4,219 ft - Towards the Pot du Loup - Scialets du Pot du Loup (Saint-Martin-en-Vercors)
  7. 6 : mi 3.56 - alt. 4,226 ft - GRP and D221
  8. 7 : mi 4.22 - alt. 4,222 ft - Herbouilly Nordic Site
  9. 8 : mi 4.63 - alt. 4,295 ft - Pas de l'Ane Trail
  10. 9 : mi 5.06 - alt. 4,698 ft - Pas de l'Àne - Pas de l'Âne (1423 m)
  11. 10 : mi 5.32 - alt. 4,613 ft - The Inns
  12. 11 : mi 5.83 - alt. 4,416 ft - Fleur du Roy
  13. 12 : mi 6.7 - alt. 3,970 ft - Biathlon stadium
  14. S/E : mi 7.59 - alt. 3,724 ft - Golf course and Nordic ski area car park

Notes

No water points; the route is well shaded and follows good paths, tracks or trails.

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Worth a visit

Between (5) and (6): the karstic caves of the Pot du Loup,
(7) Herbouilly Nordic Site: a pleasant spot for a picnic.
(10) La Fleur du Roy is a medieval landmark that marked the boundary of a province or kingdom.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 1 review
Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
JP et D
JP et D

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 11, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely forest walk that takes you off the beaten track. It combines two steep climbs via La Sambue and Le Pas de l’Âne with a good stretch of pleasant flat terrain. To reach the Pas de Sambue (level 1), follow the Visiorando route rather than the official signposts. Between Les Auberges and La Fleur du Roy, there is a path running almost parallel to the suggested route, which is much more visible and better marked; it branches off to the right just after the start of the path.
At this time of year, the descent to Herbouilly and the climb up to the Pas de l’Ane are heavily obstructed by fallen trees, which can be crossed fairly easily.

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