Corrençon loop via Herbouilly

Park in the car park of the cross-country ski centre and golf course.

(S/E) Walk along the building and take the gravel path heading south (do not walk on the tarmac section, which is reserved for roller skis). Walk along the golf course.

(1) Continue on the path on the right marked yellow and green towards Fleur du Roy. Cross the roller ski track and continue straight ahead on the forest track that enters the forest.

(2) In a small clearing, be careful not to miss this fork: take the path that climbs to the right. There are no signs or markings. At the first fork, keep left. Join another forest track.

(3) Follow it to the left.

(4) At the Fleur du Roy crossroads, take the path on the left for only 15 or 20 metres to see the stone engraved with a fleur-de-lis on the left-hand side. Return to the crossroads.

(4) Leave the forest track via a path opposite in the trees. Further on, you will rejoin the forest track you left earlier.

(5) Follow it to the right.

(6) At the Auberges crossroads, continue left and then, just after, leave the forest track again and take a path in the forest on the right towards Pas de l'Âne, marked in yellow and green.

(7) At Pas de l'Âne, take the path that descends to the left towards Roybon, marked in yellow and green. On the descent, look for another stone engraved with a fleur-de-lis (in the middle of the path, it is easier to see on the way up). Join a forest track and follow it downhill for only 100 m, then at the crossroads, take a path opposite, still heading towards Roybon. Join a new forest track.

(8) Turn right and pass in front of the Roybon inn before reaching the Porte d'Herbouilly.

(9) The Porte d'Herbouilly is one of three entry points to the large Nordic ski area. Pass in front of the building and cross the car park to find a stony path opposite, which is a little steep at first, towards Favier, and follow it.

(10) At Favier, continue downhill for only 20 metres towards Saint-Martin-en-Vercors, then take the path that climbs up to the right towards Pas de Saint-Martin and Chemin de la Pia, marked in yellow and green. Two rocky passages will require the use of your hands, but they are easy and enjoyable.

(11) Pas Saint-Martin: paragliding take-off area. A small clearing on the edge of the cliff just above Saint-Martin-en-Vercors. A good place for a picnic. Continue on the path opposite, close to the cliff, towards Herbouilly. The trail continues along a ledge, with a few short sections whereyou need to be careful, pay attention and hold on to young children. Pass under a "menhir" leaning against the cliff, then in front of a tiny hut, whose terrace can also be used for a picnic stop. Beautiful view of the entire southwestern part of the Vercors. To the north, you can see the Vierge du Vercors (a rocky outcrop in the cliff, not very visible). Shortly afterwards, the trail returns to the forest, moving away from the cliff.

(12) Turn left towards Les Tenailles. Continue along this wide path for 1 km until you reach the D221 road, cross it and continue on the path opposite, first through the forest, then through the Herbouilly meadow.

(13) At the crossroads, you can take a short detour to the left to see the ruins of a farm, which served briefly as a command post for the Vercors Resistance in June and July 1944 before being burned down by German troops (information panel on site). Retrace your steps.

(13) Take the path heading east towards Pas de la Sambue. Pass a small spring (drinkable?). After passing through some tall grass, enter the forest, following the yellow and green markings.

(14) Turn left and continue climbing towards Pas de la Sambue. At Pas de la Sambue, continue straight ahead.

(15) At the Sambue crossroads, turn right onto the forest track towards Corrençon for about 100 metres, then take a path on the left, still towards Corrençon, marked in yellow and green. At the crossroads called Les Quatre Chemins, turn left onto the forest track towards Corrençon and leave it 50 m further on for a path on the right in the forest, towards Corrençon, marked with a yellow sign and yellow and green markings.

(16) At the Carrefour des Quatre Pierres, the track that crosses the golf course is not open to hikers. Take the path on the left that climbs into the forest towards La Perelle. Shortly afterwards, you will see a pretty little shelter under a rock on the right of the path.

(17) Here, there is a view of the Villard and Corrençon ski area, the Grande and Petite Moucherolle and the Tête des Chaudières. Continue towards La Perelle, following the yellow and green markings.

(18) Descend to the right, follow the golf course for a short while and return to the car park (S/E).

At the start and end of this loop, respect the golf courses and roller ski tracks.

The section of the Chemin de la Pia between points (10) and (11) requires you to use your hands to climb up the rock, but this is still very easy.

The Saint Martin ledge between points (11) and (12) is on a cliffside ledge, but the path is relatively wide. Hold young children. Not recommended for people who are very afraid of heights.

This route is not accessible during the winter season. Many of the forest tracks used here are used as cross-country ski trails.