Country:
District:
By car from Saint-Martin-d'Uriage, follow the D111 towards Chamrousse. After 6.1 km, pass the hamlet of Les Seiglières and 1.3 km further on, just before a hairpin bend, turn onto the forest track on the left, "La Route de la Gâte", and park in the car park.
(S/E) Go down the path (east) following the signs for "Cascade de l'Oursière" and "Refuge de La Pra" marked in yellow. Go through a vehicle barrier and continue to an intersection.
(1) At the sign, continue straight ahead, cross the Ruisseau des Pourettes and pass a logging area. Climb gradually through the woods (north-east then south-east). Cross a first stream then a second one in a ravine. You will reach a hairpin bend and the viewpoint of the superb Cascade de l'Oursière.
(2) At the sign, continue right towards the Refuge de la Pra. After a few hairpin bends, you will reach the top of the waterfall in the charming Ruisseau du Doménon valley. Follow it almost horizontally until you reach an intersection.
(3) At the sign, ignore the path climbing into the woods towards Clôt des Vernes on your right. Opposite, climb towards a scree slope forming a barrier. Start climbing it on the right via a path marked by cairns. After numerous hairpin bends, cross the break in the slope.
(4) You will reach a wide valley with a welcoming alpine meadow where the Ruisseau du Doménon flows peacefully. Follow it on your left and, as you approach a massive rocky outcrop separating two valleys, leave the marked trail that branches off to the right. On the left, cross the stream over a stone dam.
(5) This section is unmarked but follows a well-defined path.
Head northeast towards the valley on the left, which is the outlet of Lac Merlat. In the grass, follow the stream, first on the left bank, then cross it. At the bottom of the valley, climb up the clearly visible path marked by numerous cairns. At the top, cross the path to the Refuge de la Pra at Lac Merlat. Follow the stream to its spillway. From here, you can admire this charming lake nestled between the Grand Colon, the Galeteau and the Pic du Grand Perlet.
(6) Return to the left bank of the stream by following the path that skirts the meadow to the north, as close as possible to the rock face, to reach a crossroads
(7) Ignore the path on the right and the one on the left that climbs up a small valley (north-northeast). Continue straight ahead (east) towards a small pass, following a path marked with red lines that zigzags through scree. Cross a grassy valley, keeping to the edge of a fenced-off area. In front of the small lake, follow the path to the right. This leads to a path overlooking the Ruisseau du Doménon.
(8) Take it to the right (south) and cross the stream at the footbridge. Head opposite (east) and join the GR® 738 marked in white and red.
(9) At the sign, turn left to reach the nearby Refuge de la Pra.
(10) From the refuge, retrace your steps.
(9) At the sign, continue straight ahead (south-west) towards Chamrousse and the Robert Lakes via the GR® 738. Reach Lac Claret and cross its spillway over a dam made of stone blocks covered with wire mesh.
(11) Climb (south-west) up a rocky hillock overlooking the pretty Lac Longet, nestled in a straight depression. At the end of the lake, you will come to a fork.
(12) Leave the GR®738 opposite. Take the path on the right, go around a hillock to enjoy a beautiful view of the cute little Lac Bernard. Go back up to the GR®738 and take it on the right. Go to an intersection.
(13) Turn left. After a flat section, descend a steep slope into a gorge occupied by Lac Léama. Cross the outlet stream over large pipes.
(14) Follow the left bank of the stream. Walk along the rock walls on your left and reach a low point (altitude 1,835 m). Wind your way through the scree and climb up to a charming little unnamed lake.
(15) After a short descent, climb gently back up to a junction.
(16) At the sign, ignore the path on the right that leads to the point (3). Stay on the GR®738, opposite, towards the Lacs Robert. Climb the eastern flank of the Grand Eulier to pass a small pass offering a beautiful view of the Lacs Robert. After a short descent, you will reach a fork.
(17) At the sign, leave the trail on the left towards Chamrousse and the Col des Lessines. Stay on the GR®738 on the right towards Lac des Pourettes. Climb up the southern flank of the Grand Eulier, overlooking the Robert lakes, and cross the Brèche Robert Nord (altitude 2,050 m). Descend the numerous switchbacks carved into a scree slope, then follow a gentle grassy slope to reach Lac des Pourettes. At the end of the lake, you will come to a junction.
(18) At the sign, ignore the path on the left towards Brèche Robert Sud. Keep right towards Casserousse. After a short descent, climb up to an intersection.
(19) At the sign, leave the GR®738 on your left towards Le Recoin de Chamrousse. Keep right towards Casserousse. Descend through the woods on a yellow-marked trail. You will reach the Casserousse car park. Cross it and look for a path opposite.
(20) At the sign with white labels, take path no. 8 towards Cabane à Bonnet. About 450 m further on, ignore the path going in the opposite direction on the right and then, after 250 m, ignore the path on the right. Continue along the path until you reach a fork where Cabane à Bonnet is located.
(21 Ignore the path to the left of the hut. Follow the path to the right for about 200 m until you reach an intersection.
(22) At the sign, turn right onto the path going in the opposite direction towards Chemin de la Gâte. At the intersection, about 300 m further on, leave the path and turn onto the path going down to the left. After 100 m, join a path and go down it to the left (north) to reach Chemin de la Gâte, which you took on the way there. On the left, head to the nearby car park (S/E).
Visorando member
Moderate 
Very difficult 
