La Cochette loop in Chartreuse

Date of your route : Jul 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

We did the tour in the opposite direction
No difficulties
thanks to the author for this route

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Date of your route : Jun 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The loop with the climb from the Col de la Cluse is not feasible: the path up has disappeared (probably several years ago). This is a shame because a loop would be interesting on such a route, and now you have to make a return trip from the Déserts station. The municipality of Entremont le Vieux and the Chartreuse Park are responsible for this lack of maintenance and signage.

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Date of your route : May 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello, we just did this hike today. It's very beautiful except that... a few hundred metres after the start, foresters have cut down trees, completely blocking the path.
It was impossible to find the trail, and we also came across a family who had lost their way. So we persevered off-trail for at least 30 minutes before coming across a path.
So forget about this loop and start from the restaurant a little further on instead.

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Date of your route : Jan 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

An easy route leading to a superb viewpoint with a beautiful panorama of the Chartreuse peaks.
Only the descent requires a little caution as you cross some ski slopes. It's easy to follow them instead of the path, which is much more pleasant and easier.
There was little snow on the route, so snowshoes were completely unnecessary.
Quite busy: this is a fairly popular route.
For parking, I recommend parking in the large car park at the start of the ski lifts: it's better organised and there's more space.

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Date of your route : Oct 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Good explanations, very interesting point of view.
Thank you

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Date of your route : Jan 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Loop completed this Sunday morning in search of sunshine: a pleasant climb in the frost, with the sun breaking through just before the ridge.
Beautiful view from the summit above the sea of clouds.

I didn't use the guidebook as I know the area, but it describes the route well.
This loop is now marked by purple snowshoe signs (circuit 5 - Pointe de la Cochette) but in the opposite direction and without passing through the Col du Grapillon.
a leisurely 1.5-hour climb, with the same amount of time for the descent.

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Date of your route : Nov 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

We started from the ski lift car park. The route is well signposted on the way up. On the way down, we turned off onto the Mount Outheran circuit. So we didn't try the descent through the forest.
Four hours is plenty of time. This walk can be done in half a day.

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Date of your route : Feb 09, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike with superb panoramic views at the top.
Good snow cover except on the descent, not on the loop near the ski resort. As a result, the slopes shared with hikers were closed to skiers, which avoids any risks. When the ski slopes are open, it can be dangerous... At times, there are tracks for hikers right next to the slopes, but not enough...
On the first part, there is a gap between the well-marked trail and the GPS track, which passes a little further to the right...

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Date of your route : Jan 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A sublime panorama upon arrival, stretching all the way to Mont Blanc.
The elevation gain is not too demanding and the route is very well signposted.
An unforgettable snowshoe hike in the Chartreuse mountains!

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Date of your route : Sep 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed on 24/9.
In summer, the starting point is not very obvious due to electric fences (pastures for cows and horses). A young couple who set off shortly before us got lost for a while. Look for the water tank on the left of the field; the first yellow mark is there. You may be tempted to veer too far to the left to avoid going under the fences, but don't hesitate to go under the fence twice and then the path becomes obvious, well marked and signposted fairly regularly. The carpet of pine needles is very pleasant to walk on.
Once at the top, the view is magnificent, with Mont Blanc in the background, Granier and Pinet opposite, etc.
The descent is easy along a wide path, although it is stony.
The 4-hour time estimate is for snowshoes; on foot, allow 2½ hours at a leisurely pace.
The elevation gain is a little more than advertised, with exactly 450 metres from the start to the summit (1,168-1,618 metres) + two short descents of about ten metres, making a total of 470 metres.

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Date of your route : Jan 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike despite overcast weather. No view at the summit, but no one on the way up, and we encountered 13 people on the way down in the afternoon.
Amazing powder snow, magnificent forest.
To be repeated in good weather to rediscover.

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Date of your route : Aug 10, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A climb through a magnificent forest leads to the usual trail.
The forest is truly magnificent in summer; we didn't see anyone else and were sheltered from the sun.
It was the perfect choice to beat the heatwave.

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Date of your route : Mar 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A climb through a magnificent forest leads to this viewpoint, offering views of most of the northern peaks of the Chartreuse... The descent from the Col du Grapillon to the car park is fairly quick. It's a shame that the snow is heavy at this time of year, as with fine snow the descent down the slopes could be great fun...
A very beautiful walk enjoyed by our group of 20 hikers!

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Date of your route : Feb 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A magnificent hike under a clear blue sky. Very little snow for 15 February, crampons were sufficient. Superb views of the Granier, Belledonne and Mont Blanc. A very beautiful day, my dogs loved it too.

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Date of your route : Feb 10, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

nice walk, but when we arrived the view was obscured, so it was difficult to appreciate it, but I suppose it was worth it!

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