Dent de Crolles loop

Date of your route : Sep 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb, challenging hike, very popular. Complex passages regardless of the direction taken (it still seems preferable to go via the Pas de l'Oeille). In summer, set off in the morning to enjoy the shade on the climb
Climbing sections with chains, handrails or no handholds. Superb scenery, lots of paragliders enjoying the weather on the day.
Check and follow the GPX track and/or markings carefully as it is easy to stray from the right path (example: take your time to spot the markings.
Please note: there is a sheep trough on the path below the Dent de Crolles. We saw a Patou decide to go and drink there, so take the usual precautions

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Date of your route : Sep 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Completed in good weather, following rain the day before, in an anti-clockwise direction. Superb 360° views of the world (lots of groups of pensioners) but not too much of a nuisance given the space at the top. Strong southerly wind at the summit, a hat is recommended. No one else around once you leave the loop. No problems with the route, Iphigénie helps you find your way around (too). Beware of poor network coverage at the top and to the west. Load the tiles beforehand.
We extended our hike along the ridges to the north to the Cheminée du Paradis and returned via the GR9. Superb views of the rock faces. This section of the route requires caution as there are some steep drops.
Overall, this loop does not pose any significant difficulties, but you need to be familiar with the mountains, know how to climb and have a minimum level of climbing skills, be able to find your way on the map, and finally be able to sustain your effort and concentration. The footholds and handholds on the rocks are very smooth from being worn down by hikers and are slippery, even in dry weather. The descent through the Trou du Glaz is no easier than the climb up the Pas de l'Oeil. We encountered a young man limping with a sprained knee and a retired woman who was unable to find her footing on her own.

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Date of your route : Jul 16, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Like many others, i did the trail "backwards" with a slight variation, starting from the car park at the bottom of the Col du Coq, passing through the Habert de Pravouta, climbing up to Pravouta before descending towards the Col des Ayes and continuing with the climb up the Pas de l'Oeille and descent through the Trou du Glaz, finally passing through the Bois des Petites Roches to return to the Col du Coq.
This adds a few kilometres (12.6 km and 1,000 metres of elevation gain in total). We completed the loop in four hours, taking our time (visiting the habert, stopping at Pravouta and La Dent).
Even if the descent via the Pas de l'Oeille wasn't as vertiginous as some people have described, the rocks are very slippery and therefore extremely dangerous. Many of the hikers we came across were descending "on their backsides". All in all, we weren't at all disappointed with our decision to go anti-clockwise.
Not recommended with children, therefore.
In hot weather, it's very important to take plenty of water with you as there is almost no shade along the route around the Dent de Crolles. You can fill your water bottle drop by drop at the Trou du Glaz, if you're patient.
There are indeed a lot of people, but most don't go up to the Dent and stop at the Glaz hole. So it's quieter after that.
In any case, from the summit, there is a magnificent view of the valley.
The GPX track is a bit tricky between points 3 and 4, which led us to a scree slope, but it's nothing serious and easy to get around.

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Date of your route : Jun 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We had already done this hike in 2020 and chose it for friends visiting the area who were keen on the route, not to mention the fact that we had perfect weather.

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Date of your route : Jul 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I was surprised by how busy it was, given how difficult some of the sections are.
The view from the top is superb between the passing clouds. We encountered chamois and heard marmots in the distance, which added to the interest of this hike.
We climbed up via the Pas de l'Oeille and descended via the Trou du Glaz. The view of the Chartreuse is just as spectacular during the descent. We followed this up with the climb up Pravouta, which was also enjoyable.

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Date of your route : Jul 16, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

To our great disappointment, it was foggy and we didn't see much. But it was still a very beautiful hike

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Date of your route : Oct 26, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We followed the directions through the woods (less people parking at the first car park)
The hike was well described on Visorando.
Lots of people, some of whom were disrespectful. A superb view at the end. Bring warm clothing as it was chilly.
We'd love to do it again. Be careful on the way down at this time of year, as the fallen leaves can make it slippery.

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Date of your route : Oct 02, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike under sunny skies. Panoramic 360° views. We did the route in the direction of Pas de l'Oeille, Dent, Trou du Glas. The Pas de l'Oeille passage was easier going up a stony path and through the difficult sections.

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Date of your route : Sep 29, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike, but very popular! This walk offers magnificent scenery but few opportunities to enjoy it in solitude. On the plateau, we saw marmots and chamois.

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Date of your route : Aug 22, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Superb hike.
at the start, rather than following the road, we took a path that climbs up through the forest and even to the Habert des Ayes (trail visible on OpenStreetMap Rando). Then we did the hike in the opposite direction to the one described. We climbed up the passages with cables. And descended via the Pas de l'Oeille. I can't say if it's better, but it was definitely easier to climb up the cables than to descend.
there were a few chamois on the plateau, but we only saw them from a distance as there were quite a lot of people around.

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Date of your route : Aug 04, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Magnificent hike under a beautiful blue sky
the view of Mont Blanc is superb

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Date of your route : Jul 06, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We set off early after spending the night in our van in the car park at the Col de Porte
As a result, there were few people along the entire route
A beautiful hike with a superb view of Grenoble from the Dent de Crolles:
A varied route

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Date of your route : Jul 14, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very beautiful hike
We did it in the opposite direction to the one suggested in order to make the most of the morning shade.
It was indeed very busy, but the car parks at the start are large enough and there is plenty of space at the top to enjoy the view.

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Date of your route : Oct 19, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A superb hike under the autumn sun!

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Date of your route : Sep 15, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A wonderful encounter with chamois
Even though there were lots of people
I recommend this hike.

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