Circular Saint-Pierre-d’Entremont loop, via the bottom of the Cirque de Saint-Même

Park in Saint-Pierre-d’Entremont, in the church car park, which has plenty of spaces.

The route is signposted in yellow or yellow and red throughout, and there are hiking signs at all junctions.

(S/E) Head towards the village centre (south-west, towards Grenoble) and then turn left onto the road towards Saint-Même: follow the road and hiking signs. Follow this small road for about 900 m. 

(1) Turn left onto a path that climbs into the forest, cross a road and follow the yellow and red markings to reach the lower part of Saint-Même: hiking sign. 

(2) Continue to the left through the hamlet, then leave the road and head uphill in the same direction along a path that crosses the fields and leads to Saint-Même d’en haut.

(3) In the centre of the hamlet, look out for the road leading uphill to the left with a sign pointing towards Les Varvats and L’Alpetaz: we’ll take this on the way back from the cirque. Continue uphill on the road opposite and head for the Chalet du Cirque de Saint-Même. 

(4) Pass the footbridge on your right and carry on to the end of the road. Continue along the path beside the Guiers Vif, cross the footbridge and turn left for about 50 metres to see the lower waterfall. 

(5) Retrace your steps, leave the footbridge on your right and continue along the path on the left bank of the stream. At the junction, turn right to cross the footbridge opposite the Chalet du Cirque de Saint-Même and rejoin the road you came along. 

(4) Turn left onto this road, heading in the opposite direction to your outward journey, to return to Saint-Même from the upper village. 

(3) Head up to the right towards Les Varvats, taking the street which turns into a track and eventually a footpath. After a steep climb straight up the slope, with an elevation gain of 250 m through the forest, you’ll reach the wide, level path known as the Chemin de l’Alpettaz: a sign points to Les Varvats on the left.

(6) Turn left here and head for the hamlet, where you’ll rejoin the tarmac road. 

(7) Head down to the left towards Saint-Pierre-d’Entremont.

(8) Pass straight through the hamlet of Les Grattiers and continue to the Mollard de la Croix junction. 

(9) Turn right towards Les Curiès: signposted. Reach a Fork in the road and head down to the left, still towards Les Curiès. At the hamlet, continue along the path which follows on from the road, towards Les Teppaz (signposted). This path winds gently downhill through woods and fields: take in the view of Mont Granier!

(10) At the entrance to Les Teppaz, after crossing over the torrent, find a path that descends steeply to the left towards Saint-Pierre-d’Entremont and the Pont de Lac: signposted.

(11) At the junction, continue to the left, leaving the path leading down to Pont du Lac on your right, and you’ll soon reach the houses at Chez Joubert.

(12) Carry on straight ahead. Reach Saint-Pierre-d’Entremont, walk past the cemetery and the church, and come out onto the very first road on the route. Turn right to return to the car park (S/E). 

There are plenty of water points along the route.