Circular route via the Pas du Serpaton, the Rocher du Baconnet and the Roc de Cognière

Above Gresse-en-Vercors, starting from the Serpaton car park, a circular route towards the Rocher de Baconnet and the Roc de Cognière.
It offers stunning views:
- to the west over the Gresse Valley and Le Grand Veymont,
- to the south over Mont Aiguille,
- to the east over Monestier-de-Clermont with the A51 tunnel and viaduct, Lake Monteymard, the Corniche du Drac, the Écrins and the Dévoluy.

Details

65078924
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.68 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 343 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 343 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,793 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,512 m

Description of the walk

From Gresse-en-Vercors, drive up the Montée du Serpaton. Park in the car park.

(S/E) Walk up following the road towards the telecoms masts. After a hairpin bend, reach the Croix de Gresse.

(1) Continue to the end of the road to reach the telecommunications masts.

(2) Turn right, heading due south, onto the Crêtes des Rochers de la Montagne de Gresse trail. Pass by the summit of the Croix de Saint-Paul. Climb up to the launch pad at the Croix Free Flight Site. Continue along the trail to reach the Rocher de Baconnet.

(3) Continue along the Crête des Rochers path to reach the Crête des Rochers des Chaux.

(4) Continue downhill now and pass close to the Gouffre du Roc de Cognière, where there are two shrubs. Continue for about a hundred metres to reach the junction with the Crête des Rochers des Côtes.

(5) Turn right and, at almost a 180-degree angle, take the path through the mountain pasture towards the Pas de Serpaton. Walk on almost level ground until you reach a crossroads of paths directly below the Rocher du Baconnet.

(6) Follow the cattle track straight ahead, slightly uphill, which runs almost parallel to the Crêtes des Rochers path. You will reach the Fontaine du Pré de la Roche.

(7) Continue until you reach the road at the hairpin bend you passed on the way out. Turn left onto it and follow it to the Croix de Gresse.

(1) From here, retrace your steps in the opposite direction to return to the Pas de Serpaton car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,512 m - Serpaton car park
  2. 1 : km 0.87 - alt. 1,588 m - Croix de Gresse
  3. 2 : km 1.18 - alt. 1,607 m - The antennas
  4. 3 : km 2.87 - alt. 1,760 m - Balconnet Rock
  5. 4 : km 3.66 - alt. 1,762 m - Rochers des Chaux
  6. 5 : km 4.43 - alt. 1,642 m - Return junction
  7. 6 : km 5.7 - alt. 1,651 m - Overhang at Rocher du Baconnet
  8. 7 : km 7.03 - alt. 1,660 m - Fontaine du Prè de la Roche
  9. S/E : km 8.67 - alt. 1,512 m - Serpaton car park

Notes

In Gresse-en-Vercors. Note: it is possible to walk up from Gresse cemetery by following the Chemin de Prévallon at the start and continuing along the path towards Serpaton. This section is 1.6 km one way (the same on the return) and involves a climb of over 300 metres.
Please take care on the Crêtes des Rochers de la Montagne de Gresse trail. Steep cliffs overlooking the Monestier Valley.

Worth a visit

(1) Croix de Gresse: beautiful panoramic view of the Drac Valley and Lake Monteymrard.
Between (2) and (3), at the Croix de Saint-Paul, admire the beautiful panorama:
- to the west towards Gresse and the Grand Veymont,
- to the east, the Drac Valley and the peaks of the Alps.
(3) Rocher du Baconnet: take the opportunity to approach, but with caution, the ridge to view the impressive Gorges du Baconnet (600 m below)

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
User 4351472

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very pretty landscapes and beautiful views of the glaciers

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SiobanS
SiobanS

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The views are superb and we will do this walk again, but only as a return trip starting at point 5, as the way back is no longer passable.

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bader
bader

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We set off on a lovely day; there was still snow on the sections less exposed to the sun. There was a tricky section before the Croix de Saint Paul: twenty metres of frozen snow; there was a risk of slipping, but it was possible to get past it by taking great care.
Otherwise, magnificent views as you climb the ridges and a breathtaking panorama as you walk along them.
In summer, it must get very busy.

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Rafort Noël
Rafort Noël

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A short, easy and very pleasant walk to round off the season, though we did it in the fog! So we didn’t see any of the scenery, which was surely lovely! We’ll have to do it again, as soon as possible!
It’s worth noting that, with no signposts and in the fog, on the way back we nearly went too far down by following a track. A mistake quickly corrected.

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Claude R3.
Claude R3.
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very good; superb views of the Vercors, Belledonne, Taillefer, Oisans and Dévoluy...
The access road to the car park is in relatively good condition; the car park was full, with a further 5 or 6 cars parked at the roadside in early November.
On the return route, taking the path on the right which climbs slightly, you come to three paths, all slightly worn by passing livestock, which is a bit uncomfortable. All three paths lead to the same place, so after hesitating over which one to choose, we realised they all lead to the same spot; you therefore have to choose the most comfortable one, bearing in mind that the animals go everywhere!

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