Circular to Notre-Dame de la Salette

This magnificent circular route, in the Beaumont and Valbonnais mountains, towards the sanctuary of Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette, offers breathtaking views of the Oisans massif, the Dévoluy, the Obiou, the Matheysine and, further afield, the Vercors massif.

⚠️ 20/05/2026: This hike should be avoided in winter. Some sections are comparable to mountaineering.

Details

4067905
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.90 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,044 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,041 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 6,302 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 4,754 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the Col de Parquetout.

(S/E) Head for the bridge over the Ruisseau d’Aiguebelle at a hairpin bend. Take the track on the right known as the Sentier des Pères and follow the hiking signs pointing towards La Salette. Further on, you’ll reach a crossroads of paths at the Combe du Châtelard.

(1) Leave the track and continue along the path on the left. You will reach a new junction at a hairpin bend.

(2) Take the path on the right; the one on the left leads to La Vacherie. Continue along this path, first through the forest and then along the edge of the woods. You will soon reach the forest again and quickly come to the junction withthe GR®®50.

(3) Keep right on theGR®® to reach the Col d’Hurtières, a major junction of paths.

(4) Continue straight ahead on theGR®® to begin an easy descent ending at the Sanctuary of Notre-Dame de la Salette.

(5) Return along the same path to the Col d'Hurtières.

(4) Take the path on the left which climbs through the pastures to reach the Col de Lière.

(6) Continue through the mountain pasture, following the Ruisseau de l’Alpe stream and then the Puits de Jacob spring, before emerging at the Col Nodry.

(7) Continue down to the right until you reach the ridge. Stay on this ridge, following the yellow markings on the rocks. Head to the hut on the banks of the Ruisseau de l’Aiguebelle.

(8) Cross the stream, take the track to the left and return to the original junction.

(1) Take the Sentier des Pères on the left to return to the Col de Parquetout car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 4,754 ft - Parking at the Col de Parketout
  2. 1 : mi 0.47 - alt. 5,023 ft - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : mi 1.15 - alt. 5,210 ft - Trail junction
  4. 3 : mi 2.43 - alt. 5,817 ft - GR junction
  5. 4 : mi 2.85 - alt. 5,991 ft - Cok d'Hurtières (1825m)
  6. 5 : mi 4.18 - alt. 5,778 ft - Sanctuary of - Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette
  7. 6 : mi 5.87 - alt. 6,253 ft - Col de Lière (1917m)
  8. 7 : mi 6.73 - alt. 5,988 ft - Col Nodry (1827m)
  9. 8 : mi 7.77 - alt. 5,305 ft - Hut
  10. S/E : mi 8.9 - alt. 4,754 ft - Parking at the Col de Parketout

Notes

Water point and shelter at the sanctuary.

Worth a visit

Between (2) and (4) The balcony-like section between these two points is a little exposed but completely safe; two small tunnels allow you to pass the rocky outcrops. The view over the Valbonnais and the Oisans is breathtaking.
(5) Notre-Dame de la Salette: On this large terrace, picnic tables provide a well-deserved break. The sanctuary site is a great place to take a break and enjoy a short visit.
Between (4) and (8) The return route takes you through the pastures; please respect the work of the farmers and the peace and quiet of the animals.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

5 / 5
Based on 13 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
Elorac7021
Elorac7021

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 15, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent route with stunning views; it’s not particularly difficult, unless you’re hiking in snowy conditions – in which case, bring a shovel to clear one or two sections that can be tricky to get through.

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vental42
vental42

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike under blue skies. We set off from Notre Dame de la Salette, and the balcony route there and back offers a different view. The descent between 7 and 8 is not always easy to find, but you can use the hut below as a landmark. It's a shame that between 1 and 2, the view isn't great, as the trees block the view of the mountains. But we were spoiled by the autumn colours and the strange sight of the sea of clouds below after the Nodry pass. A highly recommended route.

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User 19214364

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful loop offering unobstructed views of the entire mountain range!
The route is easy to follow, but the start is at the first sign for the pass, which is a few metres higher up! The loop starts at the cycle sign for the pass.
Thanks for sharing!

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champet67
champet67

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello, we followed this route but started lower down at the Col de Parquetout 1388 sign, which added about a kilometre to the route.
A very beautiful hike with very varied landscapes.
Thank you to the route planner.

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Les Blaireaux de la Rando
Les Blaireaux de la Rando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent route with breathtaking views

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Josci
Josci
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with no difficulty, apart from a short section that is a little exposed but well secured and easily passable in summer at the tunnel leading to the Col d'Hurtières. In good weather, there are splendid views of various mountain ranges, including Ecrins, Vercors and Belledonne.
During the hike, we saw several griffon vultures flying over the Sanctuary, as well as numerous marmots on the way back.

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foxy26
foxy26

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb hike with a visit to Notre Dame des Salette under cloudy skies, but the clouds dispersed as we arrived. Just a note for the return journey between points 7 and 8: we lost the path on the descent and only the GPX track enabled us to stay on course.

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Diomi
Diomi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike with marmots waiting to greet you!

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FetML
FetML

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful parish-specific to Brittany hike with a superb arrival at La Salette

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Euskadi64
Euskadi64

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike that is accessible to everyone.
The short balcony section is a little exposed but completely safe.
We saw marmots after the Lière Pass on the way to the Nodry Pass.

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hchevalley
hchevalley

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with magnificent and varied views. In my opinion, it's worth visiting La Salette (climb the hill behind the sanctuary for the best view), in addition to the other panoramic views.

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Phasme91
Phasme91

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with La Salette as the destination, then a return trip through the mountain pastures.

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pepinet
pepinet

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike. The trails are well marked except for the descent, where the markings on the rocks are faint, but it is easy to find your way as you can see the hut and the track.

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