Circular via La Sure, La Buffe and return via Le Trou de la Guêpe

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This is a pleasant, safe hike, 80% of which is in the shade, offering numerous viewpoints, particularly at La Sure (view of the Grenoble-Voiron valley) and at the summit of La Buffe (360° view), as well as at various points along the way.

Edition of 27/05/2022:
- addition of a circular around La Sure.
- Added the location of the wasp hole.

Details

n°25277565
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.03 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 495 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 497 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,626 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,388 m
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Photos

View of Chartreuse, Grenoble and Belledonne from La Sure
Autrans Valley, Méaudre
Old road leading to the Mortier Tunnel under La Buffe.
Northern Vercors plain from La Buffe

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the entrance to the Mortier tunnel (closed since 1992), above the Sure d'Autrans ski resort.

(S/E) Walk up the curved road that climbs to La Molière until you reach the sign for "Sur le tunnel".
From here, begin the rocky zigzag climb towards La Sure. Reach the crossroads marked by the sign "Sous le pas".

(1) Leave the path leading directly up to La Sure and take the forest path on the right to the end, which allows you to make a circular path with a more gradual climb. This path is almost horizontal at the start, becoming more zigzagged at the end.

(2) At the "Sous la Sure" sign, leave the path on the left, which leads quickly to the summit of La Sure (you will return this way), and continue straight on theGR®9until you reach the top of the resort and the ski lift.

(3) Take the path that veers left and follow it until you reach the "Les Crêtes" sign. Turn left and walk along the ledge, enjoying the panoramic view of the Grenoble-Voiron valley, dominated by the Chartreuse massif.

(4) Pass the sign for "La Sure" and continue until you reach theGR®9

(2) Turn right and after 50 metres, turn right again at the sign for "La Buffe".
Follow this stony path along the ledge. Pass Pas du Mortier. You will then reach a crossroads.

(5) Here you have two options:
- either turn left to quickly reach the initial fork, then retrace your steps to return to the tunnel car park.
- or continue straight ahead, as shown on the map, to reach the summit of La Buffe via the cliff top.

(6) Continue downhill on theGR® and reach the Grande Brèche pass.

(7) Leave theGR® here and take the path on the left, continue downhill, possibly veering off the path halfway down on the right to see the entrance to the "Trou de la Guêpe" (Wasp Hole), and finally rejoin the circular route you took on the way up, directly at the Mortier tunnel car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,392 m - Mortier Tunnel car park
  2. 1 : km 0.75 - alt. 1,493 m - Under the pass
  3. 2 : km 2.11 - alt. 1,579 m - Under the Sure
  4. 3 : km 2.5 - alt. 1,606 m - The top of the resort
  5. 4 : km 2.97 - alt. 1,612 m - La Sure
  6. 5 : km 4.13 - alt. 1,541 m - Crossroads options
  7. 6 : km 4.64 - alt. 1,584 m - Summit of La Buffe
  8. 7 : km 5.19 - alt. 1,536 m - La Grande Brèche
  9. S/E : km 6.03 - alt. 1,392 m - Mortier Tunnel car park

Notes

The numerous viewpoints along the way are easy to spot, thanks to the presence of small paths a few metres long leading to the edge. Take care, especially with children, as the steep drops (voids) at the end of these paths are not protected.
Remember to bring water.
Most of the hike is in the shade, except for the two peaks where a hat may be useful, especially in summer.
It is best to do this hike in good weather to avoid walking on slippery rocks and to make the most of the panoramic views.
During the winter season (December-April), the road to the Mortier tunnel is closed (ski resort in operation).
Picnic tables are available at the top of the resort (3).

This route passes through multiple protected areas, which may be subject to special regulations:

Worth a visit

It is possible to visit and walk through the Mortier tunnel (with a torch).

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.

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Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 13 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Claude R3.
Claude R3.

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 08, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Good route, but easier in summer than in winter with snowshoes...

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jakes38
jakes38

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike done in the opposite direction to the description, allowing you to tackle the rocky sections and sharp limestone pavement on the way up rather than on the way down.
A beautiful hike with superb views of the surrounding mountains and the Grenoble valley.
Can be done in half a day, with an elevation gain of around 400 m.

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User 13521114

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We loved it. The scenery was magnificent.

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Frederique38
Frederique38

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk, surprisingly quiet on this beautiful Saturday afternoon.
We followed the advice to do the route in reverse and found it more enjoyable that way.

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papangue
papangue

This hike seems very interesting, as it is located in an area where the trails are very varied and accessible for those who are not prepared for major difficulties. We have put it aside for our next trips to this area of the Vercors, which is full of
with beautiful walks

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mrugala
mrugala

No, the rocks weren't wet at the time, but I wouldn't recommend doing this hike in wet weather.
The section with large rocks is from point 4 to after point 5, almost to point 6. Without the red and white markings, I would have turned back, thinking I had taken a wrong turn.

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Ange Heureux
Ange Heureux

Good evening,

i'm sorry you encountered problems (on all fours!?!). Indeed, the beginning of the second part is on a path with large stones, but I'm surprised that these stones are wet at the moment! It's rather (too) dry around here at the moment, isn't it?
Thank you for your feedback.

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mrugala
mrugala

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Up to point 4, the hike is easy. Admittedly, the start is steep, but it's still easy.
After point 4, the going gets tough. It's out of the question to do this in wet weather, as the rocks are smooth and slippery, and some sections are tricky (I was on all fours). You have to follow the red and white markings, which are reassuring at times, as the path is really not visible.
Otherwise, it's a very pleasant walk in good weather.

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J38
J38
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Didn't find the Trou de la Guêpe, but it was a very pleasant walk. Allow time for a picnic and a nap at the top of La Buffe, it's worth taking your time there!

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Ange Heureux
Ange Heureux

We also had trouble finding it! So we did our best to provide as much information as possible to help locate it during my descent and on the map. But the difficulty helps you appreciate the place!

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randosoise
randosoise

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A lovely, peaceful walk, well shaded and stony in places; it fits the description perfectly, but despite following the directions very closely, we had great difficulty finding the "wasp hole"!

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never4nr
never4nr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike, combining the two "official" routes described on the information board at the tunnel car park. The views are magnificent, with superb vistas of the Chartreuse mountains and the snow-capped Belledonne range above Grenoble.

Like FBe69, I did it in reverse, but unlike him, I did the whole thing. I find it less tiring to climb the steep, shady slope (DA-7) and then stretch my legs safely on the wide, gradual forest path (4-3-2-1).

I can confirm the presence of sharp limestone pavement and the usefulness of walking sticks. I would add that the passage between the Grande Brèche and the Buffe (7-6) has a few short sections with nothing between the path and the cliff, which can be dangerous with children and scary for those who are slightly afraid of heights. On the rest of the path, it seems to me that there is either a row of trees or sufficient distance between the path and the cliff. Obviously, do not choose this route along the cliff edges if you have a fear of heights.

As for the route, I suspect that it is a theoretical route on the IGN map, as the path is a few metres off in some places, particularly when taking the ridges just below 2 to head towards Pas de Mortier 5, where the old path has disappeared, as well as between La Buffe and La Grande Brèche. My GPS track corresponds better to the OpenStreetMap than to this IGN track. There is no risk of getting lost, the markings are good and seem to correspond to the description, but it is normal to have a 20m or even 50m difference on the passages mentioned.

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FBe69
FBe69

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I did a shortened version of this hike, skipping between points 1 and 5... and doing it backwards.
On the initial climb (which is the descent on the suggested route), we found the wasp hole. It's nice, but nothing revolutionary. The walk along the ridges is very pleasant, with successive clearings allowing you to admire the changing landscape as you change direction.
In our case, it was a short 1-hour hike of less than 3 km.

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Ange Heureux
Ange Heureux
• Edited:

Hello,
for the wasp hole: on the way down, after passing a path on the right that seems to go uphill, continue past the hillock and then go into the forest for 30-40 metres, and you will find the wasp hole at the bottom left of a sort of clearing.
(We also had trouble finding it the first time...). Be careful when approaching, as the hole is vertical...

Glad you enjoyed the hike.

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Anne - Michel
Anne - Michel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Some beautiful views, particularly of the Chartreuse mountains.
We really enjoyed the fairly narrow path that winds through the trees, but it requires a bit of care if you're not used to walking.
We couldn't find the wasp hole despite precise positioning using the Visorando app on our mobile phone.
Could we have some additional information to help us locate it?

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