But de l'Aiglette from the Col de Vassieux

This short family hike starts at the Col de Vassieux and takes you to the But de l'Aiglette via forest paths with a very moderate elevation gain. Enjoy the view of the Diois, the Route du Rousset, the Grand Veymont, and maybe even spot some vultures!

Details

n°731608

Creation:
15 Aug 2017

Last update:
20 Jan 2020

Last review:
03 Nov 2022

Activity: Walking
Distance: 7.07 km
Average duration: 2h 45
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 245 m
Descent: - 245 m
Highest point: 1,540 m
Lowest point: 1,316 m

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Vercors, Diois, Dauphiné
District: Vassieux-en-Vercors (26420)
Start/End: N 44.830166° / E 5.359089°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3136ET, 3137OT, 3237OT, 3237OTR
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Photos

Le Grand Veymont from the But de l'Ailette

Description of the walk

Depart from the small car park at the foot of the Col de Vassieux (there is space for two or three vehicles). Please note that the road to get there is quite rough, so if your car is low to the ground, do not attempt it. It is better to walk up to the pass from the Museum of Prehistory, but this will add about ten kilometres to the route.

(S/E) From the car park, climb up to the Col de Vassieux via the only visible path (heading south).

(1) At the Col de Vassieux, turn left towards the But de l'Aiglette and, after about 40 metres, turn left onto a barely visible path through the mountain pastures to join the Chemin des Charbonniers, which you can see at the edge of the woods to the north-east.

(2) Follow this path to the left, go straight ahead at the first crossroads and continue to the next one (5 paths).

(3) Continue on the Chemin des Charbonniers to the right (south-east) until you reach the^GR® de Pays at the crossroads with the forest road.

(4) Turn right onto the^GR® de Pays, continue straight ahead on the forest road for about 2km, then turn right at the fork (elevation 1397).

(5) Take the hairpin bend to the right and continue climbing along the forest path for another 2 km or so.

(6) At the end of the forest path, things get tricky as you arrive in a beech forest with paths in all directions. Finish the climb by turning left and following a few hairpin bends to reach the summit about 50m to the south-east. The summit is marked by a boundary stone with a red cross.

Once you reach the summit, continue right towards the south-east on the path overlooking the Rochers de l'Aiglette. Be careful if you decide to walk along the ridges, especially if you are with children, as the cliffs are very steep. Reach the But de l'Aiglette at about 600m.

(7) Once you have reached your destination, you can begin the descent towards the Col de Vassieux via the main path (heading north-east). Please note that the descent is very steep, but signposts will guide you along the way.
Reach Col de Vassieux.

(1) Descend to the right to return to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,318 m - Parking at the foot of the Col de Vassieux.
1 : km 0.18 - alt. 1,328 m - Crossroads of the circular - Col de Vassieux (1333m)
2 : km 0.44 - alt. 1,345 m - Chemin des Charbonniers junction, on the left
3 : km 0.79 - alt. 1,344 m - Crossroads, on the right
4 : km 1.11 - alt. 1,316 m - Start of forest road
5 : km 3.12 - alt. 1,406 m - Right-hand hairpin bend
6 : km 5.17 - alt. 1,533 m - Free climb to the summit.
7 : km 5.8 - alt. 1,502 m - But de l'Aiglette
S/E : km 7.07 - alt. 1,318 m - Parking at the foot of the Col de Vassieux.

Notes

There are no water sources, so bring a good pair of shoes (especially for the final descent) and a pair of binoculars to watch the vultures.

Check the weather forecast before setting off, as the ridges can be very dangerous in rain or fog.
Ensure that hunting season is closed, as one of the trails is frequented by hunters during this period.

Worth a visit

Magnificent views of the Diois and Veymont. You may encounter deer or vultures.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5

Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5

Route interest
4.4 / 5

oponcin

03 Nov 2022 at 13:13 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The film of the same hike, but starting from the Saint Alexis Pass on a beautiful September day.
Watch out for the dogs guarding the flocks.
https://youtu.be/mrVKQ2eifsg

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Jonas

01 Aug 2022 at 14:32 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful view once you reach the ridge.
This route offers peace and quiet and plenty of shaded areas, which is very pleasant during this hot season! However, be careful, especially with young children. Although not particularly difficult, the forest road is relatively long and can seem endless at times, but it's worth it to reach the magnificent ridge!

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Algerard1

27 Dec 2021 at 19:05 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Walk taken on 17/10/2021. The small car park at the start was full, but we found somewhere to park a little earlier at the junction at elevation 1285 on the map.
No one said anything to us. Once we arrived, we saw almost no one else. We had beautiful weather all day.
No problem following the route. It was magnificent!
Thanks to the poster.

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guillaume7951

02 Jul 2020 at 08:27 7200

Hello,

I'm very pleased that you enjoyed the hike and that you also appreciated the section through the forest before reaching the But de l'Aiglette.
Kind regards.

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Rifi

02 Jul 2020 at 08:17 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 28, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An ideal hike for nature lovers and enthusiasts, starting in a flower-filled mountain pasture and ending on a high note.
After an hour and a half's walk through the forest, surrounded by wild strawberries, foxes and birdsong, you arrive at the summit of L'Aiglette, slightly out of breath. There you can admire a breathtaking panorama of the Vercors, with the added bonus of seeing vultures soaring overhead.

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MATYJAPY

03 Sep 2018 at 09:11 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

You have to walk three-quarters of the way to get the beautiful view, but it's worth it. The panorama is stunning, but you really need clear weather. The walk is very shady, which is nice in summer.

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fredobaroud

27 Aug 2018 at 13:16 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

A family hike offering beautiful views of the Diois region. We didn't see any vultures. The section through the forest on the forest path is of little interest except for making a circular route to return to the Aiglette rocks.

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slinky

23 Jul 2018 at 07:45 7200

Hello Thierry,

Thank you for your comment. I have just corrected the description.

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Thierryb26

23 Jul 2018 at 07:38 7200

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hello and thank you for the route description.

Regarding the access road, the road via Lauset/Le Plainet is in very poor condition, so it is better to go up via Marcel/Les 3 Frères (taking care at the end to avoid the bumps that channel water into the ditches).

Note on wpt 5: you should continue not on a path but on a wide track for about 2 km (not 2 m).

At wpt 5, if you prefer the panoramic view to the forest atmosphere (or as an alternative if there are hunters), you can continue to the Col de Chironne and then head south-west up to the ridge that leads to the Aiglette.

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guillaume7951

08 Jun 2018 at 22:36 7200

Hello,

I understand that the forest section may seem long, but it makes the elevation gain more accessible for families with children. Furthermore, if you did not have the chance to encounter any wild animals, this further diminished the appeal of the route! I am glad, however, that you were able to enjoy the view from the ridges!

Best regards

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haribo27400

08 Jun 2018 at 22:18 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A pleasant hike, but the main attraction was the section along the ridges with magnificent views (just above the route between 5 and 6). The section through the forest was less interesting, in my opinion.

The meadow at the start is also worth a detour.

Thank you for this contribution.

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Author

guillaume7951
14 Walks

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