Circuit around Saint-Martin-de-la-Cluze

de fr

This short hike will allow you to discover this part of the Trièves. First, at the highest point, you will enjoy a magnificent 360° view of the Vercors, the Obiou and the western slope of the Senepy. You will then be able to see the Drac valley, Lake Monteynard and the route of the little train from La Mure along the mountainside.

Details

n°411307
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.72 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 224 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 234 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 818 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 578 m
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Photos

St Christophe Chapel in Paquier
The Pâquier Chapel
Avignonet Town Hall/School
Orientation table

Description of the walk

The hike starts in the centre of the village of Saint-Martin-de-la-Cluze, in the small car park in front of the school.

(S/E) Leaving the car park, take Rue des Gantiers heading south-west and follow it to the first intersection.

(1) Continue straight ahead south for about 250 metres, passing the cemetery and arriving at another intersection.

(2) Ignore the main road on the right (road sign: Monestier de Clermont), take the small road in the middle, still heading south, and continue for about 300 metres.

(3) Leave the tarmac road and take the path on the right that climbs through the fields; the climb is not very steep or very long.
When you reach the highest point, you will find an orientation table: this is where you will have the most complete view of the surrounding mountains.
The path then descends gently, passes under the high-voltage power lines and joins the district road. Continue straight ahead on the road to reach Avignonet Town Hall.

(4) Leave the road and take the path on the left that leads across the fields (hiking signs: Mageline). After a slightly steep descent into the forest, which can be slippery in places, the route joins a small road. Continue straight ahead along this road (very little traffic) until you reach the hamlet of Mageline.

(5) In the hamlet, take the road on the left and join the route that passes by the Château d'Ars. From there, the road climbs gently. On the opposite mountainside, you can see the track of the little train of La Mure, which unfortunately has been out of service for several years.
Continue straight ahead, passing the hamlet of La Cavale to reach a new intersection (marked with hiking signs).

(6) Take the road on the left and continue climbing until you reach another intersection.

(7) Turn right onto the fairly steep road and enter the village. Continue until you reach the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 764 m - School car park
  2. 1 : km 0.2 - alt. 769 m - Route du Vivier junction
  3. 2 : km 0.47 - alt. 778 m - Intersection near the cemetery
  4. 3 : km 0.84 - alt. 781 m - Path climbing to the right
  5. 4 : km 2.85 - alt. 812 m - Avignonet Town Hall.
  6. 5 : km 5.04 - alt. 578 m - Mageline
  7. 6 : km 6.51 - alt. 679 m - On the left, at the junction
  8. 7 : km 7.3 - alt. 728 m - Turn right
  9. S/E : km 7.72 - alt. 762 m - School car park

Notes

This hike is easy and often follows small, quiet local roads, but sturdy shoes are recommended, if only for the descent into the woods, which can be very slippery.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 20 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
Véro05
Véro05
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike with magnificent 360-degree views of all the mountain ranges. The elevation gain is not too significant, which makes this circuit enjoyable.
View of the La Mûre narrow-gauge railway line. The only disappointment was the very limited view of Lake Monteynard.
I've added it to my list of hikes to do again

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casillas
casillas
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A short hike while waiting for the World Cup final. Beautiful scenery in the surrounding mountains, muddy in places but otherwise perfect

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les mousquetaires
les mousquetaires

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

a lovely short hike with beautiful views of the Vercors, Oisans, Chartreuse and Devoluy mountains.

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Emesse
Emesse
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Oh, my, how wonderful these three mountain ranges (Vercors, Chartreuse and Oisans) are, with their peaks sometimes still covered in snow, rising up from a plateau completely free of buildings!

A short, easy hike to get your legs going at the start of the season.
Although much of the route is on very quiet tarmac local roads, the 360° view of the plateau between points 3 and 4 is well worth the trip! An orientation table shows the location of the mountain ranges, all their peaks and their names.

Thank you for this route, which allowed us to discover a magnificent 360° view...

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Coolpat
Coolpat

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, fairly quiet short hike. The description of the start is unclear; it took us a good quarter of an hour to find the right direction, and after asking a local resident, we realised that you have to start with your back to the school and take the road immediately on the left, heading towards Jeanne's, the small café and grocery store located about 50 metres away. Then continue to the small crossroads with a pretty, distinctive tower and stay on the road on the left that leads to the cemetery. From there, it's much easier to find your way with the route description for the hike. The second part of the walk, which follows a small tarmac road that fortunately has very little traffic, is less pleasant, as it is quite steep and less enjoyable, especially in hot weather... There is a small picnic table at the top on the left, which is a welcome place to rest and recharge your batteries before continuing or taking a detour to the small chapel of Paquier.

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Eric5
Eric5

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant walk, with many tarmac roads but little traffic. I went as far as the Pâquier chapel, which is well worth the detour.

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Mariefrez
Mariefrez

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful route with numerous viewpoints.
The route includes sections on quiet back roads.
We extended it with a detour to the village of Paquier and its chapel and castle.

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sbmoreau
sbmoreau

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 11, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A magnificent hike with views of the route taken by the little train of La Mure.

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npdc
npdc

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 07, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Enjoyable discovery hike. Several starting points are possible, which is interesting. Very well-designed orientation table. However, quite a long stretch on tarmac road. Thank you.

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danamarie
danamarie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

no problem
beautiful views of the dam and the Drac, as well as the remains of the railway line
thanks also for the geocaching along the route

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randonneur38
randonneur38

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 31, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

It's difficult to find the starting point. And I took the longer route, but anyway, go to the Château d'Ars, it's nice. I recommend it anyway

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sylviesylvie
sylviesylvie

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

we did it on a foggy day, so visibility was poor, but it was a very pleasant route.
To start from the school car park, we asked at the village bar, the very friendly "Chez Jeanne", as the directions were insufficient: on foot, take the road towards Monestier to reach the cemetery (then follow the well-marked route)

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carline2806
carline2806

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 16, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

a few navigational difficulties, as is often the case, at the start of the hike.

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michel crine
michel crine

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Very enjoyable parish-specific to Brittany hike. The description matches reality, which is not always the case. Beautiful view from the orientation table. Beautiful view of the Drac valley.

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Mel38450
Mel38450

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 23, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely little hike, perfect for families with young children (aged 8, 6 and 2).
With the youngest, it took us an extra hour, but it was fine.
Nice view from the orientation table.
Just a quick note: the trail starts on the right when facing the town hall/school car park.

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