Circuit from Montchaboud to Bellevue

Among the routes available near the city of Grenoble, here is a relatively short one with a reasonable elevation gain, which will give you an overview of the mountains surrounding the city. The route varies between forest and meadows.

Details

461926
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Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.55 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 344 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 337 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 726 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 469 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Leave your car at the entrance to the village of Montchaboud in the small car park on the edge of the D5a.

(S/E) Continue uphill, cross the village following the hiking signs for "Haute Jarrie".

(1) At the crossroads, turn right to pass in front of the wash house, then immediately left. Ignore a path on the left, pass under the power line and continue straight ahead for about 400 m. The road then turns into a path and climbs slightly to reach a fork.

(2) Turn left, continuing to follow the hiking signs. The path runs alongside a field and then begins to descend into the forest. On the left, the view opens up through the trees onto the village of Haute Jarrie and the Château de Bon Repos.

(3) At the bottom of the descent, turn right onto a path that climbs fairly steeply for about 500 metres, then continues horizontally through the forest until you reach the hamlet of Mont Rolland.

(4) Once you reach the houses and the paved road (Chemin des Imberts), take a small path on the right that runs along a fence and climbs slightly until it joins a wider path coming from the left. Turn right to continue climbing on this good path. The view gradually opens up onto the surrounding mountains.
Ignore the first path that branches off to the left, then a second one on the right, and continue climbing through the meadows, where the slope becomes a little steeper.

(5) Leave the path that branches off to the left and continue straight ahead, climbing until you reach the summit of Bellevue and enjoy the panoramic view.
Please note that an orientation table has recently been installed by the Grenoble Metropolitan Area, as well as a passage between the fences.

(6) From the summit, the descent is on more or less well-marked paths, heading south then west.
Keeping to this course, the route continues along the edge of fields, some of which are cultivated, and passes not far from the high-voltage pylon on the left. Just after this, the path enters the forest again and joins the ascent route a little further down.

(2) Turn left to reach the wash house and follow the path in the opposite direction to return to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 519 m - D5a, car park
  2. 1 : km 0.25 - alt. 530 m - Montchaboud, turn right then immediately left
  3. 2 : km 0.81 - alt. 581 m - Fork in the road, turn left
  4. 3 : km 1.43 - alt. 489 m - Turn right
  5. 4 : km 3.13 - alt. 486 m - Mont Rolland, turn right
  6. 5 : km 4.74 - alt. 693 m - Continue straight ahead
  7. 6 : km 4.96 - alt. 726 m - Summit of Bellevue
  8. S/E : km 6.55 - alt. 519 m - D5a, car park

Notes

This hike can be done in any season, but it is best to avoid periods of excessive heat, as the altitude is modest and part of the route is well cleared. In addition, during the summer months, the meadows are occupied by cows.
In early spring and autumn, after heavy rain, some sections may be muddy.

Personally, I did it in January with about 10 to 15 cm of snow and had no problems. The route is very popular, so the snow was packed down and snowshoes were not necessary.

Worth a visit

Nearby, you can visit the Museum of the Revolution in Vizille and the Château de Lesdiguieres, which was the residence of the Presidents of the Republic until General De Gaulle. The park is also magnificent with an animal reserve (deer roaming free).

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 25 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
User 28298244

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 02, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike rated as easy in terms of distance. But beware, the descents are steep, as are the climbs.
A beautiful route, completed in January, when it is indeed a little slippery.

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Fanne68
Fanne68

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely discovery in the mountains surrounding Grenoble. Two sides are a bit steep, but the view is worth it. The directions are reliable. Highly recommended.

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J38
J38

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant walk. The final climb is less challenging than the elevation profile suggests. Beautiful panoramic views and lovely vistas. However, avoid walking the day after rain, as the path is very muddy and slippery, and potentially dangerous. It is better to choose a "dry" time of year :-)

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ANMATROM
ANMATROM

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Tour completed in good weather.
Beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.

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Sonse
Sonse

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A lovely short hike with beautiful views.

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zatops
zatops

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice views and a pleasant hike, although a bit muddy in places.
Please note: at point 2, the sign is upside down, meaning that it is clearly visible when descending, but it would be useful to see it when ascending, and there is a nice tree nearby to hang it on.

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Eric5
Eric5

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice walk but the path is a bit muddy and slippery in winter.

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L'oeil en coin
L'oeil en coin

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very good route with beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
Best done in spring in dry weather as some of the steeper sections, both uphill and downhill, are slippery after rain.
This hike is best classified as easy to moderate.

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Paga38
Paga38
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 13, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route with beautiful panoramic views of the various mountain ranges around Grenoble and varied landscapes (forest/meadows). No particular difficulties, but there are a few short, steep climbs that may be challenging for younger hikers. Some sections of the forest may be slippery and muddy after rain.

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pascoub
pascoub

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely hike with a group of people with mental disabilities who enjoyed the scenery and the woods. The hike was a bit challenging for them, but everyone made it to the end and was happy with their efforts and the day they spent together

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Marion_Migette
Marion_Migette

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An ideal half-day walk. Superb scenery.

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caracan
caracan

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I didn't do the whole circuit. I left Montchaboud and went straight to Bellevue, without going via Mont Rolland. But I really enjoyed the walk

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emilie.M19
emilie.M19

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 25, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Nice, different points of view.
Slippery in places at this time of year.
A steep but short climb, followed by a long, gentle climb before the end (in the cow pasture).

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Brigitte DUPIF
Brigitte DUPIF

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 06, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Really enjoyable hike. Some beautiful views. Definitely worth doing. Be warned though, it's not an easy hike for novice walkers like us (quite a lot of elevation gain).

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gb38240
gb38240

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2019
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike near Grenoble. There are some stunning unobstructed views of the mountains and the valley, so don't forget to bring your camera.
Be careful though, although it is classified as easy, there are a few long climbs that may surprise hikers who are not in great shape or who are just starting out

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