Pas du Serpaton - Rocher du Cléton route

Hike accessible to all, practically all year round, offering beautiful views but requiring a good knowledge of orientation. Can also be done on snowshoes. No signposts between Pas du Serpaton and Chaumeil.

Details

n°3247128

Creation:
20 May 2020

Last update:
04 Nov 2023

Last review:
14 Jul 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 8.43 km
Average duration: 3h 55
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 529 m
Descent: - 534 m
Highest point: 1,680 m
Lowest point: 1,162 m

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Vercors, Dauphiné
District: Gresse-en-Vercors (38650)
Start/End: N 44.902257° / E 5.567745°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3236OT, 3236OTR
Hour-by-hour weather

Avalanche risk assessment bulletin

Discover Visorando Premium

Downloads

Open in the mobile app

Download GPX GPX

Download PDF PDF

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the village square of Gresse-en-Vercors, 200 m to the left of the cemetery.

(S/E) Walk down to the cemetery and you will soon reach a crossroads.

(1) Take the first right and continue to the end of the road a few dozen metres further on. Cross the Combe de Bonne Done stream. Turn left, enter the forest and continue climbing until you reach the road connecting Gresse to Pas du Serpaton.

(2) Take it to the left, follow it with the option of cutting across the field. Reach Pas du Serpaton, where you will also find the Croix de Gresse.

(3) Continue north-east along the ridge on a faint path, but the route along this ridge is easy and straightforward. Continue to reach the highest point. Enjoy the 360° view.

(4) Begin the descent to reach the small pass called Collet.
.
(5) Note: if you are not used to using a GPS or map and compass, it may be wise to turn back and return to Gresse via the path you took on the way up. There are no signposts and the aim is to reach the track leading to Rocher de Cléton.
Cross the fields to reach a path that also leads to the Chau fountain. Follow it to the left for a few metres. Then turn right and continue downhill across the fields to reach the cairn at the Y-junction of two paths.

(6) Continue downhill on the path opposite, which is not always well marked. Alternate between woods and clearings to reach the hamlet of Chaumeil.

(7) Here, rejoin the tarmac of a small road, join the D8a and turn left to return to the initial crossroads.

(1) Take the path on the right to quickly return to the car park on the square in Gresse-en-Vercors (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,194 m - Parking on the square in Gresse-en-Vercors. - Gresse (rivière) - Affluent du Drac
1 : km 0.19 - alt. 1,184 m - Crossroads of the circular loop
2 : km 1.64 - alt. 1,499 m - Crossroads
3 : km 2.6 - alt. 1,585 m - Pas du Serpaton - Croix de Gresse
4 : km 4.09 - alt. 1,680 m - High point
5 : km 4.51 - alt. 1,635 m - Small pass
6 : km 5.15 - alt. 1,504 m - Carrefour cairn
7 : km 6.89 - alt. 1,211 m - Chaumeil hamlet
S/E : km 8.43 - alt. 1,194 m - Parking on the square in Gresse-en-Vercors.

Notes

This hike requires a good sense of direction. Do not attempt in foggy conditions. The use of GPS is strongly recommended and ensures safety.
Although the hike is varied, the return journey from the Chaumeil car park, which is along a small road and then the D8a, is not very interesting. So if you have two cars, one can be left at the Chaumeil car park.
In Gresse-en-Vercors: all shops.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5

Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5

Ease of following the route
3.8 / 5

Route interest
4.8 / 5

georgespion

14 Jul 2025 at 08:35 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

After the key rock, your route is not well-travelled. For much of the route, you will need to rely on GPS tracking. Then, on the lower section, you will join a trail.

Machine-translated

micheline

23 Sep 2024 at 10:52 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route is very good with a beautiful view.

Machine-translated

MMIMI

01 Apr 2024 at 11:25 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We did this hike in winter (snow), which made the climb difficult but the views breathtaking.
Unfortunately, we had to stop 300 metres from the summit because the snow-covered pass was unstable due to the thaw, forcing us to turn back for safety reasons.
I plan to do it again in the spring to photograph ibex and chamois.

Machine-translated

Manunea

13 Nov 2023 at 08:06 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route to do with children as it is not difficult.

Machine-translated

Lucas Zambardi

17 Jul 2023 at 23:04 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
The hike was done in beautiful weather, 35°C,
along a lovely shaded path to the road. However, BE CAREFUL: look up, as there is a sharp branch across the path during the first kilometre, which gave my father a 2 cm gash on his head!
Once at the top, we decided to extend the route by going to the flag behind the antenna on the right. It's a bit of a climb, but it was worth it as the view is superb!
HOWEVER, from this point onwards, the hike is rather disappointing...
Between two points, the path is not maintained. In fact, there is no path at all. We had to cut across the mountain pastures with grass up to our knees and even waist-high at times to follow the GPS. Of course, after 25 minutes, you'll find the trail again, so don't worry! Remember to bring tick tweezers! They came in handy for us
Finally... after this long journey, you'll end up on a country road... which is a bit of a shame as it slightly spoils the fun...
The hike is still worth doing, as the scenery is well worth the effort! Be careful if you have a small dog with you, as this hike takes you through mountain pastures, so you may encounter sheep, patou dogs and/or cows...
Enjoy your hike!!!

Machine-translated

rvbernard

18 Jul 2022 at 09:37 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful 360° view at the summit. However, as indicated in the description, even with GPS, the second part is very difficult to find a passable trail. Still a beautiful hike.

Machine-translated

MarcheurFou78

17 Aug 2021 at 17:11 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this hike when we arrived in Gresse-en-Vercors. The hike is only busy at the beginning. We never found the trail to go back down and ended up descending through the mountain pastures, worried about finding the rest of the trail. It was a shame, as it spoiled the enjoyment of this wonderful walk with its extraordinary landscapes. In the end, it was 14 kilometres and 700 metres of elevation gain!
Definitely a hike worth doing!

Machine-translated

Boubout38

25 May 2021 at 11:35 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello, We completed this hike on Sunday, 23 May 2021. When we arrived at Pas du Serpaton, there were quite a few people there, as it is possible to drive up to the car park located about a hundred metres below. However, everyone follows the path that branches off to the right towards the south. We followed the description (3) and headed northeast, but it should be noted that shepherds have currently installed fences in anticipation of the upcoming arrival of herds in the mountain pastures. We started by walking outside the fence, but at one point it was installed very close to the ridge, making it a little dangerous to continue, so we had to climb over the fence (without any difficulty) to enter a little lower down the grassy slope, which will probably be occupied by the flocks shortly. This route could therefore become problematic if there are sheepdogs around! It would be difficult to get around the herd unless we went back down quite a way.
Secondly, as mentioned above, you need a GPS, map or compass, as it is quite difficult to find the path leading to the Chau fountain (5 and 6).
Finally, when we reached the hamlet of Chaumeil (6 and 7) and joined the D8a road, the return journey along this route proved difficult. Next time, we will cross the D8a road and take the path opposite, towards the car park and crossing a bridge over the Gresse torrent, a small path (where the altitude 1161 is indicated on the map) which returns to Gresse en Vercors, making a small detour but avoiding the tarmac.
Thank you for all these beautiful hikes that we love so much.

Machine-translated