Col de la Pra and Grand Colon from the Quatres Chemins car park

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

Hello to all Visio hikers

We completed this hike this weekend under beautiful sunshine, in fairly exceptional conditions for the start of the season. The climb was gentle but still quick to the PRA refuge, which was well protected by the still significant snow cover. We shared a meal with other hikers in the refuge, and the strong smell of a fondue organised by another group lingered in the dormitory until the next morning! But nothing insurmountable!
We set off in the cool morning air towards Lac de Merlat, then climbed the Col du Gollon. There were small snowfields to cross to reach the lake, so we had to be careful, especially on the descent. With a little caution and good footwear, we made it through!
the climb to the pass was easy, with the route mostly free of snow in the upper section. The view from the summit was breathtaking...

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Date of your route : Nov 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

One of the most beautiful classic hikes in the Grenoble area. No particular difficulty.

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Date of your route : Oct 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent hike done in the opposite direction.
Departure at 9 a.m. from the starting point. Based on the comments, I was expecting a real road, but it's a forest path with stones. No traffic and fairly flat compared to what follows , which allows you to warm up before tackling the hard part. The climb to the Grand Colon is varied and long. The summit only appears at the end... you've been hoping for it for a long time. The final dome is quite lunar and the final view is breathtaking. The descent through the scree towards Lake Merlat is fairly easy, with some rolling terrain at times.
Lunch break by the lake, we'd like to stay here longer.
The plateau towards the Pra refuge is relaxing.
After the Col de la Pra, we were tempted by the Domenons (which wasn't planned). The climb is a bit technical but nothing too difficult.
We returned via the Crozet, which was pleasantly empty that day, and descended to the car park.
A superb hike, definitely worth repeating. About 7 hours in total (not including the lunch break).
Thanks for the discovery.

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Date of your route : Aug 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike! We did it in two days, leaving at 4pm from the car park on the first day to enjoy the sunset. We went camping by the Doménons lakes (a short 45-minute detour uphill after Lake Crozet). The sunset here is sublime. There are clear spaces to pitch your tent.

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Date of your route : Jul 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike done on Saturday 20 July with three people. We didn't know it was UT4M day. We certainly got in the way a little of the trail runners coming towards us between Lac du Crozet and Refuge de la Pra, even though we did our best to make it easier for them by cheering them on.
Before the Col de la Pra, you can clearly see the landslide that occurred a few years ago, but the trail passes without any problems.
Because of the UT4M, the herd was between the Refuge de la Pra and Lac Merlat, right on our route. We were given excellent advice on the location of the herd and the small detour to take to avoid it.
The final climb is quite tough, but the view from the top is exceptional (especially in good weather, which we were lucky enough to have).
There were huge crowds in the car parks at Freydières, Les 4 Chemins and Pré Raymond (perhaps partly due to the trail).
We will definitely do this hike again, but probably in June or September to avoid the crowds.

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Date of your route : Sep 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello, a hike on a sunny Sunday. Parking is difficult if you arrive around 10 a.m., and cars drive up to the highest point, which is a bit unfortunate for walkers. There are lots of families with young, energetic children enjoying a picnic by the lakes, and given the temperature, there are also a few swimmers.
No difficulty finding your way around, with clear signage and markings on the ground. There are sheep and patous (shepherd dogs) on the Pra refuge mountain pasture, but they are easy to avoid as there are warnings upstream and downstream.
Much quieter after La Crozet... In conclusion, a beautiful hike that can be done in both directions, it's up to you..
The description is perfect, thank you to the author!

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Date of your route : Sep 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A classic, popular hike to the Pra refuge on a beautiful day. Then wild, deserted terrain. Mountain dogs present during the grazing season. Ideal bivouac at Lake Merlat, steep climb to Grand Colon, fairly obvious yellow markings, lots of chamois, a little snow. 360° view, fairly long descent, again popular. A beautiful, relaxing two-day loop, completed in 8.5 hours

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Date of your route : Jul 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello. Hike completed on 8 July 2023 in beautiful weather. We started a little lower than described, at an altitude of around 1,120 metres. There were a few hikers up to the Col de la Pra, then from there to the summit there were very few people. Magnificent 360° view of Vercors, Mont Aiguille, Chartreuse, Bauges and the Belledonne massif. The final steep climb is really enjoyable!!! The descent is less rocky than the climb, on a slightly stony path, then a good trail ending on a track and finally tarmac (we started below the recommended starting point). Set off early to avoid the crowds.

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Date of your route : Aug 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely circular walk: a pleasant climb up to the beautiful Lac du Crozet, then the Col de la Pra, a break at the refuge and a gentle descent to the secluded Lac Merlat. For the steep climb up to the Grand Colon, we followed some cairns and orange markings but lost the path and ended up in scree until we reached the summit (we must have missed something). Beautiful view of the Belledonne massif and Grenoble. Descent on a well-marked trail then a slightly long forest track to reach the car park.

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Date of your route : Jul 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike, exactly as described. The climb up to the Col du Colon is a bit tough on the legs! We did a variation, heading towards the Col de Belledone from the Col de la Pra, but were stopped by snow before reaching the summit. There were beautiful lakes and rivers, some of which still had ice and icebergs.

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Date of your route : Jul 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike: a long, continuous climb followed by a relatively fast descent, all in one go...
Like last week, you have to pass through the cloud zone before emerging into sunshine when you reach Lake Crozet. Chamechaude seems to float like an upturned boat above the clouds that completely hide the Grésivaudan valley. Swimming and picnic at Lake Merlat (less crowded than I feared), good preparation for the steep climb to the summit of Grand Colon. The clouds cover Grenoble and the valley.
The descent is fairly quick, in one go.
Nice local beer in Freydières!

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Date of your route : May 03, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Not very busy due to the off-season.... superb walk,
Start from car park point 1: long but pleasant climb to Lake Crozet. At this time of year, wear shoes with good grip. Cross snowfields. Hard snow.
Impossible to go beyond point 4: steep snowy area above the snow-covered lake with melting ice. Many accidents in this area.
Return to point 1. The descent is just as superb because of the different views. Watch out for snowfields... it's slippery.
But it is certainly very, even too busy from the end of June.
For the moment, it is not possible to complete the entire loop.
NB: walking poles are recommended for the long descents.

Downside: between points 1 and 12... very long walk on an uninteresting forest road (at least 1½ hours' walk)

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Date of your route : Aug 06, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Great hike and good guidebook.
One small issue at point 7, Lac du Merlat: I had quite a bit of trouble finding the path up to the Col du Grand Colon. For novices like me, you need to follow the path south of the lake as indicated and then continue along it. You cross back over to the other side of the lake and the start of the climb is marked by small pyramids made by hikers. Follow them carefully to the top.
Enjoy your walk!

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Date of your route : Sep 23, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very good hike, hardly saw anyone (did it on a Monday), saw two chamois before Lac du Crozet. Interesting route with varied landscapes. Unfortunately, it was cloudy at Grand Colon. However, after the colon's hut, I made my first mistake by continuing straight ahead instead of going downhill. I turned back when I realised it was becoming impassable and then found the path downhill. It took 5½ hours with lots of photo breaks, plus a break at Lac de Crozet and at the top of the pass. No special equipment required.

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Date of your route : Aug 04, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A superb two-day hike.
No problems reaching the Pra refuge where you can refill your water bottles. The rest of the hike is much less frequented and the campsite at Lake Merlat is perfect. Just follow the directions in the guidebook to get there. The water at the lake wasn't that cold! Be careful, as the sun disappears quite early behind the mountains. We were glad to have all our layers, even in the middle of August.

The final climb takes you to the highest point of the hike. What a view! The descent ends with a series of small bends through the forest, which is very pleasant in the heat.

It's worth noting that many people seemed to be doing the hike in the opposite direction, which seems much less interesting to me: no surprises at the top of the pass, 1,000 metres of elevation gain to swallow in one go...

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