Croix du Léat, Pierre du Pin and Lac du Léat

Starting from Gleysin, here is a route that is accessible almost all year round (with snowshoes in winter) on the Montagne de Combe Grasse, offering unobstructed views and a visit to a charming lake.

Details

16852012
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.91 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 833 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 828 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,899 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,082 m

Photos

Description of the walk

From Allevard, take the Vallée du Bréda towards Fond de France. On leaving Pinsot, take the small road on the left up to Gleysin (Hameau de la Bourgeat Noire): there is a car park at the end of the road.

(S/E) Continue straight ahead on the level path for about 300 metres.

(1) At the crossroads, leave the main path (towards the Refuge de l'Oule) and descend slightly to the right, crossing the Maître and Gleysin streams, then climb up the steep slope opposite through the forest, following a few wide bends until you reach the clearing at the Chalet du Bout.

(2) Continue straight ahead on slopes that are now moderate, pass at the foot of the Sapins Henri IV and at the Bout crossroads, turn left to climb the forested ridge of the Montagne de Combe Grasse.

(3) At the fork (Les Lanches sign), leave the level lake path and climb left up a more discreet path (towards L'Oule) leaving the forest to climb to the summit of Croix du Léat.

(4) Head south-east towards the next peak on the ridge, Pierre Pin, via a mountain pasture trail with a few rocks.

(5) Retrace your steps to the edge of Croix du Léat and turn left onto the path leading down to Chalet and Lac du Léat.

(6) Go around the lake and take the level path to the north, which, with a few steep sections, leads back to Les Lanches.

(3) Return by the same route you took to Chalet du Bout.

(2) You can make a round trip to Lac Rouge by following the forest track to the north, which is level at first and then descends to the lake.

(7) Turn back to Chalet du Bout.

(2) Then descend to the left into the forest, following the same route as on the way up to the car park. (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,086 m - Gleysin (la Bourgeat Noire)
  2. 1 : km 0.3 - alt. 1,095 m - Intersection
  3. 2 : km 1.76 - alt. 1,395 m - Chalet du Bout
  4. 3 : km 3.11 - alt. 1,656 m - Carrefour des Lanches
  5. 4 : km 3.61 - alt. 1,819 m - Croix du Léat
  6. 5 : km 3.97 - alt. 1,899 m - Pierre du Pin
  7. 6 : km 4.75 - alt. 1,721 m - Lac du Léat
  8. 7 : km 7.63 - alt. 1,363 m - Lac Rouge (Montagne du Bout)
  9. S/E : km 9.91 - alt. 1,086 m - Gleysin (la Bourgeat Noire)

Notes

As indicated in the introduction, this route is accessible out of season, with snowshoes if there is sufficient snow cover up to the Croix du Léat.

The route is almost entirely marked in yellow (except for the Croix du Léat - Lac du Léat section), plus red and white (GR® 738) between Les Lanches and Pierre-Pin and between Lac du Léat and Les Lanches.

From Pierre Pin, theGR® 738 marked trail turns left towards L'Oule: the circular route is described in the other direction under the heading "Circuit du Refuge de l'Oule et du Chalet du Bout".
Please note that the Pierre Pin-l'Oule crossing is slippery and prone to avalanches, and is not recommended in winter and spring.

Worth a visit

Unobstructed views as soon as you leave the forest: western slope of Belledonne, Chartreuse, Bauges. You are facing the Grand Rocher.

Accommodation is available at the Chalet du Bout (limited places) and the Chalet du Léat: remember to bring some wood for the latter.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
nivolet
nivolet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, but it climbs constantly. Beautiful views at the lake. We stopped at the lake, but two people went on to the red lake on the way back down. It should really be called the green lake; in fact, it's a pond and not worth the trip.

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nathalie
nathalie

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Short hike, no difficulty except for the elevation (be careful if you have weak knees on the descent!)
Beautiful views at the edge of the woods.
No problem finding your way with the Visorando trail, all paths were open.
Note that there is a good-sized car park and dry toilets at the starting point.

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André-Pierre Magnard
André-Pierre Magnard

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello, a beautiful hike that is well worth the effort, no particular difficulty, a lovely climb through the woods to the first refuge (take a piece of wood with you for the refuge), then another climb before you reach the lake and its refuge. You'll be amazed by the views. But then you have to come back down, and it's not as easy as it looks...

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User 4651112

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

beautiful hike
Note that the first few kilometres are very steep, so it may not be ideal for a return hike.
Indeed, the path between 3 and 4 is not closed, but it is not explicitly marked by a sign, nor is the path that leads directly to the lake, which you take on the way back (the sign for this path seems to have been torn down, judging by the post, but it is marked).

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TrisranVDB
TrisranVDB

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely hike, very pleasant and relatively easy, with beautiful views at points 4-5-6. A wonderful atmosphere typical of Belledonne!
In detail, the path between points 1 and 3 is sometimes cut straight into the slope and therefore quite steep, but with no other difficulty than the slope itself.
At point 3, the trail to the Croix du Léat is not closed at all: there is just a sign indicating that you are entering a Sensitive Natural Area, with the associated restrictions (dogs, picking, etc.). The trail up to the Croix is also very beautiful. At the cross, you can shorten the hike a little by skipping the Pierre du Pin and going straight down to the lake.
Finally, Lake Léat and its unguarded cabin (lovingly restored by the Tous à Poêle association) are charming.

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Picson06230
Picson06230

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, fairly easy hike.
Signs indicate that the path between points 3 (Lanches crossroads) and 4 (Léat cross) is closed, probably due to soil regeneration as part of the biodiversity reserve. You must therefore pass by Lake Léat on both the outward and return journeys.

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