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From the Isère valley, head up to Villard-de-Lans and continue towards Corrençon, crossing the village to the golf course and its car park.
(S/E) Head south (GR®®91) as far as the Croix de Jacques. Turn right towards Pierre Copante and follow a stony path that runs alongside the tarmac roller-ski training track. When the track turns left, continue up the path towards Quatre Pierres. At the junction at the top of the golf course, by the sign marked ‘Quatre Pierres’, ignore the paths to the right and left and take the path straight ahead, which continues to climb through sparse woodland (marked in purple). After ten minutes, it veers to the right to pass a viewpoint on a sharp limestone pavement.
(1) The path descends and heads north-east, then east, bringing you back close to the golf course. Continue downhill along the golf course for a short while until you reach a junction at an elevation of 1,165 m.
(2) Turn left onto an unmarked path, which leads to the Barre aux Chèvres after a few hundred metres. Go round it on the right, following the safety railings, and continue along the path northwards until you reach the wide, gravelled forest road known as the Trois Fontaines.
(3) Follow it to the left and climb up to the Compalong junction.
(4) Head back down to the left along a narrow track that enters the forest and, after just thirty to fifty metres, climb off-track to the left towards the limestone outcrops overlooking the area: look out for an upper ledge which is in fact the ‘Arche-Tronc’ with its tree. Return via the same route.
(4) Return to the wide forest track heading north-west. When the track turns right, follow a path to the left which starts on level ground in the forest, then veers right and climbs straight up the gentle slope to the Pré Pansu ridge. Descend the other side to join a forest track and follow it to the right, descending a further 100 metres to the junction marked ‘Les Gelinottes’.
(5) Head left up the path, which is quite steep at the start, towards Château Julien. It joins the Malaterre forest road at a bend on the 46 at Le Chargeoir. Take the path opposite (towards Cote 1400; do not take the road).
(6) At the ‘La Cote 1400m’ junction, carry on straight ahead and, after a short climb, you’ll reach the karstic cave of Malaterre. Retrace your steps back to the previous junction.
(6) Head down the path to the left towards Malaterre. The path soon veers to the right (south-east) and crosses the Malaterre forest road. Continue straight down the slope until you reach the Grande Allée forest road. Follow it to the right for 200 m until you reach a pass/junction signposted ‘Pré Pansu’.
(7) Head down east-southeast towards Corrençon and Champalong. After 200 m, turn left onto an unmarked path (just a few blue dots). Head down through the forest to the north-east until you reach a junction. Turn left: the Loubière cave and arch are just to the left at the edge of this path.
(8) Continue along this path north-west; it climbs slightly then veers north before continuing on level ground to the Combe de la Loubière.
(9) You are now in the ‘Abris éphémères’ area, home to artists’ temporary shelters, some of which you’ll pass through.
Head up the path on the left to come out onto the Charbonnières forest track at Les Caballes. Turn right onto it and head down to the junction with the Galmiche forest track, which you follow to the left for 300 metres on level ground. There, a path climbs to the right to join the Sapin Bellier.
(10) From the fir tree, head south along a level path through the forest. After about 300 m, at the Charbonnières junction, head left up the steep slope which winds in a wide curve up onto the Généty plateau. Continue on level ground towards the south-east and, before the path starts to descend again, turn right towards the viewpoint, less than 100 m away.
(11) Continue straight on from the viewpoint, winding your way down the hillside. You will soon emerge from the forest. Continue downhill for a short while, then take the path on the right across the meadow and turn right onto the signposted track at the hamlet known as Les Granges. At the next junction, you’ll look down on the doline where the Gouffre de Corrençon opens out; a narrow path allows you to walk there and back to have a look. Turn left to emerge at the top of the Glacière. At the signpost, turn right to descend towards the railings and continue along them to the bottom of the thalweg, where the Glacière opens up on the right.
(12) From here, you can follow the path back up alongside the railings to descend directly to Corrençon. If you wish to avoid this climb, take the path opposite the entrance to the Glacière. It runs level towards the north-west and joins another path. The Glacière junction is then 50 metres down the path on the left.
(13) Take the forest track to the south, which runs on level ground. It leads to the Compalong junction, which you passed on the way up.
(4) Head down to the left towards Corrençon.
(3) Carry on straight ahead. Pass through Derrière la Côte, then La Perelle, and reach the 16th hole of the golf course. This brings you just above the start car park (S/E).
Did this route without snowshoes as there was very little snow, but took crampons as the path was very slippery. Lots of people up to Malaterre, after that no one else. No further comments.
Beautiful hike through the woods, but there are sections marked with a yellow and green cross that you have to take if you want to follow the Visorando route. There are also sections without any markings where you need a compass to find your way, as I didn't see anyone else on this route until Malaterre. Made a mistake of 100m at the barns, didn't see the path on the right that leads into a field closed off by a branch across the rest. Nothing else to report. 13.53 km for 490 m of elevation gain.
Visorando Member
Easy 
Difficult 
