From Conversaria to Col de l'Arc circular loop

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This hike takes you to the heights of Villard-de-Lans and along trails with beautiful views of the valley.

Details

n°42251262
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.01 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 644 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 636 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,734 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,173 m
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Photos

View of the valley from the Gobert trail

Description of the walk

Park in the Conversaria car park.

(S/E) Take the path to the right of the toilets. After 150 m, continue on this path to the left, climbing up to a fork.

(1) Leave the return path on your right and continue straight ahead on the wide path.

(2) Cross the Machiret meadows (Fonaine de Machinet) and reach a Y-shaped fork.

(3) Turn right towards Fond Froide and arrive at a crossroads in a wetland area.

(4) Turn right, heading east, under the fir trees to avoid this area, or turn left (path not very visible in autumn) and reach the fork at Fond Froide.

(5) Continue straight ahead and reach Col de l'Arc, staying on the main path. Enjoy the superb view of Saint-Paul-de-Varces and take your time. Be careful, it can be windy here!

(6) Turn around and return to Font Froide.

(5) Turn left onto the beautiful Sentier Gobert trail and follow it to the fork at Combe Chaulange.

(7) Descend to the right and rejoin the path taken at the start of the hike.

(1) Turn left to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,173 m - Departure from the Conversaria car park.
  2. 1 : km 0.34 - alt. 1,215 m - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : km 1.25 - alt. 1,265 m - Fontaine de Machiret
  4. 3 : km 2.04 - alt. 1,347 m - Turn right at the fork.
  5. 4 : km 2.61 - alt. 1,436 m - Wet area.
  6. 5 : km 2.96 - alt. 1,511 m - Fond Froide. Crossroads. Return trip to the pass.
  7. 6 : km 4 - alt. 1,733 m - Col de l'Arc
  8. 7 : km 7.4 - alt. 1,528 m - Combe Chaullange 1530
  9. S/E : km 9.01 - alt. 1,173 m - S/E Car park.

Notes

This is a circular hike that can be done in any season (but take care if there is a lot of snow).
Signs indicate the different directions to take.
In rainy weather, be sure to wear high-top boots and bring walking sticks.
Check the weather forecast before setting off.
There are no particular difficulties on this hike.
Dry toilets are available at the car park.

Worth a visit

(6) You can extend the hike to the left to Pic Saint-Michel from Col de l'Arc.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 6 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Maudvnlt
Maudvnlt

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike, the scenery is magnificent and the trail is fairly well marked.
We hesitated briefly on the way down the Gaubert trail, as we didn't see the trail at first glance.
There is a significant elevation gain, especially at the end, but it's manageable. We continued on to Pic Saint Michel, which is nearby.
It was quite windy at the top, so bring a jacket if it's breezy at the bottom, as it's very windy at the top!

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PierrickBZH
PierrickBZH
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with no real difficulty except for the elevation gain, which is gradual, as mentioned in the previous comment. We took advantage of the opportunity to visit Pic St Michel, which is very close by. The views from there and from the Col de l'Arc are magnificent, taking in the entire Grenoble valley and Mont Blanc. The hike took 4.5 hours.

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Lau3834
Lau3834

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely hike continuing on to Pic St Michel.
No particular difficulties

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Eljay
Eljay

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this route in January with hard snow on the trail. The route is superb, but with hard snow and a poorly marked trail, even with crampons it can quickly become dangerous, especially when approaching Combe Noire (see IGN map). Personally, we chose to turn back. So be careful in winter on this route, especially in the upper part.

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ocarina0656
ocarina0656

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This may be a new hike on the Visorando website, but it is still a great classic, including for ski tourers and snowshoers in the region. It was with great pleasure that we (re)climbed the Col de l'Arc, then the Pic Saint Michel. (very busy) Magnificent view of the snow-covered Rousses mountain range. Return via the beautiful Gobert trail (not at all busy), which is narrow in places and offers panoramic views. View of the Villard de Lans plain (with autumn colours). Splendid! Thank you for putting this beautiful hike back online.

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monmarch
monmarch

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I used to climb up to Col de l'Arc via Les Allières. But this route is really great!
Thank you for this beautiful route!
My friends and I have no regrets! A very varied route, the return trip on the Gobert trail is interesting, through the forest and also shared with some rocky sections and a beautiful view of Villard, the slopes of Lans, etc.
From Col de l'Arc, we made a round trip to Pic St Michel.
This Sunday, the sunshine had certainly encouraged hikers to get out, so there were quite a few people at Pic St Michel, but it wasn't crowded. And on the Gobert trail, there were very few hikers.
A beautiful hike, highly recommended!
Thank you for this description.

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