From Pointe du Frou to Le Pertuis, starting from La Ruchère

A circular route starting from La Ruchère, which takes you along a significant section of the ridge comprising the Rochers du Frou, the Rochers du Quartier and the Rochers du Pertuis. The route is mainly through woodland, but offers some lovely views over the valley.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.73 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,696 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,686 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 4,406 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,661 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

From Les Échelles, head towards the Chartreuse and Saint-Pierre-d’Entremont ski resorts, pass the Pas du Frou and climb to the right towards La Ruchère. Pass through the hamlets and follow the hairpin bends up to the Nordic centre.

(S/E) Head back along the La Ruchère road for 250 m until you reach the bend marked ‘Les Raviers’.

(1) Continue straight on northwards along a forest track that descends slightly to the junction at Combe du Crozat.

(2) Carry on straight ahead, with a few ups and downs, skirting a wetland area on the right. The path veers left to begin a steeper climb through the forest to the summit of the Pointe du Frou.

(3) Follow the ridge, staying on its eastern flank, and climb up along faint tracks (almost off-trail, but not too difficult) to a high point, then descend slightly whilst staying close to the ridge. The slope gradually steepens and, halfway up, near a small viewpoint, you’ll come across a path leading off to the left at the same level.

(4) Take this to the left. It becomes a footpath and then a forest track, which descends in stages to a low junction, near La Verchère and the starting point.

(5) Turn right and join the next track coming from the left to begin the ascent towards the Rochers du Quartier.
At the first junction, let a forest track leading down to the right pass you by, and take a less obvious track opposite, which follows the valley floor for about a hundred metres and veers left towards the entrance to the Gouffre Parco-Polo.

(6) Turn back and, at thefirst fork, head up to the right, towards the south-west. It is possible to stay on this signposted path all the way to the summit of the Rochers du Quartier, but after 300 m, it is more varied to veer right onto another, less-used forest track, which descends slightly before climbing again into a clearing, reaching the ridge sooner, near a forest hut close to a viewpoint.

(7) Return south-east via footpaths to the signposted path, which you take to the right. It runs alongside the ridge, keeping a short distance away, then descends to the left, skirting a valley, crosses to its left bank and continues downwards until it rejoins the edge of the cliff.

(8) Then head up to the left, staying behind the ridge at all times, before the path crosses southwards towards the junction marked ‘Forêt du Quartier’.

(9) Turn right towards the west and continue along a path to the Belvédère du Pertuis.

(10) Turn left onto a path that runs alongside a gully, then climbs back up to join a track; take this to the right for a traverse across more rugged terrain leading to the Col de la Sarriette, which drops down towards Saint-Laurent-du-Pont.

(11) From the pass, retrace your steps a few metres and turn right onto the path winding through the wooded sharp limestone pavement, then descending to join a wide forest track which you follow to the left down to the Riondettes meadow.

(12) From the car park, just after the stream, turn right onto the path that climbs towards the Pré de la Morte and its spring.

(13) Continue climbing straight ahead; then, as the path veers left, it levels out. As you pass through a wetland area, don’t miss the path branching off to the right, which takes you up to the Cernay junction, where it joins theGR® coming from Tracol.

(14) Turn left onto it and descend first along the hillside, then along the fairly gentle wooded ridge. This path leads straight back to the Nordic centre (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,796 ft - La Ruchère - Nordic Centre
  2. 1 : mi 0.14 - alt. 3,753 ft - Les Raviers
  3. 2 : mi 0.55 - alt. 3,661 ft - The Combe du Crozat
  4. 3 : mi 1.15 - alt. 3,766 ft - Pointe du Frou - Pointe du Frou
  5. 4 : mi 1.76 - alt. 3,730 ft - Junction with the forest track
  6. 5 : mi 2.24 - alt. 3,773 ft - Crossroads near La Verchère
  7. 6 : mi 2.39 - alt. 3,737 ft - Entrance to the Marco-Polo Chasm
  8. 7 : mi 3.03 - alt. 3,822 ft - Rochers du Quartier – Forest chalet
  9. 8 : mi 3.72 - alt. 3,727 ft - Edge of the cliff
  10. 9 : mi 4.34 - alt. 4,052 ft - Forêt du Quartier junction
  11. 10 : mi 4.46 - alt. 3,993 ft - Pertuis Viewpoint - Belvédère du Pertuis
  12. 11 : mi 4.73 - alt. 4,236 ft - Col de la Sariette
  13. 12 : mi 5.15 - alt. 4,101 ft - Les Riondettes car park
  14. 13 : mi 5.44 - alt. 4,196 ft - Pré de la Morte
  15. 14 : mi 5.87 - alt. 4,380 ft - Le Cernay, GR junction
  16. S/E : mi 6.73 - alt. 3,796 ft - La Ruchère - Nordic Centre

Notes

There are no technical difficulties on this forest trail. The few off-trail sections suggested are through undergrowth that is easy to navigate.
Depending on the season, several sections may be damp or even muddy.
Most of these circular loops are suitable for snowshoeing in winter or mountain biking in summer.

Worth a visit

The route near the ridge offers several viewpoints, particularly on the western slope: Pointe du Frou, the Rochers du Quartier forest hut, the Pertuis viewpoint...

The Marco-Polo chasm is a series of pits popular with cavers, but which requires experience and specialist equipment.

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

3.9 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
3.4 / 5
Denis Mascré
Denis Mascré

Hike completed on 13 June.
I should have read the reviews before setting out on this hike because the trail does indeed disappear into the wilderness and even with a hiking GPS, I had to go round in circles to find my way back. The branches and tree trunks are still there, which is part of the charm of the Chartreuse. It's better to do the hike called "Les Trois Cols" (The Three Passes).

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Denis Mascré
Denis Mascré
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

J

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CamG
CamG

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

It isn’t the most scenic walk in the Chartreuse Mountains. Almost the entire route is through woodland, with few views (though there are a few nice ones around the Pointe du Frou). At that time of year, numerous uprooted tree trunks were blocking the path. The trail wasn’t always easy to follow as the path was clearly rarely used and, in places, disappeared into the vegetation.
All in all, a pleasant walk if you fancy a stroll through the woods, but there are plenty of others in the area that I’d recommend instead.

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DianeDy
DianeDy

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

There are lovely views of the valley from the Pointe du Frou and from the forest hut.
Please note that the forest track leading to the Pointe is currently difficult to navigate as it is muddy and has been badly damaged by vehicles passing along it.
Furthermore, many trees have fallen and the paths are rather cluttered (with branches and trunks).
All in all, I didn’t particularly enjoy this walk.

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chguilleminot
chguilleminot

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful viewpoint
The route requires sturdy footwear as it is very rocky
No major difficulties along the route

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Claude R3.
Claude R3.

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The Pertuis rock formations are less busy than the return route from the mountain pasture

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