From Sappey-en-Chartreuse to Émeindras de dessus via the high ridges

Date of your route : Apr 25, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

To be honest, the GPX tracks aren’t very useful.
The first climb might put some people off, but for regulars, it’s no problem.
Between point 1 and point 3, we followed the old tracks (still visible), but they aren’t very precise due to logging work carried out a few years ago.
After that, no trouble at all.
The descent between points 7 and 8 is typical of the Chartreuse, with very stony paths.
The views are superb (magnificent), particularly at points 4 and 5, and are worth the hike on their own.

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Date of your route : Oct 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Straight up the steep slope, you come to a path that you take on the left (the GPX track is impassable at this point), then a very steep path 100 m further on the right, at the hairpin bend in the forest track. Once you reach the ridge (point 3), the path turns left (ok) and then descends gently to the left. Do not follow it, but continue, probably on a very discreet path that can be guessed at on the ridge, because we got caught out and found ourselves lower down on the previously abandoned track that leads to point 6. It's a shame to have made such an effort to reach the ridge and not have followed it.

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Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The new path between 1 and 3 is very steep and should no longer be used. Tall grass and barely visible path. On this section, we were eaten alive by mosquitoes and covered in ticks. It's a shame because the rest of the walk was nice. I would rate this walk as difficult given this first section.

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Date of your route : May 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent landscapes, wait for the fog to lift to get a view of the snow-capped mountains. I think you need to be reasonably fit as the initial climb is quite steep, but the rest of the hike is actually "moderate" in difficulty.
Be careful on the descents because there are quite a few stones, so there's a greater chance of slipping. There's no problem following the hike except for points 1 and 2, which I explain below.
I confirm that you should avoid doing this hike after rainfall because the path was very muddy (both uphill and downhill).
I don't know if the path has changed between points 1 and 2 because the wide path mentioned in the description does exist, but I find the slope very steep and there are many obstacles (tree trunks, bushes, branches left behind by logging, etc.).It's difficult to follow the trail precisely with GPS, so I wonder if the original path (shown as a dotted line on the map) is accessible again. We'll see!
In any case, thank you for this hiking idea because the landscapes are magnificent!

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Date of your route : Apr 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike, but I would not recommend sections 1 and 2 in wet weather or after rain. Even with crampons, it was tricky.

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A beautiful hike, but I would advise against attempting it in wet weather or after rain, due to the steep slopes marked 1 and 2. Even with crampons, it was touch and go!

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Date of your route : Mar 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

There was snow on the trail, making it difficult to follow because there were no markings.

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Date of your route : Nov 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The trail no longer exists between points 1 and 3. The climb is very difficult and should be avoided (minimum gradient of 40%). Look for another climb to the ridge.

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Date of your route : Sep 25, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The highlight of this walk is the route along the ridge through a magnificent forest. Access to the ridge is quite steep but feasible. Only to be attempted in dry weather. Follow the forestry track all the way to the end without being distracted by a new track that crosses it perpendicularly towards the end or by the branches on the ground that make the path a little difficult to follow. On the ridge, the path sometimes veers off course if you are not careful, leading to dead ends; it is easy to find again by staying as close to the ridge as possible. The description was very useful to me.

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Date of your route : Sep 21, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

ambiguous information at point 2, which unfortunately led us down a forest path.
Following this mistake, we turned back and finally found the path "that climbs steeply into the woods".
Not recommended for beginners as the slope is long and steep.

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Date of your route : Sep 10, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Difficulties in sectors 2 and 3, with much more distance covered in the end... Easier afterwards...
Magnificent panoramic views from the ridges and a splendid view of the Emeidras du dessus on arrival.

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Date of your route : Aug 27, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful variation on the classic Sappey en Chartreuse - Emeindras du Dessus hike, particularly for the magnificent views offered by the route along the ridge from Pas de la Branche.
It's a shame that the climb to Pas de la Branche is made so difficult and complicated by all the damage caused by logging.

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Indeed, sections 2 and 3 are a little complicated due to logging and the destruction of the trail that appears on the maps. Once logging is complete, I will resume the route in this section, probably a little further to the right in the direction of the climb. Thank you for your comments.

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Date of your route : Aug 21, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

I did this hike on 21/8/2018, in beautiful weather. It's a beautiful, original route, but made difficult by the climb from point 2 to point 3. Without GPS, you're lost, because from point 2 onwards, there are no landmarks and you have to set off up the slope. On this very steep climb, right on the slope, there was a large area completely devastated by logging: piles of fir branches and abandoned tree trunks made the already steep climb very uncomfortable. It is only at the top that you find the old path, and from there on, everything is fine. The path along the ridge offers a beautiful view of Grésivaudan and Belledonne.

I would recommend this route to experienced hikers because of sections 2 and 3.

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