Dent de Crolles and Lance Sud de Malissard loop via Perquelin

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Here is an unusual and challenging hike. It takes in all the must-see sights of the Dent de Crolles and its surroundings: Source du Guiers Mort, Arche à l’Aiguille, Sangle Barrère, Chemin des Crêtes, Arche de Rocheplane and Lance Sud de Malissard.

⚠️ 05/06/2026: route modified to avoid the Trou du Glaz path, which has been closed since November 2025 following a rockslide.

Details

n°78320078
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.77 mi
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 8 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Very difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 5,079 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 5,052 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 6,759 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,136 ft
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Photos

Guiers Mort strap
Dent de Crolles
Barrier strap
Lance Sud de Malissard

Description of the walk

Park at the Perquelin car park, located after the hamlet.

(S/E) Join the forest road and follow it, turning left and crossing Perlequin.

(1) Take the path on the left, following the GRP® Tour de Chartreuse. Walk along a field and very soon continue into the forest until you reach a junction where, on the left, you can climb up to the Source du Guiers.

(2) Stay on the path on the right and continue along the GRP® Tour de Chartreuse to the Col des Ayes.

(3) Head eastwards towards the Pas de l'Oeille and the Dent de Crolles through open terrain.

(4) Leave the path leading to the Pas de l'Œille on your left and continue straight on to reach the Dent de Crolles.

(5) Head for the path that runs along the ridges, well marked by the trail. Continue along the ridge for a long, stunning stretch and arrive at the Cheminée du Paradis.

(6) This is a narrow section with good handholds, but if your rucksack is larger than 50 litres, you will need to carry it up ahead of you. After this section, continue towards Rocheplane, where the path can be tricky at times as there are many trails that can lead you astray around the small sharp limestone pavements. Reach the "Rocheplane" signpost.

(7) Take the path that climbs to a small viewpoint and continue to a crossroads at Pas de Montbrun, marked by a weathered blue marker.

(8) Follow the blue markers to the right to reach the Sangle des Arches. Turn right onto this path to reach the Rocheplane Arch:the path is exposed but passable.

(9) Turn back.

(8) Turn right towards the Col de Bellefont. Pass the Piton de Bellefont and reach the pass: admire the Marcieu and Bellefont valleys and the southern ridge of Malissard.

(10) Take the well-marked path opposite, which climbs up a scree slope marking the start of the ascent of the Lance de Malissard. This climb is tricky due to the number of scree slopes but is passable. Reach the summit, marked by a cairn with a metal box, and admire the view.

(11) The return route follows the same path as the ascent to reach the Col de Bellefont.

(10) Take the winding descent on the right leading to the Cabane de Bellefont.

(12) Continue to the right, following the signs for Col de la Saulce and Perquelin. Reach Col de la Saulce.

(13) Turn left towards Perquelin.

(14) Turn left for about 50 metres, then follow the path to the right. At the junction, turn right to begin a series of hairpin bends leading to a junction where you must turn left.

(15) Turn right again, cross the Ruisseau de la Saulce then turn immediately left to follow it.

(16) Cross the stream again and continue straight on until you reach the junction marked "Ruisseau de Bellefont".

(17) Turn right to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,232 ft - Perquelin car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.76 - alt. 3,143 ft - Signpost: Ruisseau de Bellefont
  3. 2 : mi 1.74 - alt. 3,990 ft - Wooden sign
  4. 3 : mi 2.82 - alt. 5,059 ft - Crossing a stream
  5. 4 : mi 3.92 - alt. 6,621 ft - Junction - Pas de l'Oeille (2009m)
  6. 5 : mi 4.02 - alt. 6,759 ft - Dent de Crolles
  7. 6 : mi 5.21 - alt. 6,073 ft - Cheminée du Paradis
  8. 7 : mi 5.95 - alt. 6,073 ft - Pas de Rocheplane (1860m)
  9. 8 : mi 6.37 - alt. 6,115 ft - Pas de Montbrun (access to the Rocheplane Arch)
  10. 9 : mi 6.59 - alt. 6,027 ft - Rocheplane Arch
  11. 10 : mi 7.44 - alt. 6,240 ft - Col de Bellefont (1902m)
  12. 11 : mi 7.81 - alt. 6,637 ft - Southern Ridge of Malissard
  13. 12 : mi 8.88 - alt. 5,361 ft - Bellefont Hut
  14. 13 : mi 9.57 - alt. 4,849 ft - Col de la Saulce
  15. 14 : mi 10.1 - alt. 4,419 ft - Junction
  16. 15 : mi 10.55 - alt. 4,052 ft - Junction
  17. 16 : mi 10.98 - alt. 3,724 ft - Saulce Stream
  18. 17 : mi 11.26 - alt. 3,514 ft - Signpost ‘Ruisseau de Bellefont’
  19. S/E : mi 11.77 - alt. 3,232 ft - Perquelin car park

Notes

Water points at the Fontaine Noire, Source du Guiers and Cabane de Bellefont.

The path is quite exposed at Sangle Barrère and the ridge path.

The passage through the Cheminée du Paradis (6) is somewhat technical and very narrow.

Exit: https://youtu.be/pS3k1YqlfFI?si=AasjiXT3JMfKYHeF

Hauts de Chartreuse Nature Reserves

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Reviews and comments

quayefin
quayefin
• Edited:

The Sangle de Barrère and Trou du Glaz routes are impassable; access is prohibited; the Sangle path is cracked (rockfall at Trou du Glaz during the winter of 2026).
To the author: could you please remove this hike, or amend the route to include an ascent from Perquelin via the Col des Ayes and the Pas de l’Œille? Thank you.

Machine-translated

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