Country:
City:
Park on Allée de Rocheplane in the "GR® car park".
(S/E) Go around the ruined buildings of the central sanatorium to the north to reach the start of the path to the Cabane du Berger.
(1) Follow the forest path leading to the Cabane du Berger (signpost) which heads south-west. This path climbs gently through the forest before becoming quite steep.
(2) It intersects with the return path at a crossroads (signpost) with theGR® du Tour des Petites Roches. Take the left path, which climbs southwest towards the Cabane du Berger and the Pas des Terreaux. This path soon reaches the hut.
(3) Continue past the Cabane du Berger, still heading southwest on the path, which is almost level at this point. Shortly after a rockfall and avalanche protection structure, the path becomes much narrower. It then passes near a drinking water source and continues southwest without gaining much altitude, but becomes a slightly more exposed strip.
(4) It reaches the Pas des Terreaux, which is a shoulder below the south pillar of the Dent de Crolles, where erosion has exposed terraced rocks. A fixed rope marks the route to follow, which remains almost level. Once you have crossed the pass, the path veers to the right towards the north-west. Continue along this path until you reach the grassy slopes below the Pas de l'Œille. At this point, take the shortest route to join the normal route leading to the Pas de l'Œille: follow any path winding north-east until you reach the comfortable path of this normal route. Continue along this path (a small rocky section is equipped with a 2m cable, which is very useful for crossing the weathered rock) to reach the Œille and then the Pas de l'Oeille before arriving at the summit.
(5) Pass by the southern summit of the Dent (above the southern pillar) to enjoy the view, before following the ridge line that passes by the cross erected at the summit and heads due north-east.
To enjoy the fantastic view, never stray from this ridge, and in particular, never join the path below before reaching the Cheminée du Paradis. The path passes through several peaks, including Rocher du Midi, and shortly after this, it passes along the eastern side of the ridge for about a hundred metres. You will also pass a rocky fault shortly before Rocher Pointu thanks to a rock wedged between two cliffs.
(6) You will arrive at Cheminée du Paradis just after going around Rocher Pointu on its left (west) side. This chimney is not particularly difficult: simply press your back against the east wall (on the right) and climb up the opposite wall using your hands and feet to get across safely. That said, there are no ropes or cables, and you will find yourself a few metres above the void.
Once you're out, do not continue along the strap that continues along the axis of the chimney (this strap quickly becomes very dangerous), but climb up the rocks on the right (east) following vague blue and orange markings to rejoin the ridge. Continue north-east along the path following this ridge.
This path leaves the ridge shortly before an unnamed peak (1938m on IGN) to go around it on the left (west), then return to the ridge just before the Pas de Rocheplane.
(7) Pas de Rocheplane is marked by a signpost and a distinctive rock pillar. Once you reach the pass, take the path descending south-east towards Saint-Hilaire. The path quickly heads south-west under the cliff before plunging down the slope to the east. It passes an isolated rock (Le Truc) before arriving at the Sanglier spring (engineering structure).
(8) At the Sanglier spring, turn right onto a steep path heading south to reach a forest path 30 metres below, which is almost level. Follow this path to the right (south-west) for 400 metres. At a cairn, a red/yellow marked trail climbs slightly to the right: this is theGR® du Tour des Petites Roches. Follow this trail until you reach the intersection with the uphill route (signpost).
(2) From there, follow the uphill route back to the starting point (head towards the hospital on the signpost) (S/E).
Visorando Member
Easy 
Moderate 
Difficult 
Tourism professional
Extremely difficult 
