From Bois d'Autimont to Bois des Burettes in Pajay

This circular route passes through the Autimont forest before descending into the Pajay plain. It then enters the Burettes forest and returns to Pajay.
A notable feature on the descent before the plain is a cross dating from 1840 at the corner of a house at the Serclier crossroads. There is a beautiful view of the Chartreuse massif whilst crossing the plain. A pleasant walk thanks to its varied landscapes, including forest and ponds.
TO ALL HIKERS (SES) WHO FOLLOW MY ROUTES: you can post photos indicating their location on the route.

Details

3856260
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.22 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 269 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 253 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,401 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,099 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐
    Area: Dauphiné
  • ⚐ City: Pajay (38260)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 45.366272° / E 5.14587°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3133SB, 3134SB
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Start from the stadium car park in Pajay.

(S/E) Turn left as you leave the stadium driveway, then after about 130 m, turn left onto Chemin des Marfondières, which you will leave at the next junction by continuing straight ahead. We head uphill and take the first path on the left. Upon reaching the Combe Robert junction, we continue straight on until the next junction with a signpost for “Le Parapluie”.

(1) We head towards Faramans on the right. There are hunting hides all along this section. Don’t forget to wear high-visibility vests in this forest during the hunting season, especially if you’re passing through on days when hunting is open (strongly discouraged).

We continue straight on for about 2.5 km, ignoring the side paths several times. We come to a junction of tarmac roads where, just before on the right, a hunting association’s hut allows hunters to park and gather.

(2) We take the path down to the right onto the Chemin des Communaux, which we leave by turning left onto the Chemin de la Fontaine. We continue straight on until the junction with the Chemin des Bruyères (D156F).

(3) We take the Chemin du Serclier opposite, continuing to the D73, after passing a path on the right and the junction with the Chemin de la Seytaz (no signpost).

(4) We cross the D73 with care and take the stony track opposite, leaving a tarmac track on the right.

(5) We reach the edge of the woods and enter them immediately on the right, heading south. Before entering the forest, there is a table with benches 10 metres away where you can take a break.

(6) After passing the first path on the right, we take thesecond one, which leads us to three small ponds where a short break by the water is a must. We then join the path and turn right. After about 250 metres, at the junction, we continue straight ahead.

(7) At the crossroads, we take the path on the right, heading west. We continue straight on at the first crossroads, then turn right at the next one, from where we can see the meadow we are heading towards. We walk alongside the woodland on our left and turn right to join the Chemin du Bois (no sign) which heads north, and we walk for about a hundred metres.

(8) We enter the forest at the first path on the left into the woods and leave the path that continues northwards. We continue for about 400 m and at thefirst junction, we turn right and head up towards the plain to leave the woods.

(9) We take the path opposite to cross a stretch of fields with a view of the Chartreuse mountains in the distance before arriving at a livestock farm.

(10) At the Feuges junction, we turn right and then immediately left to continue across the fields and reach a T-junction. We turn left onto the Chemin des Alpes and then take the D156A on the right to enter Pajay. We turn right onto Chemin des Goutolles to reach Route de Beaurepaire (D73), where we turn left. We cross it carefully to reach the stadium car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,184 ft - Stadium car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.8 - alt. 1,329 ft - Signpost "Le Parapluie"
  3. 2 : mi 1.83 - alt. 1,388 ft - Hunting lodge
  4. 3 : mi 2.42 - alt. 1,250 ft - Chemin des Bruyères junction
  5. 4 : mi 2.87 - alt. 1,135 ft - D73 road
  6. 5 : mi 3.13 - alt. 1,129 ft - Edge of the woods
  7. 6 : mi 3.33 - alt. 1,115 ft - Turn-off towards the ponds
  8. 7 : mi 3.9 - alt. 1,099 ft - Crossroads
  9. 8 : mi 4.37 - alt. 1,109 ft - Entrance to the forest
  10. 9 : mi 4.79 - alt. 1,155 ft - Exit from the woods
  11. 10 : mi 5.44 - alt. 1,135 ft - Les Feuges
  12. S/E : mi 6.22 - alt. 1,181 ft - Stadium car park

Notes

An easy walk, no water sources, no special equipment required.

Avoid days when hunting is in season. It is recommended to wear high-visibility vests during the hunting season.

Worth a visit

Have a picnic by the pond between (4) and (5) if you’re there at the right time.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
User 18128373

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 30, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello, we were unsure several times about route changes and junctions because the description was unclear.

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Nini 38260
Nini 38260

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk.

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RANDONNEUR3807
RANDONNEUR3807

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It was a lovely walk, but the weather wasn’t on our side, so the autumn scenery looked a bit dull.
That’s part of the experience of hiking.
Thank you

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Klaudius33
Klaudius33

Thank you for your feedback and comments.
I still need to add some more photos, but it’s not always easy; you have to be lucky enough for the views of the mountain ranges to be really clear.
Claude

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Yannick_Josset
Yannick_Josset

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk, with no difficulty at all. The route is very well marked.

It’s a shame that maintenance work on the water reservoirs has meant the wild vegetation surrounding them has been cleared away.
It will take some time for these reservoirs to regain their charm.

Thanks to the author for this walk, which allowed me to have a lovely time.

Yannick

PS: On several occasions, there should be lovely views of the surrounding peaks: Chartreuse, Vercors and even Pilat. Today... it was completely fogged in.

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