Pré Peyret – Col de Vassieux Hut

(S) From the Pré Peyret hut, take the main^GR® trail and follow it all the way to the Col du Rousset.

(1) Do not descend into the resort but follow the contour line (this is the^GR®) to reach a small pass at the foot of the But de la Neve (you are just above the Col du Rousset tunnel).
Descend to reach the road (which is just below) via a descending traverse. Leave the road and take a path on the right (signposted for a via ferrata); follow a good, sloping path carved into the cliff face to reach a pasture with signposts at the small pass.

(2) Turn left and climb towards the Chironne rocks and the ridge, crossing out from beneath the summit.

(3) Follow a well-marked, clear track along the ridge.
Caution here: this entire section is close to the edge; take care of the ledges and, if visibility is poor, allow for a safety margin by keeping slightly lower down on the right-hand side.
Pass beneath the But de l’Aiglette to the large meadow, the upper part of which forms the Col de Vassieux.

(4) Continue to follow the ridge; shortly afterwards, a well-marked path branches off horizontally to the right, leading in 5 minutes to the Col de Vassieux refuge (E), today’s destination.

This hut is similar to the one at Chamailloux.
Please note that in summer there is a good spring a quarter of an hour’s walk ahead of the Cabane Forestière du Plainet (closed).

This stage is short and easy; I set off at 7.00 am and arrived around 12.30–1.00 pm.

As a reminder, the regulations for the Hauts-Plateaux du Vercors Nature Reserve impose the following main restrictions:
- Dogs are prohibited, even when kept on a lead
- Flying at an altitude of less than 300 metres is prohibited (therefore, drones and paragliders are prohibited)
- Fires are prohibited
- Deliberately disturbing wildlife is prohibited (take care not to disturb marmots and ibex, amongst others)
- Picking plants is prohibited
- Camping is prohibited, but bivouacking is permitted from 5.00 pm to 9.00 am
- Littering is prohibited (including in the shelters open to all!)
These strict regulations are necessary to protect the species and habitats found in this wild and unspoilt area.