Font d'Urle and Puy de la Gagère

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This snowshoe hike is impressive for the beauty of the landscapes. You will never tire of what you discover at every turn.

Not recommended in bad weather as there are no landmarks to guide your return.

Details

n°1737367
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Snowshoeing
    Activity: Snowshoeing
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.47 km
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 4 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 436 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 432 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,636 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,427 m
Downloads
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Photos

Porte d'Urle and Puy de la Gagère
The double arch!
The glacier
The horses of Font d'Urle

Description of the walk

The hike starts in front of the restaurant in the large car park at Font d'Urle.

(S/E) Head south towards the telecommunications tower, climbing uphill.

(1) At Porte d'Urle, turn left, following the fence and staying on the plateau side. It is very important to follow this instruction due to the possibility of wind slabs on the edge of the cliff. Continue climbing southwards, following the cliff.

(2) Continue following the cliff, now heading east. Tackle a beautiful, long climb after the Pas du Follet to reach the highest point of the hike north of Puy de la Gagère.

(3) At this point, you will see the Vercors mountain range with the Grand Veymond in the west.

Until now, you only had to follow the fence, but for the return trip, there are no landmarks. It is a vast plateau with endless reliefs. It is important to take your compass with you to guide you. Head due north for about 700m to reach an altitude of 1547m.

(4) Turn left to head north-east. Make sure you keep going in this direction as there are no landmarks until you reach the junction with theGR®93with its red and white boundary markers.

(5) At this point, veer slightly left (north-west) following theGR®, which then heads west to return to the starting point via hills and valleys (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,445 m - Fond d'Urle car park
  2. 1 : km 0.58 - alt. 1,494 m - Porte d'Urle
  3. 2 : km 2.22 - alt. 1,535 m - Eastbound
  4. 3 : km 4.04 - alt. 1,636 m - Puy de la Gagère
  5. 4 : km 4.58 - alt. 1,541 m - Altitude 1547m
  6. 5 : km 6.03 - alt. 1,518 m - GR93
  7. S/E : km 7.47 - alt. 1,445 m - Fond d'Urle car park

Notes

To undertake this snowshoe hike, a good sense of direction is essential and the mobile app will be a real bonus.

If weather conditions are uncertain, do not attempt this hike. There are no landmarks to guide you back after point (3). If fog rolls in, you will inevitably get lost. However, in good weather, the scenery is breathtaking.

Worth a visit

Dog sledding is also possible.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Downloads
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Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 11 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
User 27571709

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Start by following the "karst path" and then head for the ridge. All you have to do is follow the route to Puy de la Gagère and enjoy the scenery and the herds (horses and/or cows) you come across. An easy and very pleasant walk.

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HV49
HV49

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful hike in this area, magnificent panoramic views from the ridges
Most popular at weekends

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TOULAUD'RANDO
TOULAUD'RANDO

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely snowshoe hike without too many steep inclines.

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christianmarche
christianmarche

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I used this description to plan my hiking route. The weather was perfect, the landscape extraordinary, with a sea of clouds in the distance and beautiful views of the southern Vercors. I stopped for lunch at the top of the Crête des Gagéres ridge and returned along the GR trail.

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Jeepers38
Jeepers38

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We set off from Chaud Clapier, which lengthens the circular route, passing by the Infernet chalet and the Infernet peak (1,698 m). We followed the ridge to the Urles gate and rejoined the route. We left the Puy de la Gagère on our right to descend towards Font d'Urles and rejoin route no. 4 (snowshoes) towards Chaud Clapier. The circular is about 12 km long with a total elevation gain of 453 m. All this under a magnificent sun.

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maumorando21
maumorando21

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Picturesque route. Best enjoyed when the temperature is moderate.

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Kenogami
Kenogami

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Done on foot (I didn't realise it was for snowshoes).
A very beautiful, well-documented hike, but a bit of a pain between 4 and 5: nothing but cart tracks and harassment by "eco-guards" on horseback who wanted to check our papers. I'm very glad to be 70...
Between 4 and 5, pass to the right of Pot de la Croix to join the GR (hence my "average" rating for following the route on foot; otherwise it's perfect).
Otherwise, a very nice day and hike.
Thank you.

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Benoit Nelles
Benoit Nelles

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent panoramas and interesting geology if you take the detour along the karst trail (at the start, to the Porte d'Urle to see the ice house in particular). Horses, cattle and marmots await you. A flock of sheep graze with their sheepdog in the very peaceful park. We return home with some beautiful photos.

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Gigi38
Gigi38

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

beautiful route along the ridge, magnificent scenery

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berarde
berarde

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike done during the week, so there weren't many people around.
Magnificent snow-covered landscapes.
Already done in summer with just as much enjoyment, minus the snow but with the addition of vultures.

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Coralie W
Coralie W

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike. There is little snow, but that's not bad considering the lack of snow this year.

With good visibility, and if you follow basic safety precautions when walking along cliffs in winter, this hike can be classified as moderately difficult. The elevation gain is steady, the terrain is not technical, and the distance is fairly short. Finding your way back is not difficult. You can use GPS for reassurance, or else make a round trip to Puy de la Gagère.

A vast panorama: the peaks of northern Vercors from Moucherotte to Grand Veymond, Roc de Toulau and Ambel, Serre de Montué, Ventoux, 3 Becs, Dévoluy...

Be careful of the karstic cave at Baume Noire: it's best not to walk with your nose in the air!

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.