Font d’Urle via Saint-Julien-en-Quint and back via the Plateau d’Ambel

de fr

A lovely circular walk to the Font d’Urle ski resort in the Quint Valley, partly through woodland, and back via the Plateau d’Ambel with magnificent views of the Vercors Dévoluy.

Details

n°28093620
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 18.52 mi
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 8 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Very difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 4,659 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 4,656 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 5,453 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,686 ft
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Description of the walk

Car park behind the church.

(S/E) Head due north on the D129.

(1) At the signpost for Villeneuve, keep left onto the D129.

(2) Leave the return route on your left. Continue along the D129. Much further on, pass Merclan and arrive at a car park.

(3) At the Route Forestière de Somme Longue, turn sharply left for about 100 m and take the small path on the right (marked in yellow and green).

(4) At the junction at the end of the forest track, carry straight on.

(5) At another junction on the track, take a path that climbs up to rejoin the track a little further up, until it becomes increasingly narrow and eventually turns into a footpath (continue to follow the yellow and green markings). Follow the winding path to reach the Pas d’Urle (Porte d’Urle on IGN maps).

(6) Turn left towards the ski resort, heading due north. You’ll reach a car park. Continue straight on, past the mountain hut, and on to the Font d’Urle

(7) Then follow theGR®93straight ahead, heading due north, before turning west, then north-west towards the Pas de l’Infernet.

(8) Cross the small pass and begin the descent, staying on theGR®93, to the Pas de la Ferrière.

(9) Leave theGR®93, which branches off to the right, and head straight on along the narrow path (hard to spot at first) through the meadow. Much further on, you’ll reach the Pas d’Ambel.

(10) Continue straight on, staying on the ridge, until you reach the signpost for Les Moutons.

(11) Start climbing towards the Tête de la Dame.

(12) Just before the large cairn, take the small path on the left that leads down (caution: steep in places) and follow the ridge to the Col des Teulières.

(13) Turn left towards Saint-Julien-en-Quint (the descent is quite steep in places).
Head down this narrow path, which widens further on.

(14) Take a small path on the right marked by a small cairn and yellow and green markings. You’ll reach the D129a.

(15) Follow this road towards Saint-Julien-en-Quint.

(16) At Les Touzons, continue along the D129a. At Le Colombier, continue along the D129a to rejoin the road you took on the way there.

(2) Carry on straight ahead along this road and head for the car park behind the church (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,827 ft - Car park behind the - Église Saint-Julien ( Saint-Julien-en-Quint)
  2. 1 : mi 0.21 - alt. 1,824 ft - Signpost for Villeneuve
  3. 2 : mi 0.35 - alt. 1,824 ft - Common junction (out and back)
  4. 3 : mi 2.53 - alt. 2,201 ft - Serre Longue forest track
  5. 4 : mi 3.32 - alt. 2,792 ft - End of the forest track
  6. 5 : mi 4.31 - alt. 3,632 ft - Junction with a forest track
  7. 6 : mi 6 - alt. 4,885 ft - Porte d'Urle (1496m)
  8. 7 : mi 6.54 - alt. 4,741 ft - Font d’Urle
  9. 8 : mi 7.76 - alt. 5,354 ft - Pas de l'Infernet (1692m)
  10. 9 : mi 8.99 - alt. 4,760 ft - Pas de la Ferrière (1456m)
  11. 10 : mi 10.78 - alt. 4,560 ft - Pas d'Abel (1396m)
  12. 11 : mi 11.5 - alt. 4,623 ft - Les Moutons
  13. 12 : mi 12.83 - alt. 4,934 ft - Tête de la Dame (1506m)
  14. 13 : mi 14.25 - alt. 3,799 ft - Col des Teulières (1170m)
  15. 14 : mi 14.87 - alt. 2,477 ft - Small path to the right
  16. 15 : mi 15.67 - alt. 1,929 ft - Faucon
  17. 16 : mi 16.82 - alt. 1,690 ft - Les Touzons. Walk along the - Sure (affluent de la Drôme)
  18. S/E : mi 18.52 - alt. 1,824 ft - Car park behind the - Église Saint-Julien ( Saint-Julien-en-Quint)

Notes

You can get water at Font d’Urle (7).
Make sure you have good walking shoes.

Worth a visit

Grotte du Berger.
Font d’Urle station.
View of the Vercors (Grand Veymont), Glandasse and Dévoluy.

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
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 2 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
subwrcnico
subwrcnico

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route that allows you to enjoy the Plateau d'Ambel and Font d'Urle, starting from St Julien en Quint (less crowded than the Col de la Bataille, for example, which is a real plus for me).
On a fairly hot day (32°C in St Julien en Quint), don't hesitate to take plenty of water with you as there is virtually no shade between the Tête de la Dame and the Porte d'Urle. I took 3 litres and it was just enough.
I did the circuit in the opposite direction to the description because I wasn't sure about going down from the Col des Teulières.
In the end, I think the direction suggested in the description allows you to enjoy the landscape more and avoids having to turn around regularly.
Conclusion: I highly recommend this hike, preferably on a day that is not too hot and if you are in good physical condition due to the length and elevation gain.

Machine-translated

Protee26
Protee26
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : May 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Instead, we opted to do this hike over two days, camping in a tent near the Tubanet mountain hut. The first stage was 16.3 km and the second 14.2 km. Naturally, we were carrying a bit more weight (a 12 kg rucksack and 4 litres of water). Be warned: it gets very hot on the south-facing slopes, whether you’re going up or down.
A very beautiful hike, with varied scenery. The tarmac road at the start is a bit long, but the return journey is easier, with a stop at the river just before you arrive to cool off!

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking Bec Pointu from the Quint Valley

Visorando Member
Bec Pointu depuis la Vallée de Quint
↔8.33 mi ↗+3,087 ft ↘-3,061 ft ◔6h 30 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Saint-Julien-en-Quint (Drôme)
This circular hike takes you up the south-eastern slope of Bec Pointu from the Quint Valley. Although the ascent and descent are challenging, your efforts will be rewarded by the incomparable 360° view from the summit, taking in the Vercors, Glandasse, the Massif des Trois-Becs, Omblèze and, of course, the Tête de la Dame.

Walking But de l'Aiglette from the Col de Vassieux

Visorando Member
But de l'Aiglette depuis le Col de Vassieux
↔4.39 mi ↗+804 ft ↘-804 ft ◔2h 45 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Vassieux-en-Vercors (Drôme)
This short family hike starts at the Col de Vassieux and takes you to the But de l'Aiglette via forest paths with a very moderate elevation gain. Enjoy the view of the Diois, the Route du Rousset, the Grand Veymont, and maybe even spot some vultures!

Walking Montagne de Desse from Marignac-en-Diois

Visorando Member
↔3.80 mi ↗+1,355 ft ↘-1,309 ft ◔2h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Marignac-en-Diois (Drôme)
Circular on the Montagne de Desse, between Marignac-en-Diois and Ponet-Saint-Auban. Long passage on the ridge, exposed. Beautiful views of the Drôme valley, near Die, and the foothills of the Vercors.

Walking But Saint-Genix - Col de Vassieux - But de l'Aiglette

Visorando Member
But Saint-Genix - Col de Vassieux - But de l'Aiglette
↔10.32 mi ↗+2,343 ft ↘-2,333 ft ◔6h 45 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Vassieux-en-Vercors (Drôme)
The Cols de Vassieux offer breathtaking views of the Marignac en Diois valley, Die, the Col du Rousset, the Glandasse, the Grand Veymont and the entire chain up to the Pic Saint-Michel above Villard-de-Lans and the Chironne rocks. Breathtaking ravines, flowers and butterflies everywhere, a marvel and, as a bonus, the passage of griffon vultures reintroduced to the region!

Walking But de l’Aiglette from Marignac-en-Diois

Visorando Member
But de l'Aiglette depuis Marignac-en-Diois
↔8.30 mi ↗+3,307 ft ↘-3,281 ft ◔6h 40 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Marignac-en-Diois (Drôme)
A beautiful walk offering a wide variety of landscapes and splendid panoramic views from the ridge of the But de l’Aiglette, over the peaks of the Vercors, the Diois and the Baronnies, and across the Drôme and Quint valleys.

Walking Destination: Saint-Genix

Visorando Member
But Saint-Genix
↔10.53 mi ↗+3,743 ft ↘-3,720 ft ◔8h 05 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Marignac-en-Diois (Drôme)
This circular hike via the Col de Vassieux, But Saint-Genix and the Pas des Boullanains offers magnificent panoramic views of the Vercors, the Diois and the foothills of the Baronnies and Ventoux.

Walking Col de Vassieux from Marignac

Visorando Member
Col de Vassieux au départ de Marignac
↔6.30 mi ↗+2,726 ft ↘-2,743 ft ◔5h 15 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Marignac-en-Diois (Drôme)
A beautiful walk starting from Marignac-en-Diois, which provides access to the Vercors balcony. Very beautiful view to the south. Numerous possible extensions on the Vercors plateau.

Walking La Tête de la Dame

Visorando Member
La Tête de la Dame
↔6.45 mi ↗+2,877 ft ↘-2,877 ft ◔5h 30 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Omblèze (Drôme)
The summit of the Tête de la Dame offers superb views of the Diois, the Drôme valley and the Vercors massif.

For more walks, use our search engine .

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