Crossey Gorges - Croix du Rocher de la Garde

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This is an easy hike, except for a short acrobatic passage on the sharp limestone pavement near the cross. Beautiful view of Saint-Étienne-de-Crossey and its surroundings.

Details

n°2802300
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.20 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 226 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 227 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 696 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 475 m
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Photos

Arrival at Rocher de la Garde
View from Rocher de la Garde
The Crossey Gorges on the way up to Rocher de la Garde
At the top of Rocher de la Garde

Description of the walk

Park on the side of the D520 in a small car park. If you are coming from Saint-Étienne-de-Crossey, the car park is on the left: you can easily turn around here as there is an intersection.

(S/E) From the car park, take the path that goes uphill. Continue for about 500 m.

(1) Take the hairpin bend on the path to the left: be careful, this path is not very visible as it is smaller than the path you are on. Furthermore, there are no signs. Continue for about 500 m until you reach a signpost: take the path on the right and continue.

(2) At the crossroads, turn left and then left again about 30 metres further on. When you reach an area with a sharp limestone pavement marked by a sign, continue to the left to reach the cross and enjoy the view.

(3) Continue to the right to return to the sharp limestone pavement and then the junction at elevation 676.

(2) Turn right and follow the outward route to return to the car park at the start (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 477 m - Car park on the edge of the D520
  2. 1 : km 0.44 - alt. 502 m - Crossroads, on the left
  3. 2 : km 1.82 - alt. 677 m - Cote 676
  4. 3 : km 2.05 - alt. 685 m - Croix du Rocher de la Garde
  5. S/E : km 4.2 - alt. 478 m - Car park on the edge of the D520

Notes

Allow a little over an hour to complete the route.
The hike was completed without any problems with a 7-year-old child. There are no particular difficulties except for the sharp limestone pavement area: the passage (on the way back) on the right is a little easier.
The hike is mainly in the forest, so it is cool in summer. There is still a bit of a climb and in autumn it is a little slippery because of the leaves, so it is advisable to take walking sticks.
Due to bad weather, there are still trees blocking the path in places (January 2020), but it remains passable (you just have to bend down a little to get past or around the trees in question).

Worth a visit

For the return journey, you can do an additional 30-minute circular loop. At the point (2), turn left and then, at the intersections, always turn left instead of going down to the right. Please note that the OpenStreetMap is incorrect in this area: some paths are missing.

Towards the end of the circular route, you will come to a signpost: if you turn right (instead of left to complete the circular route), you can add an extra 30-minute circular route that leads to the point (1).

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 6 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
DenisCM
DenisCM

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful view at the summit

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sonon
sonon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk for a not too long and accessible outing.

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etoiledesneiges
etoiledesneiges
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant family walk through the woods, with a magnificent view at the end.

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leyeti
leyeti
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A short hike through the woods: ideal when the weather is warm. The trees that fell across the path during the last storm have all been cut away, so there are no obstacles to progress. When you reach the cross, you will be rewarded for your efforts with a clear view. Watch out for sharp limestone pavement.
If you're looking for peace and quiet, I think it's best to do this walk during the week.

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Elo-chapelarde
Elo-chapelarde
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A short, easy hike through woodland for most of the route, ending on a sharp limestone pavement with magnificent views of the Chartreuse mountains. We did it with our two children aged 8 and 10, who loved it.

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Mimizen38
Mimizen38
• Edited:

Hello,

It's true that I hadn't thought of that: when I go back, I'll try to make the necessary changes.

Machine-translated

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