Fountain - Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte

This first stage takes you on an assault on the Vercors, gradually leaving the urban environment behind you.

Details

38636
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.84 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 974 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 15 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,173 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 214 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S) Depart from Karl Marx Park in Fontaine. Cross the park lengthwise, heading south, behind the castle and then to the right of the tennis courts.

(1) Take the small road that climbs behind the buildings at the end of the park. Continue along the road until you see the sign for Pré Faure and follow the path in that direction.

(2) At Pré Faure, continue to the right, then 100 metres further on, turn left towards Tour Sans Venin.

(3) When you reach Tour Sans Venin, cross the road to take the path and continue in the direction of Saint-Nizier, not Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte, otherwise you will end up walking many kilometres along the road.
After crossing a series of roads, you will arrive at the hamlet of Les Michalons. Cross the hamlet and then the main road.

(4) Continue along the small road opposite, which is theGR®9. Follow this road until you reach the hairpin bend.

(5) Take the path on the right at the end of the hairpin bend, which leads into the forest. Once at the end of the path, take the main road and enter the village.

(6) At the roundabout, go straight ahead towards the cemetery. You can camp in a tent at the viewpoint, which is not far from the cemetery and next to theGR®91. (E)

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 214 m - Karl Marx Park in Fontaine
  2. 1 : km 0.39 - alt. 226 m - Take the road that climbs behind the buildings.
  3. 2 : km 2.94 - alt. 420 m - At Pré Faure, continue to the right.
  4. 3 : km 5.82 - alt. 641 m - After the road, take the path.
  5. 4 : km 8.54 - alt. 1,074 m - Hameau des Michalons. Cross it.
  6. 5 : km 8.85 - alt. 1,093 m - Take the path on the right at the end of the hairpin bend.
  7. 6 : km 9.49 - alt. 1,162 m - At the roundabout, go straight ahead towards the cemetery.
  8. E : km 9.84 - alt. 1,173 m - Camping

Notes

Water supplies are available in the village square of Saint Nizier and next to the cemetery.
The mini-market in Saint-Nizier is closed on Mondays.

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.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
Cammm
Cammm

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

This stage isn't very interesting. You can take a bus directly from Grenoble to Saint Nizier to start there.
However, this stage is a good warm-up before tackling the Vercors and offers some beautiful views of Grenoble. It's uphill and mostly on roads.

We refilled our water bottles during our lunch break at a picnic table. It was an unattended water fountain, but we had tablets.

Once in Saint Nizier, there is a bar, a mini-market and a few shops. The proposed spot for the bivouac is authorised by the town hall and the neighbours. However, it is very windy, so choose the area next to the picnic tables rather than next to the panoramic table.
There is a water source in front of the cemetery.

Machine-translated

Tim
Tim

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike done in snowy weather. We left Grenoble in the morning, the weather was nice, but it got colder as we climbed higher. Nevertheless, we enjoyed climbing the steep slopes, which took us away from the city with great pleasure. We passed by the Tour Sans Venin and the Olympic ski jump, which was a must-see!

Machine-translated

Scott07
Scott07

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A fairly demanding hike, not because of its technical difficulty (the path is well marked throughout) but more because of its length! I started from Grenoble and walked there and back, which is about 30km, and it's tough going.
Most of the route is through woodland, which is pleasant in hot weather. You pass some local attractions (a venom-free tower, an old railway station, the Olympic ski jump) with pretty chalet-style houses.
There are many, many possible variations (more or less short/steep).
For the more energetic, you can take the Moucherotte path to climb to the top.
The village of Saint-Nizier is very small but rustic and pleasant to visit (especially the observation post).
Water source at the start (Karl Marx Park) and at the end (Saint-Nizier, fountain near the parish church).

Machine-translated

Vincenzo60
Vincenzo60

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 20, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The designated camping spot is not ideal. It is not very large, not flat, and close to a house. We preferred to move away from the village and continued along the GR for 40 minutes. We climbed a little higher and camped in the forest.

Machine-translated

dudugrenoble
dudugrenoble

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A pleasant walk at a steady pace (2½ hours). Be careful at the start, as there are several paths pointing in the same direction; you need to follow the road. For my taste, there is a bit too much walking on roads (especially at the start), but the rest of the walk is very beautiful and enjoyable.

Machine-translated

skyppyy38360
skyppyy38360
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

What a climb!!!!!! But it's worth it once you reach the top. Thank you to the author.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

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.