The "Aulp du Seuil"

The "Passage de l'Aulp du Seuil" ("Aulp du Seuil" passing): this hike is one of the most beautiful hikes of the Chartreuse massif.

Details

23202
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.94 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 824 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 824 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,828 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,064 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start point: car park at the "Col de Marcieu", located in the village of Saint Bernard du Touvet, in the Chartreuse massif.

Over approximately 400m take the small paved road towards Saint-Hilaire du Touvet situated 100m on the right after the pass- signs posted midway in front of the housing estate. At the end of the road, a trail heads North (gate) deeper into a wooded area; after a large loop on the left, take the path heading North on the right, cross the ski slopes and the ski lift. You get to a forest path, passing another trail and reaching screes (start of a short steep climb) topped by a fir plantation (check landmarks for the return route).

After a long walk in the South-West direction, and some twists in the forest, the path reaches a little clearing (place called "L'Alpette", altitude 1458m) which offers a breath-taking view on the vast rocky cirque where you can notice the upward path. You quickly reach the bottom of the cliff and the trail goes upward towards the cirque then climb large carved steps protected by barriers and other wooden poles for most of the path.

At the top of the cirque, a horizontal trail under a rocky canopy brings you to the Cross marking the passage, after bypassing one last mountain spur.
Take the same route back.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,064 m - Parking du > - Col de Marcieu
  2. 1 : km 0.46 - alt. 1,096 m - Carrefour barrière
  3. 2 : km 1.54 - alt. 1,224 m - South West Division
  4. 3 : km 2.5 - alt. 1,444 m - L'Alpette
  5. S/E : km 7.94 - alt. 1,064 m - Parking Col de Marcieu

Worth a visit

From the summit (Altitude 1830m), astounding views from the "Chaine de Belledonne" to the "Mont Blanc" and on the alpine mountain pastures ("Aulp") of the "Vallon de Marcieu", finishing by the "Col de Bellefond" and the forest ("Forêt du Seuil"), all boarded by the "Lances de Malissard" and "L'Alpette" ridges.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 76 reviews

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

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 02, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Safe, easy-to-follow hike. The few shaded sections on the climb require crampons due to icy snow. Cold and sunny weather, perfect for winter. The arrival at the cross is nice, but I recommend continuing along the ridge to the relay antenna (20-30 more minutes) for a more complete view, fewer people (lots of people at the cross using the base as a picnic table! ) and to see some chamois.
An ideal hike near Grenoble in the mid-range mountains for a short window (5 hours with all the breaks, chatting, etc. and a slow pace).
Thank you for this itinerary!

Machine-translated

User 23289950

Hello, this hike has been prohibited since 2023 despite positive comments from 2025...?

Machine-translated

Pilou388
Pilou388

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very pretty hike, made a little difficult by the heat

Machine-translated

pepinet
pepinet

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful route, the climb is tough, especially in the second part, but the reward is at the top with magnificent views.

Machine-translated

Jeepers38
Jeepers38

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

We continued the hike to the radio relay station. It took an extra half hour, but we were rewarded with a 360° panorama. It was a bit disappointing because the weather was foggy over Belledonne, so we couldn't see Mont Blanc.
It's best to wear good shoes and bring walking sticks for the descent, at least until you reach the forest.

Machine-translated

User 25990532

yes, I agree

Machine-translated

User 25990532

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : Not used / Not applicable
Very busy route : No

With regard to the application, parish specific to Brittany, it's very unstable and very difficult to understand, with images all over the place, so I didn't understand anything. It's a very reliable route but the application is very poorly trained.

Machine-translated

User 12461901

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very well described walk. It took me 2 hours to get up to the top, so I continued on to the chalet (which added a bit of elevation gain), but there was more wind in the meadow, so I went back up to the Aup du seuil cross for a picnic. Superb views of the Malissard lances and the Bellefond Belledonne pass, the Gresivaudan valley and, of course, Mont Blanc. However, there were a lot of people from 12:30 onwards. Then a careful descent with high boots and poles to avoid being caught out by the stones that roll under your shoes 👟 Don't go up too late as the last section is very exposed to the sun.

Machine-translated

Keyser
Keyser

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice walk (done at the end of November in the snow). Quite a steep but pleasant climb (remember to turn around or look up from time to time). Arrival at the summit with magnificent views (to be done on a clear day). Take time to appreciate the lances of Malissard and the Marcieu valley behind you. The descent is, of course, just as steep as the ascent (watch out for stinging knees). Thank you for making this route available.

Machine-translated

Rosane
Rosane

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2024
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 with a splendid view.
Done the day before the icare cup. The descent through the gravel and stones is not the easiest.

Machine-translated

PATS
PATS

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The route is steep but even, with a large section in the shade.

The view from the summit is beautiful.

Machine-translated

Jocelyne P.
Jocelyne P.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A great outing despite the steepness of the route. Glad to get to the top, after passing the foot of the rocks, with a magnificent view of the Marcieu valley where we had a picnic with our group. Thank you for this route.

Machine-translated

M13I9C3H8
M13I9C3H8

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A great warm-up for the summer. On the way back I took the ski slopes.

Machine-translated

Miscarofraco
Miscarofraco

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An interesting walk with a magnificent view of the valley below Les Lances de Malissard and a fine view of the Belledonne mountain range.

Machine-translated

Adrien Usseglio
Adrien Usseglio
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Lovely walk, takes 1 hour 20 minutes to climb to the top, very beautiful plateau.
I would recommend

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.