The Chartreuse de Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez

Hike in the Pilat Massif with views of the Rhône Valley.

Details

7843
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.30 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 398 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 396 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 654 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 350 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start from the Couzon dam on the D30

(S/E) Take the path that climbs up from the road (north-east) for about 1 km.

(1) At the next houses on the right, leave the path, climb towards them and pass above the hamlet. Continue on the plateau, after 500 m continue on a narrower path and continue for another 500 m.

(2) Take the path that turns 45 degrees to the left. After about 500 m, take the path on the right and climb uphill. When you reach the Roches de Merlin, don't forget to lie down on them (very good for pain).

(3) Go back down the path on the right towards Jurieux. Turn off towards the Jurieux chapel.

(4) Go back 100 m, go down the small road and cross the D30.

(5) Take the small path that descends to the priory. Enter through a passage under the buildings, cross the courtyard, and another passage on the left will lead you to the exit.

(6) After visiting the Carthusian Priory, head back up to the visitor car park, towards Seyoux (signposted). Continue north-west.

(7) Turn right at the cross.

(8) Before Seyoux, turn right and then, behind the last houses, take the path on the right that descends into the valley. Stay on the path that runs along the stream to the left until you reach the edge of the reservoirs. Follow the lake to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 350 m - Couzon dam on the D30
  2. 1 : km 1.15 - alt. 409 m - Fork in the road
  3. 2 : km 2.53 - alt. 505 m - Hairpin at 45°
  4. 3 : km 3.73 - alt. 654 m - Turn right after Les Roches de Marlin.
  5. 4 : km 5.25 - alt. 475 m - Chapel of Jurieux
  6. 5 : km 5.79 - alt. 509 m - Path to the Priory
  7. 6 : km 7.18 - alt. 423 m - Towards Seyoux - Chartreuse de Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez
  8. 7 : km 8.68 - alt. 423 m - Turn right at the crossroads.
  9. 8 : km 9.65 - alt. 426 m - Descent to the dam
  10. S/E : km 12.29 - alt. 353 m - Couzon dam on the D30

Notes

Mountain boots.
IGN map (essential).
A compass.
Tip: if a place with several houses is not indicated, there
there will be an electricity pole with a transformer, which will have a sign with the name of the locality, giving you your position on the IGN map or IGN GPS.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 64 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
maurice.ogier
maurice.ogier

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 13, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with a few trees at the far end of the reservoir

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Gloug’
Gloug’

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 05, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route with a slight incline at the start but on easy paths despite some stony and tricky descents.
The second part of the route is much flatter and more relaxing, with a very interesting section at La Chartreuse.
The route took 3 hours and 15 minutes to complete without any real difficulty, but in bitterly cold conditions.

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TITI- B
TITI- B

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk with a significant elevation gain and beautiful scenery, but I think this hike would be more enjoyable starting from Mali. Lots of muddy water. Still enjoyable, though.

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Estevez
Estevez

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very interesting hike

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Nem J
Nem J

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route, fairly easy with beautiful views and shaded sections.
Be careful, the start wasn't very clear to me. Start on the small path by the gatekeeper's house!
The route passes through a beautiful village and ends at a dam lake!

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Annie6904
Annie6904

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A diverse route with several points of interest

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delay jean louis
delay jean louis

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful and pleasant hike. The only problem is near the dam, where the bank has been washed away and is blocked by tree trunks... but you can detour around it.

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mcordon
mcordon

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Easy hike, very pleasant, beautiful scenery

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TineDo
TineDo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 23, 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 in warm weather but with plenty of shade (except for the return trip along the dam pond, but that's the last part!).
Pretty landscapes, horizons with shades of green, small paths lined with mulberry trees (unfortunately not yet ripe), broom (past its best), Marlin rocks, "good for pain", on which we took the time to lie down (:-D), the little chapel where we met a gentleman who was tending his flowers and gave us a bouquet of dahlias, then the beautiful descent to La Chatreuse and the view as we approached from above.
It's well worth a visit, and we stopped for a break on the terrace of the restaurant opposite the entrance (very friendly welcome and delicious dish of the day!). We had a slightly scary encounter with three cows without a cowherd on the road. A pretty river, refreshing. And the return trip along the small dam and then the large dam. Not to mention a delicious ice cream in the village! And a visit to the farm mill to buy charcuterie and cheese.
What a wonderful day! Thank you.

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Rémy et Coralie
Rémy et Coralie

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike with exceptional natural scenery.

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Tom62550
Tom62550

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice hike, not too difficult. I recommend it 👍

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Rounette
Rounette

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike, without any major difficulties. Very easy to follow with the Visorando app.
There is a lovely chapel and beautiful Chartreuse monastery to visit in Ste Croixx en Jarez.

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Croko
Croko

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Saint Croix en Jarez, a lesson in architecture!

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Canard 1
Canard 1

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Start, poorly signposted
Beautiful hike

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patm69
patm69

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely short hike, best done in the morning as there is little shade along the route. Beautiful views. Global warming is definitely here. After Saint Croix en Jarez, you should normally follow the Couzon river, which feeds the dam, but there wasn't a drop of water to be seen.

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