La Côte Saint-André through the ridges

This route, which passes by two viewpoint indicators, offers amazing views over plaine de la Bièvre and the Vercors and the Chartreuse mountain ranges.

Technical sheet

209040
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.04 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 304 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 307 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 567 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 385 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at one of the small car parks on "place de l'église" in Ornacieux.

(S/F) Go to the village main road (D41H) and head left due west-north-west. Turn right at the first crossing, then the first left leading to Ornacieux cemetery. A bit further, leave the entrance to the cemetery to the left and continue towards "Croix de Pitié".

(1) Get to the "cross", which is actually a 50 m high statue of the Virgin Mary on top of a wierdly shaped rock. It's difficult to take a photo from the front as it's located on a steep slope and is facing plaine du Liers.
Keep heading uphill to the right on Chemin des Contrebandiers until the water tank. Beautiful views over Plaine du Liers to the north as well as Forêt de Bonnevaux during the climb.
Keep heading straight on Chemin de Sainte-Béatrix making a detour to the right where an old castle used to stand (no vestige) and where you can now find a viewpoint indicator along with the "Croix Sainte-Béatrix".
You are standing opposite plaine de la Bièvre and the Vercors mountain range and the Alps.

(2) Backtrack, head right and keep going on "chemin de Chantemerle" until the telecom tower.

(3) Carry on and head down a steep slope reaching a tarmac road. Follow Chemin de la Fontain all the way to the left until the D518 then take a left over roughly 80 m reaching "carrefour des Crozes" (Crozes crossing).

(4) Cross (be careful) taking the trail to the right of the cross between the two roads and leading to plaine du Liers.At the T junction, turn right, cross the D518 (be careful) and continue opposite on Chemin de la Blache until the crossing with Chemin de Commelle.

(5) Turn right and admire "Constant" old farm, its pond and its animals on the climb up.

(6) At the end of the climb, head left onto chemin de Cuchère et head off to the right at the fork immediately afterwards. At the crossing with Chemin du Pressoir, turn left then right reaching another viewpoint indicator and Chapelle de Notre-Dame de Scie (panoramic view over the town, plaine de la Bièvre and in the distance the Chartreuse and Vercors mountain ranges with Belledonne massif between the two).

(7) Keep heading straight, take two right-hand turns and start a long downhill hike along Chemin des Croix until Chemin de la Barre.

(8) Head right and follow it until the D518.

(9) Cross (be careful) and take the path on the other side. After a dogleg to the left, you'll reach the D518a. Cross (be careful) and make a dog-leg right then left reaching Chemin du Fagot which supports the GR65 or Chemin de Saint-Jacques de Compostelle (White and Red waymarks). At the T junction, head right onto Chemin de la Chapelle until "Chapelle Saint-Michel" located on the right inside Balbins cemetery.

(10) Set off to the right towards Ornacieux following the GR. Once you reach the D518a, head left and keep going straight until the next junction.

(11) One hundred or so metres further, turn right reaching a small road and head left leading to the D41H. Take another left and keep going straight until you reach Ornacieux Church (S/F).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 432 m - Car park on the church square
  2. 1 : km 0.53 - alt. 428 m - Croix de Pitié
  3. 2 : km 1.28 - alt. 524 m - Orientation table and Sainte-Béatrix Cross
  4. 3 : km 1.62 - alt. 518 m - Telecom tower
  5. 4 : km 2.36 - alt. 441 m - Carrefour Les Crozes
  6. 5 : km 3.9 - alt. 413 m - Crossroads, turn right
  7. 6 : km 5.27 - alt. 533 m - At the end of the climb, turn left
  8. 7 : km 6.05 - alt. 567 m - Orientation table, Chapelle Notre-Dame de Sciez
  9. 8 : km 7.18 - alt. 429 m - Chemin de la Barre, turn right
  10. 9 : km 8.19 - alt. 409 m - D518, cross, take opposite
  11. 10 : km 9.3 - alt. 404 m - Saint-Michel Chapel
  12. 11 : km 9.95 - alt. 395 m - Leave the minor road, take the road on the right
  13. S/E : km 11.04 - alt. 431 m - Church square car park

In the nearby area

Ornacieux Church: relatively new stained-glass from Blessed Béatrix of Ornacieux.

(10) Chapelle Saint-Michel immortalised by the impressionist painter Jongkind.

 Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.4 / 5
Route interest
3.6 / 5
Denis Mascré
Denis Mascré

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

Quite a pleasant walk but a lot of tarmac.

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PROLLOT
PROLLOT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 14, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A highly recommended route with beautiful views of the mountains and plains. The paths are pleasant to walk on, even in snowy conditions. There are a few slight variations from the original route (at least one) due to the fenced path. Thank you

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Charlybrown
Charlybrown

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 18, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hello
There are three small points that I feel need to be clarified.
At the start, it's better to indicate the direction: Follow the church in the direction of the cross.
for point 2, make it clear that you need to take the path reserved for local residents (yellow cross)
For point 4, make it clear that you should go along the crossroads on the left, without crossing it, and cross the road to Arzay to take the path.
We got a bit lost because we hadn't taken the right path at point 2.
Best regards
Charly

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henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

I've had a look but I couldn't load them for printing.

It depends on your browser.

With Firefox: Right click mouse and Save link target as

A+

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René Rando BJ
René Rando BJ

I looked at them but I couldn't load them for printing.

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petite Marion
petite Marion

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 11, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

A nice point of view, a nice loop that allows you not to go through the same places again. But a lot of (small) tarmac roads passing close to a main road with a dog is not necessarily the most practical.

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JP et. D
JP et. D

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 05, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

It's an interesting walk, but you'll have to do it on a clear day, otherwise the panoramic views are almost non-existent. On the day of our hike, the clouds had gathered over the surrounding mountains, so we were left wanting more.
There are a lot of small roads: tennis shoes are more than enough.

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daniel.bernardmc
daniel.bernardmc

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 23, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Interesting route, but should be avoided on a windy day from the north!!!!
Perhaps not in midsummer as there is little shade.

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Agnesbeal
Agnesbeal

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 12, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

A very well described walk. Best done in fine weather to enjoy the views.
But a little disappointing: lots of tarmac, few paths.

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