The Vellan Cross

de fr

A peaceful hike with the panorama of the Croix du Vellan as our destination. View of the entire Diois valley and some of the peaks of the Vercors. A panoramic table invites you to learn about all these peaks.

Details

n°7830
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.45 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,040 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,037 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 3,340 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,927 ft
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Photos

Ombleze cliffs
The cross
Map of Baix
The forest track

Description of the walk

Coming from the Col des Limouches, park before the Col de Bacchus (D70), at the junction with the small road on the right, towards Charchauve.

(S/E) Head north up the road until you reach thefirst path on the right.

(1) Follow this path to the ruins of Chaffal.

(2) Take the track heading south on the right towards Plan de Baix (GR®9) and follow the forest path for almost 6 km until you reach the tarmac road.

(3). Head slightly left and reach the cross and its viewpoint.

(4) Go up a little to the left along the rock.

(5) Return by following the same route back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,136 ft - Charchauve Road
  2. 1 : mi 0.31 - alt. 3,238 ft - Path on the right leading to the ruins of Chaffal
  3. 2 : mi 0.78 - alt. 3,278 ft - Head south, turn right onto the GR9
  4. 3 : mi 3.9 - alt. 3,074 ft - Tarmac road
  5. 4 : mi 4.1 - alt. 2,936 ft - Belvedere - Croix du vellan
  6. 5 : mi 4.26 - alt. 3,009 ft - Rocks
  7. S/E : mi 8.45 - alt. 3,140 ft - Charchauve Road

Notes

The elevation gain is actually low because the path is hilly, making for an easy hike.

That day, we came across three chamois that came running out of the forest and a fox on the way back, which wasn't shy at all, as well as flowers and butterflies, as always at this time of year.

Worth a visit

The Druise waterfall in the valley below, the Moulin de la Pipe, and the Omblèze Gorges, Cascade de la Pissoire.

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.

Downloads
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Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 33 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
JG26
JG26

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with very little elevation gain, consisting mainly of wide, pleasant paths through the woods. A magnificent 360° view awaits you on arrival at the Vellan cross. The summit is very steep and dangerous, so take care if you have young children with you. The old, illegible orientation board has been tagged – what a shame!
The car park indicated by Visorando via GPS is located 200 metres further down the road from the start of the walk.

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User 25264823

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A walk with little elevation gain, making it truly accessible to inexperienced walkers. Very pretty viewpoint at Croix-du-Velan, perfect for a picnic break. The path passes through pretty woodland, meadows and greenery, bucolic and charming. A lovely family walk.

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Daniel Maciocia
Daniel Maciocia

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, refreshing walk. The route between the two rock faces before Le Vellan is interesting, as is the view of the heights

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GM2S
GM2S

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

I parked as indicated by the GPS, but be careful, it's not a car park, just two parking spaces at the side of the road.
A very beautiful hike through forest trails and meadows. You may even encounter cows along the way..
The view from the cross is breathtaking.
It's an easy hike; we didn't feel like we were going uphill. However, the return trip is on a gentle slope almost the entire way.

Very pleasant for a Sunday, I recommend it..
Thanks to the author.

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BARNAVON
BARNAVON

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

An easy hike that takes less than three hours, including a 15-minute stop to enjoy the view at the Vellan cross. A shaded trail with beautiful views of the southern Vercors, the Ombleze Gorges, the Escoulin Valley and Bec Pointu.

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emmanuelle.morel
emmanuelle.morel

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

The start is a little steep but it doesn't last long. Don't miss the superb view from the cross

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Lavandine 26
Lavandine 26

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A long, pleasant but deceptive forest trail, which seems flat and slightly downhill on the way there but turns into an uphill climb on the way back. It's a gentle climb, but over a distance of 6 km it can be tough for some. The arrival at the cross is simply magical, with an extraordinary panorama.

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69729902
69729902

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 16, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Please note that the departure point is not very well signposted.

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momoe2673
momoe2673

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant hike, no particular difficulties
Great view from the summit and the cross is really impressive and particularly beautiful. Worth doing again in autumn to see the colours of the landscape.
MOMOE

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DEGE
DEGE

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

this hike is easy, through the woods. It must be pleasant in summer.

But the best part is arriving at the Vellan cross, with its unobstructed view... it was really beautiful...

we'll be back...

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indiendaogibbslorka
indiendaogibbslorka

Overall rating : 1 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : Not used / Not applicable
Very busy route : No

impossible to find the starting point without GPS

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helene.bernaldez
helene.bernaldez

hello,
yes, it's a very peaceful round trip hike
i remember doing it a few years ago, passing through the ridges, which we can't reach now because there are lots of enclosures

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o.billaud@sfr.fr
o.billaud@sfr.fr
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike that is very easy to access. A lovely view upon arrival. A very beautiful day

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helene.bernaldez
helene.bernaldez

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

a beautiful hike, especially at this time of year when the colours are magnificent

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jcbonnot
jcbonnot

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Exceptional visibility on 15 August over the Vercors and a pleasant light breeze at the summit.
Lunch in the shade of the only tree near the cross.
It's a shame that the landscape plaque isn't more legible.

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.