La Ferrière (Isère) walks

A good hike that can be done from spring to autumn when snow conditions prevent you from going higher. However, you will be close to 2000 m.

A circular walk through a rocky landscape shaped by glaciers and dotted with mirror-like lakes. After the peaceful mountain pastures of Lac Léat above the Haut Bréda valley and then the Combe Grasse, the walk takes you to the passes and peaks surrounding Puy Gris before descending towards the scenic setting formed by the lakes of Grande Valloire. The hike can be done with an overnight stay in a mountain hut and can be combined with the easy ascent of Puy Gris: see the ‘During the hike’ section.

The title of this hike should be “Bivouac at Puy Gris”, as this viewpoint offers a unique experience to anyone spending a night there under the stars: splendid sunsets and sunrises against a magnificent panorama, the finest in Belledonne. Magnificent lakes dot the route and alpine wildlife is a regular sight. Any difficult hike requires preparation, and this very difficult hike demands careful planning beforehand.

A very pretty hike in the Belledonne massif. A forest to climb in the cool, mountain pastures offering unobstructed views of the surrounding area and very pretty lakes that reward the effort it takes to get there. Raspberries and blueberries along the way in season, which is a nice bonus!

The tour of the Bois de Chavot is merely a pretext for a lovely route in the Belledonne massif. In this part of Belledonne, the chalets are numbered: first chalet of this, second chalet of that... This route is accessible for quite a long time in the season due to its moderate altitude of 1,860 m. The route is signposted, with a large section following theGRP® “Tour du Pays d’Allevard”.

Starting from the village of Gleysin, from the Bourgeat Noire car park, this beautiful loop in Belledonne connects several iconic sites in the Haut Bréda valley.The route passes by the Chalet du Bout, then climbs up to the Croix du Léat, before descending to the peaceful Lac du Léat, ideal for a quiet bivouac with views of the Chartreuse and the Bauges. The route continues to the Refuge de l'Oule, a small, friendly alpine lodge where you can also spend the night, then descends back to the starting point. We did this hike over two days with a night at the lake, but it can also be done in a day for the more experienced. A beautiful and varied loop, between forests, alpine pastures, open ridges and wild waterways.

Starting from Gleysin, here is a route that is accessible almost all year round (with snowshoes in winter) on the Montagne de Combe Grasse, offering unobstructed views and a visit to a charming lake.

This hike was done on snowshoes, but it can of course be done on foot when there is no snow. Most of the route is marked, with no specific markings for snowshoeing.

The panoramic view from the summit of the Grand Morétan is exceptional, with the highest peaks of the French, Swiss and Italian Alps all in view. This route, half of which is off-trail, crosses the wild glacial cirque of the Glacier du Gleyzin and reaches the summit via the Col Nord du Gleyzin. A variant described here also allows you to pass via the Col Morétan.

This is a beautiful loop for a day trip in the Belledonne massif, with varied terrain and landscapes. The refuge can be a stopover for more alpine hikes.

A lovely snowshoe hike above Grésivaudan through forests and meadows, offering beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. The route is easy and ends at the Crêt du Poulet refuge, where you can enjoy a glass of mulled wine.

An easy hiking version of this climb to the Grand Rocher. Once past the refuge, the route follows the Crêt Luisard ridge, where the view is breathtaking in all directions, and you can even see Mont Blanc from the summit.

Short hike to the Crêt du Poulet orientation tables via the Chalet Pierre Roubet.

A beautiful circular route on the ridge of the Grand Rocher, which acts as a balcony with a superb panorama of the Haut-Bréda valley, the Allevard massif and the Sept Laux massif. Easy access from the Barioz cross-country ski centre and an easy route to do in mid-spring when the peaks are still snow-covered.

A family walk through forests and meadows in the Belledonne Massif with superb panoramic views of the Grande Chartreuse Massif on one side and the Vanoise and Sept-Laux on the other.

A stone's throw from town and you're high in the mountains. But pay attention to the risks.

A beautiful hike which, after leaving the forest, takes you to some superb lakes through a fairly rocky landscape.

This is a lovely walk which, although it occasionally passes close to ski lifts, is full of beautiful scenery. The views of the Pic de la Belle Etoile range are fabulous. And for those who enjoy downhill skiing in winter in the Sept Laux massif, it is great fun to see landscapes usually covered in a blanket of snow completely free of any trace of snow.

A good hike in the crystalline Belledonne massif, the Combe Madame refuge is not very high up, but it provides access to areas for experienced and hardy mountaineers. Water is everywhere, lakes are nearby, wildlife inhabits the vertiginous slopes and hikers are treated to breathtaking views.

Hike between lakes and mountains around the Refuge des Sept Laux.

This hike takes you to the Lacs des Sept Laux plateau from Le Pleynet. It is possible to stay overnight at the refuge.

The second stage of this circular loop in the Belledonne Massif, sometimes on balcony trails, sometimes through wild valleys, allows you to go around the Allevard massif.