La Pierre Percée from Notre-Dame-de-Vaulx

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This is an additional and unique route to one of the Wonders of the Dauphiné, the Pierre Percée, a site which overlooks the whole of the Matheysine region and offers magnificent views of all the surrounding mountain ranges.
After an ascent through the forest, the route opens out onto the meadows; the descent to La Motte d’Aveillans is wide open.

Details

n°29079771
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.58 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,243 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,266 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 4,167 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,949 ft
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Photos

La Pierre Percée from Notre-Dame-de-Vaulx - 29079771
From the summit
La Pierre Percée
From the summit

Description of the walk

Park in the car park next to the Notre-Dame-de-Vaulx cemetery.

(S/E) Return towards the village by following Rue des Quatre Fontaines until you reach a crossroads with several directions.

(1) Turn left onto Rue du 8 Mai 1945, then left again onto Descente de la Chapelle. Cross the main road and continue straight ahead along the path leading downhill. Walk alongside the gardens until you reach another road, which you must cross; continue along the path opposite, which begins to climb, cutting across the bend to rejoin this road.

(2) Follow this road to the left for about 200 metres, then take a path on the right which climbs into the forest. You’ll reach a multi-way junction.

(3) Turn right onto the path that follows the ridge line; keep right and continue the ascent, ignoring the paths that lead down to the right and then to the left.

(3) Cross a track, carry on straight ahead and reach a junction of tracks as you leave the forest. Head off to the right and you’ll soon reach the Pierre Percée, situated slightly below.

(5) Take the wide path on the right. Enter the forest, cross the Ruisseau des Ayes, and keep left at the next Y-junction. You’ll reach another junction just past the barrier blocking the path.

(6) Pass the hairpin bend, leave the track and look out for the path descending to the right towards the power line, then follow it. You’ll emerge at the picnic area in the hamlet of Les Taverdons. Continue straight ahead to reach the D113 in the hamlet of La Mayrie.

(7) Cross the road, walk past a wash house and take the path opposite. At the next junction, keep to the right – following the sign for Notre-Dame-de-Vaulx – and stay on this path running parallel to the D113 until you reach the hamlet of Le Molaret via a gentle descent.

(8) Continue up a gentle slope, with the Ruisseau de Vaulx on your right, to reach the entrance to Notre-Dame-de-Vaulx.

(9) Take Rue des Gantiers, passing the town hall before returning to the junction you passed on the way out.

(1) Follow the outbound route in the opposite direction to return to the cemetery car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,176 ft - Cemetery car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.18 - alt. 3,173 ft - Junction of the circular loop
  3. 2 : mi 0.64 - alt. 3,271 ft - D113b
  4. 3 : mi 1.19 - alt. 3,691 ft - Ridge junction
  5. 4 : mi 2.09 - alt. 4,081 ft - Crossroads of tracks
  6. 5 : mi 2.84 - alt. 3,993 ft - Pierre Percée
  7. 6 : mi 3.51 - alt. 3,717 ft - Crossroads at the barrier
  8. 7 : mi 4.47 - alt. 3,097 ft - D113
  9. 8 : mi 5.64 - alt. 3,002 ft - Le Molaret
  10. 9 : mi 6.24 - alt. 3,159 ft - Rue des Gantiers
  11. S/E : mi 6.58 - alt. 3,176 ft - Starting car park

Notes

Between (3) and (5), the path can be very muddy.
(7) There is a place to take shelter and get some water.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 8 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Poulet Hubert
Poulet Hubert

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely little walk for people who are getting on a bit and are no longer out to achieve a particular performance, but are focused on enjoying themselves above all else

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champet67
champet67

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

The route is very well signposted and 80 per cent of the route runs through woodland, which is ideal in this heat.
There are some lovely views at La Pierre Percée.

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Chyber
Chyber

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 23, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short, gentle walk, perfect for getting back into hiking after the winter break. The elevation gain is fairly low, the section through the forest isn’t too long, and you reach the top of the ridge before catching sight of the Pierre Percée (with a lovely view). This is the third route we’ve taken to the Pierre, and this one isn’t bad at all.

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romanche
romanche

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello, we did this beautiful hike, which was long and interesting because it offered beautiful views of the ridges and the pierced rock, but also on the descent to La Motte d'Aveillans (Vercors, including Mont Aiguille and Grand Veymont) and a beautiful view of the snow-covered Senepy. However, I gave it a 4 for reliability because we had a problem at the start, between 1 and 2, which I will describe as it could happen to others: "turn left onto Rue du 8 Mai 1945" OK, then "turn left again at the Chapelle descent" OK, but there is a road on the left before that (Descente du Curé) and you can only see the sign for the Chapelle once you reach the bottom, but it's not the reviewer's fault if the sign is almost illegible. However, there is a problem after that: "cross the main road and continue straight ahead down the path. Walk along the gardens and find a new road that you have to cross." TB. "Continue on the path opposite, which starts to climb, to cut across the bend and reach this road again." So we reach this road and, as indicated, we "take it to the left for about 200 metres and look for a path on the right that climbs into the forest". We find it strange that this road descends without any signs, but anyway... In fact, we met someone from the area who explained that we had to continue along the path uphill to a third road, which was the right one! Thank you in any case for this very beautiful hike. Françoise

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nathalie
nathalie

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Many sections through woodland, which is good in hot weather but less ideal for admiring the view
Suitable for children (who are used to walking)
Easy hike, suitable for dogs
Beautiful panorama at the pierced rock
Easy parking at the starting point
I'm deducting one star for the lack of views and the few sections of road, but this hike is still enjoyable and easy.

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ctou
ctou

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Very beautiful views.
To be enjoyed in all seasons.

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Pat le breton
Pat le breton

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful, easy hike through the woods, certainly longer than starting from La Motte d'Aveillans but much less crowded. Also ideal on hot days (which are sure to be frequent in this region).

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emilie.M19
emilie.M19

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A good route for a hot day as it is mostly in the woods, with a steady climb, not much road, a pretty stone arch and water points for dogs.

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