The Pariset to Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte tramway route

Access: Drive up from Seyssinet to the car park, avoiding the path at the hairpin bend (the standard route to Les Vouillants) and the Désert de l’Écureuil (Resistance memorial). This car park is on the right, level with the Château de Beauregard.
Note: The description focuses on the three circular loops, which allow you to change your mind if you get tired and head back down via the^GR®9.

^1st CircularLoop:

(S/E) Head north towards the undergrowth, 30m away, to reach the entrance to Parc Jean-Jacques Rousseau, protected by a wall with a large brown gate.

(1) At the park entrance, signpost “Désert Jean Jacques Rousseau, alt: 480m: ‘13.20km Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte’”. It is best to follow the path on the left-hand side, as the views are more scenic. However, all three well-maintained paths lead to the same junction.
At the bottom of the descent, go through a brown wooden gate, then you’ll arrive at a junction of wide paths called “l’Orée du Bois”, with a green barrier opposite, about 100m away.

(2) Turn left and walk down for a few metres towards “12.15km Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte”
At the lowest point, stay on the widest path, which climbs towards the south-west, ignoring the smaller paths to the left and right. A few posts, about 1 metre high, bear a white sign with yellow arrows. Follow these few yellow arrows and the yellow paint marks on the trees along the ascending path.
This wide path, known as the Chemin du Génie, leads to the Froussard farm, which was destroyed during the Second World War for its involvement in the Resistance. 50m above the farm, you’ll reach a crossroads of paths at elevation 480.

(3) Turn left towards the south-west onto the wide, ascending path indicated by the sign “Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte 11.05 km”.
Further on, leave the wide track by turning left towards the south-east onto a steep path that crosses the wide track twice. If you do not wish to climb so steeply, stay on the wide track until you reach the former Visons farm, which has been converted by the town of Seyssinet-Pariset.

(4) Leave the wide path to the right and walk past the ruins towards the west to take an ascending path known further up as the “Chemin des Bergers”. You will emerge onto Rue des Bergers in Pariset; carefully cross the D106 to take Rue du Grand Pariset, which is practically opposite. This street joins the tramway line.

(5) Turn right towards the north-east; this wide path is the old tram line which you will now follow, still heading towards Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte.
After a wide circular bend to the left, you will rejoin the^GR®9further on.

(6) There is a shorter alternative route here: follow the signs for ‘Return to ^1st circular loop ’ in the Practical Information section.

^2nd Circular Loop:
(6) Follow the tram line south-eastwards and pass through a relatively long, unlit tunnel, which is easily navigable. Then, after a much shorter second tunnel and some 1,200 metres further on, you’ll reach the hamlet of Ravaud.

(7) Here you will find a forest path climbing northwards, which continues to follow the tram line.
The path becomes a tarmac road, still following signs for “Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte” until you reach a large crossroads at the hamlet of “Blanche Neige”, the end of the second circular route.

(8) A shorter alternative is available here: follow the signs for ‘Return to ^2nd circular loop ’ in the Practical Information section.

^3rd Circular Loop:
(8) Follow the tarmac road south-west from “Blanche Neige” for 100m (sign indicating “3.56km Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte”).
Turn right onto the well-marked^“GR®9”path heading westwards.

(9) At the next junction, leave the^GR®9by turning left and take the path that climbs through the forest,
a south-westerly path (signpost “Les Michallons Alt: 1023m, Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte: 50 mins 2.7km”). You cross a clearing with a close-up view of the 3 Pucelles.
The climb continues towards Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte; I prefer to take you partway up the better-maintained “Sentier de la Vie”, but this is not compulsory.

When you reach the bend in the Route du Vercors (the D106), take a somewhat hidden path that climbs and is bordered by a wire fence on the right, still heading towards Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte.
The path leads onto “La Voie du Tram”; take this road to the right, heading north for about a hundred metres.
You’ll find another path on the left that climbs, heading south, and leads out just below the old Olympic ski jump.

(10) Turn right again, heading north to take the Chemin du Belvédère.
Stop for a few minutes at this viewpoint to admire the view.
Follow Chemin du Belvédère uphill until you reach the cemetery on your left, then take the road leading downhill to your right, which passes in front of a tall residential block facing north-west.
Cross the street known as the “old tram line” and, opposite, you’ll find a path leading to the main road, which you should also cross, taking care.

(11) Walk down the main road to the right for a few metres, heading north, and you’ll see a sign for “Le Pas du Curé” opposite a north-west-facing path. Take it to the left. You’ll reach another path junction.

(12) Turn right, heading due east, following the sign for “le Mémorial”. The path heads due east. You cross the courtyard of the Rony farm to reach the tarmac of the Route de Rochetière. Turn left (north) and follow this road for about 30 metres. Then, immediately on the right, take the dirt farm track heading east (towards “le Mémorial”).

(13) At the junction of the following paths, take a slight right-left turn for 30 metres to rejoin the Chemin des Clapières, which continues due east towards the Route des Charvets, also a tarmac road.

(14) Turn right, heading south, and follow the Route des Charvets down to the memorial.

(15) Cross the D106 with care to join the Route des Michallons (signposted). Pass through Les Michallons and continue to the junction with the^GR®9.

(9) Turn left towards the east to head down the^GR®9. Continue to the hamlet of Blanche Neige.

Return tothe^2nd circular loop
(8) Keep heading east on the^GR®9, bearing in mind the following:
As you descend, you will see, well hidden in front of you, a small path, the^GR®9, which has been, to say the least, obstructed by tree trunks and branches to prevent walkers from passing. Follow the new white and red markings instead, which take you along the road heading north for about 200 metres, then down to the right along a pleasant south-east-facing path; at the end, you will rejoin the^GR®9route. Follow the signposts for “Ancienne gare du tram”.
Turn left and you’ll come out at a hairpin bend on the main road.

(16) Immediately take the^GR®9, which descends eastwards and then slightly north-eastwards.

Return to the^first circular loop
(6) Continue left on the^GR®9(for those doing only the^first circular loop) and straight ahead on the^GR®9for those continuing the route. Reach the crossroads where the old tram station is located; it is the distinctive stone building with a slate roof on your left.

(17) Continue south-east for about 50 metres and take the path leading down to the left (signpost marked “La Tour sans Venin” on a green background). This path is called Rue de l’École, but its condition and steep gradient make it feel more like a narrow track for the first few metres.

(18) Cross the main road so that the hamlet known as "La Tour sans Venin" is in front of you. You then walk down the main road to the right, heading south-east for about 400 metres.

(19) After carefully walking down the main road on the left-hand side, step over the safety barrier to take the well-marked path on the left towards “Grenoble Station 9.52km”, “La Croisée 1.98km”. Please note that the path is a little steep.

(20) Turn left towards the north in the direction of “0.90km, les Arcelles”, continuing northwards towards “Désert J.J. Rousseau”. Return to the original crossroads.

(1) Turn right onto the path you took on the way out. When you reach the wall of the Désert Jean Jacques Rousseau and its wooden gate, turn right heading due east to return to the car park and your starting point (S/E).

No water along the route.
Hiking equipment required for the descent: walking poles, walking boots.
The ascending route crosses the descending route twice; you can stop the ascent each time.

Variations
Please note: to rejoin the^GR®9at the end of the first circular loop, you must leave the route before point (6); as far as I am aware, the steep gradient at the tunnel makes it impossible to rejoin the^GR®9any other way. Take the path leading uphill to your right about 200m before this point.

The national necropolis where the remains of the Vercors Resistance fighters are gathered: take the time to read the information boards.
The village of Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte.
The Olympic ski jump: not much remains from that era, but one can imagine the anxiety of the young skier launching himself down this slope above Grenoble in 1968!
The Rony Farm: farm shop