The Chemin de la Pia and the viewpoint over the Plaine d’Herbouilly

The walk starts from a car park alongside the D221, about 2 km north of the car park at the Herbouilly Nordic Centre.

(S/E) Head east, cross the D221 and take the path opposite. At the first junction, go straight on.

(1) At the next junction, cross the^GRP® Tour du Vercors Dromois trail, continue straight on and reach the Herbouilly spring.

(2) After about thirty metres, turn right. Walk south-south-west along the edge of the forest until you reach the junction with the^GRP® Tour du Vercors Dromois, which you crossed earlier.

(3) Follow the^GRP® to the left (red and yellow markings).

(4) Cross the D221 and take the path heading west until you reach a T-junction.

(5) Then turn right (north). At the next junction, turn left. Continue straight on until you reach a paragliding launch site at the edge of the plateau.

(6) Turn right (north-north-west) onto a path running along the edge of the plateau, the Chemin de la Pia. Pass a hut, move away from the edge of the plateau heading east, and reach a junction.

(7) Turn sharply left. After a hairpin bend to the right, you’ll reach a T-junction.

(8) Then turn left. Ignore a path branching off to the left and head north-east.

(9) At the junction, continue north along a wide forest track until you reach a wide forest path. Further on, the path turns north-east.

(10) At the next junction, take the hairpin bend to the right. After a hairpin bend to the left, at a Fork in the road, head off to the left. Continue northwards to the Col d’Herbouilly.

(11) Cross the D221 and turn sharply right to quickly reach the Font Froide spring. Join the^GRP® Tour du Vercors Dromois and follow it to the right (red and yellow markings).

(12) At the first meadow, turn right at the edge of the forest. Carry on straight ahead to the viewpoint on the D221.

(13) Retrace your steps, follow the D221 for a few dozen metres, then turn right into the meadow. Head north-east until you rejoin the^GRP® Tour du Vercors Dromois at an elevation of 1322.

(14) Follow it to the right (south).

(1) At the junction you passed at the start of the walk, turn right. Continue straight on, cross the D221 one last time and you’ll immediately reach the car park (S/E).

On this route or nearby, there are several springs, including the Source d’Herbouilly, the Fontaine de Font Froide, the Fontaine des Scialets Mistri and the Ruisseau du Riou. Are they all safe to drink and always flowing? Regardless, for this hike lasting a few hours, it’s best to bring your own supply of water.

Between points ( 6) and (7), the route runs along the edge of a cliff; please remain vigilant.

(6) The Pas de Saint-Martin paragliding launch site, with a beautiful view over the plain and the village of Saint-Martin-en-Vercors.

The Chemin de la Pia hut and a view of the Vierge du Vercors (a monolithic rock jutting out from the cliff).

(13) Viewpoint above the RD 220 overlooking the entire Plaine d’Herbouilly. The access point to the orientation table is 80 metres north and to the left of the RD 220.

Between (14) and (1) lie the ruins of the Herbouilly farm, which was burnt down in 1944.

The Roybon mountain inn is approximately 2.5 km south of S/E (the Herbouilly Nordic skiing site).