The Col de Chatain starting from Saint-Paul-d'Izeaux

A circular walk in a beautiful chestnut forest.

Details

n°13721

Creation:
26 Oct 2012

Last update:
30 Mar 2023

Last review:
26 Sep 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 8.72 km
Average duration: 3h 20
Difficulty: Easy
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 301 m
Descent: - 301 m
Highest point: 753 m
Lowest point: 560 m

Country: France
Area: Dauphiné
District: Saint-Paul-d'Izeaux (38140)
Start/End: N 45.316512° / E 5.428814°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3233SB, 3235OT
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Description of the walk

At Izeaux, take the D73b to Saint Paul d'Izeaux and park in the square in front of the nursery school.

(S/E) Head south on the tarmac road (yellow markings). A few metres further on, this road becomes a farm track and, after a steep climb, reaches the hamlet of La Tuilière.

(1) Take the track opposite (sign) which leads to the water tower. You will come to a crossroads.

(2) Turn left (do not follow the yellow signs on the right). Further on, you will reach another crossroads and continue on the left (the yellow signs reappear). Continue along this track for about 500 metres.
You will reach the junction with the GRPde Pays Tullins-Vinay).

(3) Turn right. Descend to reach the stream valley, turn right, then further down, turn left and after a short climb followed by a slight descent, you will reach the Col de Chatain.

(4) To return^, follow the same route back to the GRP® junction^.

(3) Turn right for 200 metres, then left and through the Rigolle woods.

(5) Stay on this path, which connects to La Tuilière.

(1) Take the uphill track to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 560 m - Nursery school car park
1 : km 1.31 - alt. 721 m - La Tuilière
2 : km 1.98 - alt. 752 m - Crossroads
3 : km 2.58 - alt. 746 m - GRP crossroads
4 : km 3.73 - alt. 687 m - Col de Chatain
5 : km 6.69 - alt. 696 m - Bois de la Rigolle
S/E : km 8.72 - alt. 560 m - Nursery school car park

Notes

There are no water sources along this route.
However, tables and benches are provided for pleasant stops.
The route through the large chestnut forest is an excellent walk that presents no difficulty.

Worth a visit

This walk is part of the route known as "In the footsteps of Mandrin" and a stop between Saint-Paul and La Tuilière briefly recounts the story of this big-hearted Dauphiné bandit.
Nearby, visit the large drying room in Vinay dedicated to the queen of this part of the Dauphiné: the walnut.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5

Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5

Route interest
4.3 / 5

Cielbleu

26 Sep 2025 at 11:39 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

This route is undoubtedly interesting when it is very hot, but unfortunately it does not offer any views. As the weather was overcast during our hike, we were a little disappointed.

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pascoub

11 Aug 2023 at 18:51 7200

A lovely walk under the chestnut trees. Pleasant in warm, sunny weather.

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Kicou

27 Apr 2021 at 22:02 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk suggested here, which allows you to discover a place worth seeing!
Christophe

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ALO38500

08 Apr 2017 at 10:14 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A pleasant and enjoyable route, even though some woods have been seriously damaged by intensive logging. Another problem with this work is that many paths have been altered or even disappeared, and "wooden motorways" have been created leading to nearby roads: I used my Dakota20 between the GRP Tullins-Vinay and the Col de Chatain.
One note: I added this route to my Basecamp library, which shows an elevation gain of 432 metres over a distance of 8.72 kilometres. We completed the route in just under three hours.
Enjoy the walk to those who choose this route.

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ALO38500

07 Apr 2017 at 20:55 7200

A lovely three-hour walk...
Difficult to find your way to the Col de Chatain (thank goodness for GPS)... the foresters have destroyed everything...

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canirando

18 Apr 2016 at 14:19 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 18, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very beautiful hike with stunning views, but the path can be very muddy in places after rain, so make sure you wear good waterproof walking boots.

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fliprando

15 Feb 2016 at 14:44 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 11, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant, easy walk with beautiful mountain views.
Some sections are very muddy due to forestry work, but you can often bypass them by walking through the adjacent forest.
It is best to do this hike in dry weather and wear good walking shoes!

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gege roro

26 Feb 2014 at 18:01 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 26, 2014
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk for a Sunday afternoon, fairly easy, but tree felling blocked the path in one place and we had to go around it to find the path again.

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ALO38500

07 Dec 2013 at 11:15 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 29, 2013
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hello,

Forestry work is disfiguring the landscape between the Col de Châtain and La Tuilière! Trails have disappeared or been destroyed, machinery has dug up the ground and damaged the GR Tullins-Vinay trail, leaving huge puddles and lots of mud...
It's a shame because it's a lovely walk! There is an alternative route starting from La Forteresse instead of Saint Paul d'Izeaux: connection to La Tuilière, circular route and return.

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