The Col de la Madeleine as seen from Lac Luitel

A lovely, easy walk to the Col de la Madeleine and its superb viewpoint over the Taillefer massif, the Grand Serre, Lake Laffrey and the Vercors.

Details

7271120
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.77 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,214 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,201 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 4,560 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,822 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) Start from the small car park next to Lac Luitel.

(S/E) Walk 50 m south, with your back to the lake. Then turn right onto Chemin Vernet (GR® 549, marked in red and white). Continue on theGR® for 2.5 km, towards Mont Sec.

(1) Just before the high-voltage power lines, ignore a turn-off to the right, pass under the lines and you’ll immediately come to a junction at a place called Haut Morel.

(2) Then turn left towards Mont Sec, still following the GR®.

(3) At a place called Source de la Clobasse, carry on straight ahead on theGR® and begin the descent towards the Col de la Madeleine.

(4) From the Col de la Madeleine orientation table, retrace your steps for 50 m, then take the path that climbs gently to the left. Pass through the hamlet of Fau Laurent and continue to the next junction.

(5) At this junction, take the path leading uphill to the right. Continue uphill, ignoring any paths running perpendicular to it. Pass under the high-voltage power lines, then continue uphill until you reach a junction with a main track.

(6) Cross this track to take the path opposite. Walk straight on for about a hundred metres until you rejoin the GR®.

(1) Turn left and retrace your steps along the route you took on the way out to return at a leisurely pace to Lac Luitel and the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 4,137 ft - Car park on the southern shore of the - Lac Luitel
  2. 1 : mi 1.82 - alt. 4,393 ft - Junction of the circular loop
  3. 2 : mi 1.89 - alt. 4,344 ft - Haut Morel – Junction
  4. 3 : mi 2.24 - alt. 4,357 ft - Source de la Clobasse
  5. 4 : mi 2.85 - alt. 3,825 ft - Orientation board at the - Col de la Madeleine (1166m)
  6. 5 : mi 3.28 - alt. 3,927 ft - Junction on the uphill path
  7. 6 : mi 3.87 - alt. 4,281 ft - Crossroads
  8. S/E : mi 5.77 - alt. 4,137 ft - Car park on the southern shore of the - Lac Luitel

Notes

On the way there, follow theGR® markings
On the return journey, there are no markings between points (4) and (6). Follow the well-marked path.

Worth a visit

The Lac Luitel Nature Reserve and its nature trail
Baraque Pagnot – a place to take a break
Orientation board at the Col de la Madeleine

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
3.8 / 5
Poulet Hubert
Poulet Hubert

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk, but nothing more. Apart from the Madeleine Pass, there are few viewpoints

Machine-translated

rezzouqi
rezzouqi

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very quiet and well shaded. Pleasant, flower-lined paths. Lots of raspberries near the high-voltage power lines. Come back at the end of June for the broom flowers!

Machine-translated

JP et D
JP et D

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy walk along paths laid out by our ancestors. Beautiful views of the Tailefer
It was very cold in the forest, so we decided to head back via the southern route, towards La Buissonière;
Take the path on the right as you come back from the Col de la Madeleine, signposted for the Col du Luitel. We were glad we did: a magnificent path and some very distinctive rural dwellings. The section on the road isn’t very long at all. Allow about two hours.

Machine-translated

vanille2012
vanille2012

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy circular loop with some lovely views

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.