The Lodge de la Molière

This route is classified as a long walk, but it is a mini-circular that allows you to relax pleasantly in the mountain pasture surrounding the Molière lodge.

Details

1165071
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.82 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 454 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 455 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,677 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,241 m

Description of the walk

Park in the car park in the bend above the hamlet of Les Aigaux (also spelled Les Egaux).

(S/E) Take the wide track on the left (signposted Lodge de la Molière) which winds through the forest. After two large bends, you will come out into a clearing at the crossroads of two tracks.

(1) Take the right-hand track, which begins a steep climb. Pass in front of the drinking troughs and continue uphill to the edge of the forest.

(2) Cut across the mountain pasture, turning left at a 90° angle (west). Further up, rejoin the Pas de Bellecombe trail and reach the pass.

(3) Continue right on the ridge trail, alternating between quick ascents and descents, to reach Pas de l'Ours.

(4) Turn right to begin the descent (be careful on the first few metres) and finish easily to reach the Refuge de la Molière.

(5) Take the wide track, which starts in the mountain pasture and then enters the forest, to return to the Pas de Bellecombe crossroads.

(2) Follow the same route back to return very easily to the starting car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,242 m - Aigaux car park
  2. 1 : km 1.62 - alt. 1,442 m - Molière crossroads
  3. 2 : km 2.6 - alt. 1,578 m - Pas de Bellecombe crossroads
  4. 3 : km 2.89 - alt. 1,619 m - Pas de Bellecombe
  5. 4 : km 3.9 - alt. 1,642 m - Pas de l'Ours
  6. 5 : km 4.27 - alt. 1,557 m - Gîte de la Molière (1565m)
  7. S/E : km 7.82 - alt. 1,241 m - Aigaux car park

Notes

There is a water source at the drinking troughs.

(3) Please note that the IGN map shows a pylon that has since been dismantled, leaving only its concrete base.

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Worth a visit

Discover a splendid mountain pasture.

On the ridge between the two passes, a viewpoint allows you to see the 4,810m Mont Blanc in the distance on a clear day.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 15 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
cathycoco
cathycoco

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

lovely walk, short break for lunch at the lodge, everything was great

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drixe69
drixe69

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with delightful views and, of course, blueberry tart at the lodge de La Molière.

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marie3084
marie3084

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

Magnificent hike...
Stunning scenery.
A slight climb at the beginning.
Well worth the effort...

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CFMarie23
CFMarie23

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

a lovely family hike, not difficult and three-quarters of the time in the forest, which is very pleasant in hot weather.
start of the route with the variant that adds an hour, so climb to the more distant ridge and more time in the forest and picking raspberries!
beautiful landscapes and views of the Grenoble valley and the surrounding mountains: Chartreuse, Belledonne, Oisans, and the weather allowed us to see Mont Blanc on one side and Les Ecrins on the other

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Kikooatous
Kikooatous

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely day's hiking with a lunch break at the lodge de la Moliere. Very friendly staff and a generous dish of the day. I recommend it

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bernardcarluec
bernardcarluec

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

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alsa281052
alsa281052

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

No problem. This place remains very popular when the weather is nice!

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GphPhil26
GphPhil26

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant hike with beautiful scenery and magnificent views of the Vercors and the Alps.
At the Pas de l'Ours, we extended our hike to the Pas du Tracollet to enjoy the scenery a little longer (about 3 km extra).
Thanks to Bernardino, the author of this hike.

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nfoyatier
nfoyatier

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

An easy, very pleasant hike, mainly through mountain pastures, with the option of extending it to the Col de la Molière (orientation table).
Magnificent panoramic view of the Alps, with the city of Grenoble below.
We did the hike on a Tuesday, and it was already quite busy.
The only downside: the starting point of the hike is a little difficult to find (as is often the case), but thanks to the QR code and Mappy, it's fine. In fact, you shouldn't enter Engins but follow the signs for Le Mas.

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alethpretet@live.fr
alethpretet@live.fr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful route alternating between woodland, rocky ridges and mountain pastures with their herds of cattle. Superb views of the northern Vercors, Chartreuse and Belledonne mountains despite cloudy skies.
A nice break at the lodge de la Molière to refresh yourself and perhaps enjoy a delicious tart.
Continuing on to Charande and La Molière is easy from the Pas de l'Ours, returning to the lodge de la Molière.
There are lots of mountain bikers on the ridges, so you need to be careful as they tend to go quite fast!

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catherine Haddad
catherine Haddad

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful, easy hike within easy reach of Grenoble, which is still under partial lockdown!

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bernardino
bernardino ★

Hello, regarding your question:

Is the lodge closed due to coronavirus or the absence of livestock?

you can find the answer here by contacting the lodge.
Have a nice day

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Claude18
Claude18

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Lots of people on the Molière plateau. Is the lodge closed because of coronavirus or the absence of herds?
A beautiful, easy walk, ideal for getting back into shape after two months of lockdown... so obviously others had the same idea!

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bernardino
bernardino ★

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Back on the trails after this very difficult two-month period, we went to check that the route hadn't changed in two years. It is indeed the same, and the description matches the terrain.
However, this is a very popular hike, and today was no exception, so we expect that tomorrow, the first day of the Ascension long weekend, there will be even more hikers and walkers. But, well, the area is vast, unlike the car park above the hamlet of Les Aygaux. It is advisable to arrive early.

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helene.bernaldez
helene.bernaldez

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A SUPER WEEKEND AS USUAL AT LA MOLIERE

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