The route starts in Vif; you can set off from the community hall, for example, which is located next to the bus stop for line 17 to the park-and-ride car park.
(S/E) Take the small road opposite the community hall and walk for about 500 metres (private road sign).
(1) Turn right onto a small path that climbs up to the railway line and overlooks the hamlet of La Rivoire; after a short descent, you’ll reach the tarmac and another path that climbs quite steeply to the right. You’ll pass under the A51 motorway viaduct and then reach the end of this climb (about 600 metres long).
(2) Turn right to continue almost level, heading west towards the hamlet of Le Croset along a small tarmac road. You have already climbed over 100 metres in altitude and covered nearly 2.7 km.
(3) After a short descent through the centre of the hamlet, turn left between houses no. 6 and no. 8; the serious climb begins. You must cross the small railway line of the “Grenoble/Gap” route and head into the woods of Grand Brion. The climb is steep in places, with very few spots to rest and catch your breath, and you’ll reach a flat section, but this isn’t the summit yet; you’ll need to pay close attention as the path is poorly marked in the middle of this forest. The path begins a new, relatively short but steep ascent; you pass between rows of holly and emerge at a site hut, where the path widens and becomes almost level again.
Above all, do not follow the yellow markings, which can be misleading; the route crosses a meadow before descending slightly.
(4) You reach a junction; take the path on the left, which climbs steeply to reach the summit ridge. This ridge is undulating, with the altitude varying between 926 metres and 942 metres. To your right lies the Gresse valley with Vif and the village of Le Gua; to your left, the Drac valley and the Notre-Dame de Commiers dam. Above this valley rise the Connex and Peyrouse massifs.
The descent that follows is steep; take care not to slip. At the bottom of this first descent, you’ll join the path that climbs from the hamlet of La Merlière to reach the hamlets of Rossinant and Chabotte.
(5) Turn left and, after a slight climb and another descent, head towards Rossinant. Once you reach this hamlet, you’ll join the small tarmac road coming from Vif.
(6) Turn left and follow this road for about 4.5 km. Note that this small road overlooks the River Drac, where, with good binoculars and a bit of patience, you may spot beavers.
(7) Before starting the descent, the route turns left onto a barely visible path that joins the railway line via a short but very steep climb. You follow the railway line for a while before rejoining the original ascent route.
(2) Head down towards Vif. Once past the A51 viaduct, continue straight down the hill to reach the hamlet of La Rivoire.
(1) Turn right, then left at the traffic lights, and continue to the roundabout.
(8) Turn left onto Boulevard de la Résistance and return to the starting point (S/E).
