The Grand Rocher and the Crêt du Poulet

A stone's throw from town and you're high in the mountains. But pay attention to the risks.

Details

n°218377

Creation:
03 Mar 2016

Last update:
18 Jan 2024

Last review:
02 Feb 2026

Activity: Snowshoeing
Distance: 8.57 km
Duration according to the author: 6 hrs
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 496 m
Descent: - 489 m
Highest point: 1,910 m
Lowest point: 1,414 m

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Belledonne, Dauphiné
City: Theys (38570)
Start/End: N 45.324743° / E 6.04703°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3433OT
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Description of the walk

(S/E) From the Foyer de Ski de Fond du Barioz ((cross-country skiing centre), go in a westerly direction along the almost-flat road and stay on it for about 300 meters.

(1) Climb to the left on the forest trail, which you can leave to take shortcuts. Reach the Pierre Roubet chalet on the left after a large loop.

(2) Fork to the right. You can't go straight ahead because there is a :risk of avalanche::. Climb the more-or-less wooded slope until you reach the ridge.

(3) Turn right and go along the ridge on the GRP: "Balcon des 7 Laux" - "Tour du Pays d'Allevard". Reach the Grand Rocher.

(4) Turn around on a parallel path and after some distance reach point (3) Continue straight ahead and pass under the Crêt Luisard.

(5) Continue northeast on relatively flat path until the refuge of the Crêt du Poulet.

(6) Leave in a south-westerly direction on an initially flat path but which descends gradually. Cross the ski tracks to find a trail that starts to the right.

(7) Descend to the right on this trail. N.B. Access to the trail ahead is prohibited as it is (exposed to avalanches).

(8) Continue right to descend on leisurely switchbacks through the forest and finally reach the Foyer de Ski de Fond du Barioz (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,414 m - Foyer de fond du Barioz
1 : km 0.26 - alt. 1,426 m - Crossroads
2 : km 1.17 - alt. 1,568 m - Chalet de Pierre Roubet
3 : km 1.92 - alt. 1,771 m - Carrefour GRP
4 : km 3.4 - alt. 1,910 m - Le Grand Rocher
5 : km 5.14 - alt. 1,768 m - Cret Luisard
6 : km 6.56 - alt. 1,694 m - Refuge le Crêt du Poulet
7 : km 7.63 - alt. 1,603 m - Carrefour descent
8 : km 8.11 - alt. 1,530 m - Forest
S/E : km 8.57 - alt. 1,421 m - Foyer de ski de fond du Barioz

Notes

In winter, when leaving the Foyer de Ski de Fond, you'll be required to pay a fee of €2 (to cover the cost of creating snowshoe trails), also allowing you a free drink.
In winter, when you reach the ridges, do not approach the edge because cornices form and there is therefore a risk of falling.
Between points(2) and(7) there is a path(absolutely forbidden because of the risk of avalanche).
This hike can also be enjoyed in the summer.

Worth a visit

Above the refuge of the Crêt du Poulet(6) (5mins away), there is an orientation table.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5

Based on 35 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5

Route interest
4.9 / 5

User 28431249

02 Feb 2026 at 17:57 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 02, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello
I went up to the big rock on my own.
There are snowshoe markers for the Crêt du Poulet refuge quite close to the fireplace, so follow them until you reach the top of the Roubet chalet, follow the purple post on the left and turn right onto a wide path, leaving the refuge markers that go straight up.

At the end, go straight ahead and not to the left as indicated, because at the top of the path
there are cross-country ski trails in winter and your route takes us along them for a hundred metres or more. However, this is prohibited, so I cut across to get to the big rock.

Thank you anyway for the guidebook, which reassured me for my first time.
Nadine

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M13I9C3H8

12 Jan 2026 at 09:15 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 12, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant snowshoe outing and very easy route to follow. No difficulty.

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nathalie

22 Sep 2025 at 12:22 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice little hike but very crowded
Beautiful views, crossing mountain pastures
September 2025, the trail up to Crêt du Poulet is closed for restoration, so you have to take other routes, but it's fairly easy to find your way

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JP et D

28 Apr 2025 at 11:36 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We made one change at the start. We took the snowshoe trail i.diquant ladestinatio. Cret du poulet through the forest. We passed by a small lake at the edge of the forest. We shot straight across the field to rejoin the route described at the Roubet farm.
To get back to level 7 at this time of year, the path is very muddy because of the melting snow. Advice: either continue along the cross-country ski trail or go straight on towards the Roubet farm and down the path taken from the driveway.

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Lioneldu69

10 Feb 2025 at 10:01 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Missed the fork to the ridge at point 2 ... so looped around the refuge ... very nice circuit with quite a few people (cross-country skiing competition).
Do it again

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DANIEL38119

20 Jan 2025 at 11:45 3600 • Edited: 20 Jan 2025 at 13:47 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Snowshoe hikes

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P@trick

11 Nov 2024 at 09:22 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

nice hike but very crowded

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Capucine S

25 Oct 2024 at 17:36 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The tour was as enjoyable as ever, with magnificent views... and there were several groups of young schoolchildren there that day... from Grenoble's disadvantaged neighbourhoods. They were a bit noisy, but it's good that they're introduced to the pleasures and respect of the mountains from an early age!

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BOUSSARD Daniel

26 Aug 2024 at 08:17 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A must-do. Breathtaking alpine scenery, ideal trails, perfect signposting... and exceptional weather! A must-do. "The stopover at the Crêt du Poulet refuge is the icing on the cake.

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ANMATROM

22 Jan 2024 at 08:07 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This tour is always magnificent. The views are breathtaking.

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Claude38

12 Sep 2023 at 08:56 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A superb little hike! A bit of a climb at the start but it's all in good fun! A really good time. Thank you for this wonderful discovery

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VCANET

19 Apr 2023 at 12:43 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

There was still snow at the Barioz foyer, but it was thin and soft, so we started with boots.
Good snow from the Pierre Roubet chalet: we put on snowshoes.
On the way back, we took off our snowshoes at point 7 and finished in boots.
Beautiful view from the Grand Rocher.
Station closed: no fee (or mulled wine!)
The 6 a.m. timetable is generous: 5.15 a.m. seems sufficient.

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Paul GARILLON

15 Feb 2023 at 18:55 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful snowshoe hike in ideal conditions, with a magnificent 360° view from the summit.
Among the many tracks on the way up, ignore the "Petite Forêt" sign on the right that leads back to the car park.
(8) Please note that some sections were covered in white ice due to poor snow conditions.
The fee is €2.50, and a hot drink (wine or lemonade) can be consumed at the refuge or at the cross-country skiing hostel.
The 6-hour hike should be understood to include breaks and a diversion to the 2 orientation tables above the refuge, although it's a shame one of them is almost illegible.

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030753am

18 Jul 2022 at 10:54 7200

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

very nice shady hike at the start, then a bit of climbing in full sun, but the reward is very beautiful panoramas and at the Grand Rocher a total 360° view.

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dolcevito

19 Mar 2022 at 17:24 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I recommend this tour on snowshoes in good weather, as the views are magnificent.

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