The Grand Taillefer

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

We attempted the climb at the beginning of the week with equipment (crampons, poles) but had to turn back because of the ice that was already there!

A hike more suited to summer or early autumn. It must be magnificent, but we were unlucky...

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Date of your route : Oct 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike, but quite demanding due to the route, the elevation gain and the terrain, especially on the descent to the lake plateau from the summit.
To be classified as a difficult hike.

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Date of your route : Sep 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike!
Splendid, varied landscapes, a summit with a 360° panorama, it was breathtaking.
I didn't meet anyone, but I went on a weekday and set off at 6am, so it was perfect. However, I imagine that in high season, the lake plateau must be quite crowded.
The trail is fairly easy to follow throughout, except on the descent, where it's best to follow the green markings on the left, but in any case, the descent is steep and slippery, so you have to watch your step.
An absolutely splendid hike, but it's a steep climb to the summit, so go with people who are used to altitude.
The passage over the "ridges" is not as complicated as expected; it is easier to do it on the right, which is less exposed.

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

At the start, avoid the first track of rutted paths and stay on the yellow trail, the Chemin du Begoud, which is much more pleasant for the climb

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Date of your route : Aug 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike, done in the direction indicated. You understand the name of the mountain range better when you reach the top; it looks like the French rainbow mountains!
The first part of the descent is quite steep. At the bottom, the trail passes through the courtyard of a recently built house, and the owner wasn't very happy 😆. The trail should be diverted a few metres. There are several pretty lakes and forests towards the end, and the golden hour was magical... thank you for this route.

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Date of your route : Jul 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike. We did the circuit in reverse from the same starting point, so we warmed up on the way to Poursellet and arrived directly back at the car on the way back. Difficult navigation at the Col du Grand Van in foggy weather. Steep and unclear path along the ridge between Petit Taillefer and the Sgt Pinelli sign.

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Date of your route : Jul 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We enjoyed perfect weather conditions.

A superb, challenging coastal hike: not for those with weak calves, but ideal for those of average fitness

Good reception

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Date of your route : Nov 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful route, very varied with beautiful views during the climb, and of course at the summit: superb 360° view in good weather. Thank you for sharing.
On 02/11 there was no snow. A little black ice on the descent in the ledges
There is a real issue on the first part of the descent. The scree is not a problem because the route is clearly marked, but there are two rocky ledges. It's not super complex, grade 3 max, and it's fine with experience.
But for non-mountaineers or people who aren't used to it, it can be daunting. And if it's icy, it's a bit trickier. It's important to be aware of this and, if you're not comfortable with this kind of terrain, it's best to avoid it. Given how busy it is, it's not impossible, but I did come across some people who had turned back.

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Date of your route : Oct 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful loop with magnificent scenery
Alone for most of the route despite the school holidays, but setting off at dawn during the week.
From the lake plateau onwards, there were still lots of people, but I was alone again between Poursollet and the car park towards Combe Oursière. Depending on your preferences, you might prefer to start at Poursollet to warm up before the big climb.
The loop took 6 hours, taking our time on the way up due to the wind and strong gusts with ridges in the clouds. I took the opportunity to rebuild a few cairns that had collapsed along the way while waiting for the summit to clear.
There was a tricky but short section on the ridge after the Segent Pinelli cross, but I think I missed the trail.
After this section, there were no difficulties, but caution was still required on the descent to the plateau of the lakes, paying close attention to the trail with a few small rocky outcrops to negotiate... and a few more cairns to rebuild to enjoy the return of the sun.

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Date of your route : Oct 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

On 20 October, there were crowds of people. Especially around the lakes, but also higher up. I had hoped there would be far fewer people, but on Sunday it was beautiful weather with no (or very little) frost overnight, so I was told it was hardly surprising.
Honestly, I think it's really overcrowded.
There should be three options for the question "Was this circuit busy?": "Overcrowded, Busy, No one or almost no one".
But hey, that's not the point, huhu.

The Brouffier ridge is a formality. Some say it's exposed, well yes, if you look north, of course, so yes, if you're prone to vertigo, give it a miss and do something else.
And obviously, if there's ice, crampons/ice axe are a must (same in the combe). But honestly, I followed the route in its entirety (even though there are places where you can go around the south side by climbing up) and I'm not particularly daring lol.
Summit in 2 hours 20 minutes at a brisk but not too fast pace lol. For the end, I took the path on the right to get back to the final ridge, which was more pleasant and fun than the "straight" path.

At the summit, if you're like me and want to avoid crowds of people shouting instead of talking quietly, continue a little further north and settle down on the east side a little lower down, towards the path that descends towards the Pyramid. The view of the Écrins, Mont Blanc (hidden today), etc. is still breathtaking. And not a cat in sight to meow or bleat at the top of its lungs during your moment of rejuvenation.

From the summit, don't follow the trail if you're using OpenStreetMap on the app and don't have good boots. You'll end up in unstable scree (but it's fun, I personally love it, haha, too bad I didn't have my big boots this time, I had to make a detour to get back to the trail...). It's better to continue a few metres and then descend the trail straight down the western slope.

The descent into the valley is fantastic, a real treat for those who love rocks like me. I love those moments when you let yourself slide down the scree, interspersed with sections where you have to climb down.
And the atmosphere, the view, damn, it's amazing. However, at rush hour, it's single file in places...

Be careful at the very end, if you try to follow the route with the "open street map" (again), there's a risk you'll end up back on the tarmac.
You have to take the GR on the left at the end of Lake Puney; I didn't see the fork mark on the tree straight away.
But it's just a minor detail.

Luckily, I had printed out the PDF, so at least I had the map.

Finally, in terms of elevation, I reached 1,241 metres above sea level, not 1,304 metres. It's a strange detail, but there you go, haha.

Well done to the author anyway, great route and good choice of direction

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Date of your route : Aug 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The descent is a bit technical and quite long on scree,
If you have the choice, it might be a good idea to park at Poursollet to start the hike more gently (in the same direction) and better appreciate the beauty of the lakes (Punay and Claret)

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Date of your route : Aug 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

"Ascension of the Petit and Grand Taillefer, the first peaks of the Belledonne range, clearly visible from the city of Grenoble" ?
The first peak in the Belledonne range is not the Taillefer, but the Grand Pic de Belledonne (2,977 m) ...

I took the wrong path right from the start at Combe Oursière! Perhaps it would be better to indicate to follow the path marked with a cross instead of taking the GR... As a result, I ended up walking a little further as I was heading towards the Cabane du Louvet.
I followed some hikers who were walking off the trail and quickly arrived at the Col de la Mine.
The crossing of the Petit Taillefer ridges is a bit exposed, but nothing insurmountable.
I reached the summit of the Grand Taillefer in three hours without feeling the altitude.
I took an hour's break to eat and admire the surrounding peaks. There were quite a few people from midday onwards.
The descent to Lac Fourchu is tedious, long and particularly exhausting, but the view of the lakes makes up for this unpleasant stretch of the route. Follow the green markings, but at the end, avoid going through a narrow passageway! It then takes a good hour to reach Lac du Poursollet from Lac Fourchu. Do not follow the lake shore to find the GR, which is signposted from the car park. It is then 2.3 km to Combe Oursière, passing near the Punay and Claret lakes.
This is a 13 km hike with 1,300 metres of elevation gain, which I completed in 7 hours and 45 minutes, including breaks.

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Date of your route : Aug 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed today, 17/08/24
A very beautiful hike with stunning scenery and a lovely climb up to Grand Taillefer. There is a technical section on the ridge of Petit Taillefer, so you need a head for heights!
It's easy to find your way on the way up, but on the way down you need to be careful not to stray too far. The first part is quite technical, but once you reach Lac de Poursollet, the route becomes easier.
This hike is not suitable for children or inexperienced hikers, and I strongly recommend walking sticks.

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Date of your route : Jul 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The hike is superb and offers many incredible views.
However, we encountered several problems during the hike, the last of which was the most significant:
- Firstly, although the route is not unclear, more details would have been helpful, especially on the descent after the Col du Grand Van: for example, it would have been useful to say to follow the Green path and that it is more to the left.
- Secondly, the route was much more complicated than indicated. No practical information is provided, yet the hike is as demanding as it gets. We had done a hike yesterday that was considered difficult, and today's hike was on a whole other level.
- Finally, this point ties in with the last one, but the descent after the Col du Grand Van is very dangerous if there is still snow. We were forced to walk through the snow in some very vertiginous places as it covered the path. Without gloves, it was challenging.
So, a superb hike but with incomplete information, making it more dangerous and even to be avoided depending on the conditions.

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Date of your route : Sep 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike with beautiful and varied landscapes (undergrowth, moors, rocks), although quite challenging.
Magical panoramic views throughout the hike.
I would not recommend this hike with children, particularly on the ridge of the Petit Taillefer (especially if you stay on the ridge without taking the path slightly below on the right) and on the descent below the Culasson (rolling stones and a few sections where you need to be very careful).
The ridge and summit of Taillefer are very windy.

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