Le Grand Veymont – circular loop via the ravines

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This hike takes you to the Grand Veymont, the highest peak in the Vercors, via a circular route exploring the ravines at its base. Look out for ibex and marmots!
The circular route can be walked in either direction. There are no particular technical difficulties on the route apart from in the ravines, which may require you to use your hands for a bit of scrambling.

Details

n°1196940
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 18.31 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 9h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,605 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,592 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,321 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,123 m
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Description of the walk

Start from the car park at the start of the path leading to the Fréchinets leisure park – Saint Michel-les-Portes.

(S/E) Follow the track towards the leisure park.

(1) Just after the park (Forêt Labyrinthe), leave the track and continue right along the path to the next junction.

(2) At the crossroads, turn left towards Pas de Bachassons (signposted with yellow signs).
Follow the Pellas stream then climb through the forest to the four-way junction.

(3) Turn right (Yellow Cross and Green Cross). Follow the path which crosses several streams.
Caution: the banks of the ravines may be unstable. You must also carefully note where the path continues after the crossing (it is not always directly opposite and is harder to see from the bottom of the ravine!)
Reach the crossroads after the Barri ravine.

(4) Head left up towards the Pas de la Ville.

(5) On the ridge, continue along the path that climbs to the left. Take in the view; you won’t see Mont Aiguille again until you reach the summit!
Head back down the Côte de Quinquambaye and join the forest road.

(6) Turn left towards Pas de la Ville. After this good warm-up, tackle the climb up to Pas de la Ville.

(7) At the junction below Pas de la Ville, continue left up the slope.

(8) At Pas de la Ville, turn left for a final climb to the summit (follow the yellow markers carefully).

(9) After a well-deserved break at the summit, head back down following the ridge southwards. At the bottom of the descent, at Pas des Chattons, ignore the path to the right and continue on to Pas des Bachassons, passing close to the Aiguillettes hut.

(10) The meadow you cross is home to marmots that are hardly shy.

(11) At Pas de Bachassons, take a sharp left-hand bend and descend into the Serres and Maupas ravine (easily identifiable by the information sign overlooking a spring).
After a long descent of about 2 km, you’ll reach the junction of the four paths taken on the way up.

(3) Continue down the path you took on the way up to the car park at the start (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,123 m - Car park - Fréchinets - Saint Michel-les-Portes
  2. 1 : km 0.8 - alt. 1,209 m - Labyrinth Forest
  3. 2 : km 0.95 - alt. 1,217 m - Towards the Pas des hollowed-out tree trunks serving as drinking troughs
  4. 3 : km 2 - alt. 1,382 m - Crossroads
  5. 4 : km 4.12 - alt. 1,392 m - Towards the Pas de la Ville
  6. 5 : km 5.75 - alt. 1,734 m - Ridge to be taken in the direction of the ascent
  7. 6 : km 7.01 - alt. 1,543 m - Forest road. Near the source of the - Gresse (rivière) - Affluent du Drac
  8. 7 : km 8.8 - alt. 1,720 m - Below the Pas de la Ville
  9. 8 : km 9.52 - alt. 1,925 m - Pas de la ville
  10. 9 : km 11.16 - alt. 2,321 m - Summit - Le Grand Veymont
  11. 10 : km 13.27 - alt. 1,871 m - Cabane des Aiguillettes (1880m)
  12. 11 : km 14.18 - alt. 1,907 m - Entrance to the Ravin des Serres and the Maupas - Pas des Bachassons (1903m)
  13. S/E : km 18.31 - alt. 1,128 m - Car park - Fréchinets - Saint Michel-les-Portes

Notes

Check the weather forecast before setting off. Ravines can quickly become impassable and dangerous in the event of a violent storm.
Water point at Pas des Bachassons (11) (must be filtered).

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

Worth a visit

Superb view of Mont Aiguille, the cradle of mountaineering. And over much of the Alpine massifs.
In the forest: lily of the valley, gentians, lady’s slippers...
Ibex and marmots are easily spotted.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 4 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
ant42
ant42
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely hike. I pitched my tent at Pas des Chattons, surrounded by marmots and ibex. I had a bit of trouble finding the path at the first ravine – the trail is barely visible there. Otherwise, it’s a fairly challenging hike with a few patches of snow to cross and a short section of canyoning to descend Pas des Chattons. Stunning scenery.

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Doremiska
Doremiska

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 28, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The scenery and wildlife are absolutely top-notch. However, the hike is a bit tough, even dangerous in places, right from the start as you cross riverbeds where it’s very difficult to get back onto the path… I almost turned back. What’s more, there are lots of very steep sections over rocky ground… which makes things quite tricky. In any case, if you’re looking for a hike between moderate and difficult (around 1,000 metres of elevation gain), I wouldn’t recommend this one, as I think it’s too difficult.

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Fred Ptl
Fred Ptl

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The most beautiful hike I've ever been on.
Marmots, ibex, yellow-billed choughs, fantastic panoramas, a multitude of floral varieties and different landscapes (woodland, scree, ridges, ravines...).
I went on the hike in glorious weather.
I set off around 6.20 am to avoid the crowds and, who knows, perhaps spot some of the local wildlife just as they were waking up.

I only managed to spot a single marmot during the ascent (at the foot of the PAS DE LA VILLE).
The “late” hour (12.00) of the descent undoubtedly meant I missed seeing them in the meadow at the PAS DES CHATTONS.
Otherwise, you’re in for a treat.

Given certain ‘challenging’ sections, avoid this route in wet weather and steer clear if it’s raining.
Take care throughout the route as the drop-off is never far away, especially near the summit.

Total time taken (including breaks): just under 8 hours.
Otherwise, I covered the 19.6km in 5 hours 30 minutes.
When you arrive at the car park, the tranquillity of the mountains will seem a world away...

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jeanlucm88
jeanlucm88

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2018
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful route featuring marmots and ibex that aren’t at all shy on the plateau.
I recommend doing this hike anti-clockwise so you can tackle the ravine sections with sure-footed confidence! (Not suitable for children, and good footwear is essential)
What’s more, walking this way, you’ll find water at Pas des Bachassons when your water bottles are empty
For my part, I returned via the Pas de la Selle, bringing the total distance to 21.3 km
The walk took 9 hours, not including breaks.

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