Country:
City:
Access to the car park is via the road leading up to Chamrousse from Saint-Martin d’Uriage. A few hundred metres past the Auberge des Seiglières, look out for a forest track branching off to the left, just below the main road. Take care, as it’s easy to miss this track, which is just after a bend. Once on the forest track, park straight away – you’ve reached the start of the walk.
(S/E) Start by following the forest track for a few hundred metres.
(1) At the junction, keep left.
(2) Continue along the wide path that climbs straight ahead on the right; you’ll then begin the ascent towards the Oursière Waterfall.
(3) After climbing a few hundred metres in altitude, you’ll reach the foot of the Cascade de l’Oursière. Continue along the path that climbs up to your right.
(4) A few minutes later, you’ll reach the Plateau de l’Oursière, where you’ll find a junction.
This is where the circular route begins: head left towards the Refuge de la Pra; you’ll return via the path on the right. After crossing the Plateau de l’Oursière and reaching the Plateau des Lacs de la Pra, walk alongside the Doménon torrent for a few tens of metres.
(5) The path veers left onto the other bank of the torrent; do not follow it, but head right instead. Small cairns mark a more or less obvious track that climbs towards Lac Bernard.
(6) A few metres further on, the track may not be very visible, but carry on climbing to your right. Do not follow the tracks leading down to the stream below. You will reach Lac Bernard.
(7) Continue climbing towards Lac Longet.
(8) You are now at Lac Longet, which you will follow north-eastwards towards Lac Claret.
(9) Once at Lac Claret, carry on towards the Refuge de la Pra.
(10) About 200 metres further on, you’ll come to a sign pointing to the Refuge de la Pra, which is directly in front of you at the far end of the plateau. Turn right towards the east, cutting across the field until you rejoin the path leading up to Lac David.
(11) Shortly afterwards, you’ll rejoin the path leading up to Lac David; follow it across the scree.
(12) A few dozen metres after rejoining the Lac David path, make sure you keep to the right on the path that crosses the scree slope horizontally. If you take a path that climbs to the left, you will be heading towards the Grande Lauzière. A few minutes after crossing the scree slope, you will reach Lac David.
(13) For the return journey, follow the path you came along, which continues southwards above the lake.
You’ll climb a few dozen metres further and then, after a few minutes, you’ll begin the descent. Follow this path for quite some time (1h30–2h) to reach Clot des Vernes.
(14) At the first junction, turn left, heading south.
(15) At the second junction, turn right, heading north. The sign points towards L’Oursière.
(4) You’re back at L’Oursière, at the start of the circular route.
All you have to do now is follow the route you took on the way there, but in the opposite direction, back to the car park (S/E).
Visorando Member
Extremely difficult 
Moderate 
