Mont Rachais from the Vence Pass

Easy access to Mont Rachais. View over Chartreuse, Belledonne, Grenoble and the Vercors.

Details

n°56847

Creation:
09 Apr 2014

Last update:
29 May 2023

Last review:
13 Nov 2024

Activity: Walking
Distance: 7.72 km
Average duration: 3h 10
Difficulty: Easy
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 345 m
Descent: - 339 m
Highest point: 1,046 m
Lowest point: 766 m

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Chartreuse, Dauphiné
District: Corenc (38700)
Start/End: N 45.233187° / E 5.750957°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3334OT, 3334OTR, 3335OT, 3335OTR
Hour-by-hour weather

Avalanche risk assessment bulletin

Discover Visorando Premium

Downloads

Open in the mobile app

Download GPX GPX

Download PDF PDF

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the Vence Pass car park (S).

Go downhill a little way towards Grenoble in order to take the small route on the right between the bar-restaurant "La Chappelle" and its terrace.
At the sharp bend, continue straight ahead on the stony path and follow the GR9 (waymarking in Red and White).

(1) Leave the GR and take the 'Chemin des Batteries', which climbs towards the north following the Mont-Rachais arrow via the ridge.

(2) The path turns to the left and returns onto the ridge via the south. The waymarking is Yellow.

(3) Arriving at the summit, there is a balcony on the left where you can enjoy the view towards the east.

Continue on towards the south, (4) veering to the left and following the yellow arrow, (5) to rejoin the GR9 which you follow back to the departure point (E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 766 m - Parking du
1 : km 1.36 - alt. 901 m - Carrefour de la boucle
2 : km 2.54 - alt. 1,010 m - Crossroads at the edge of the wood
3 : km 4.64 - alt. 1,044 m - Arrival at the summit
4 : km 5.38 - alt. 914 m - GR9
S/E : km 7.72 - alt. 767 m - Parking du

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5

Based on 31 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5

Route interest
4.5 / 5

momoe2673

13 Nov 2024 at 09:08 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This was a nice little hike that we could have enjoyed more if it hadn't been so foggy. Fortunately, the summit was quite clear, with views of Mont St Eynard and the Belledonne mountain range. Do it again on a clear day.

Machine-translated

denrem

15 Apr 2024 at 11:40 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Nordic walking circuit with the club.
Always pleasant to walk in this season

Machine-translated

MC222

09 Oct 2023 at 12:23 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb and easy

Machine-translated

Ijoudamdam

02 Aug 2023 at 17:51 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The start of the route (about 1.5 km) is a little monotonous, straight and gently sloping. The path then narrows and winds through the woods, becoming much more charming. At the highest point, there is a beautiful view of the Grenoble mountains, the Isère valley and Grenoble. The return journey is steeper, but you should still bring good shoes. It's an easy walk if you're well equipped and in good health.

Machine-translated

Mariefrez

25 Apr 2023 at 19:07 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The loop can be done in either direction, so we opted to start by climbing to the summit and finish with a picnic on the ridges and the Grande Prairie.

Machine-translated

titou38

10 Oct 2022 at 19:48 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Not too much of a climb and some great views.

Machine-translated

eric.gascard

29 Aug 2022 at 09:35 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely family hike. There is no difficulty, the gradient is very gradual, and 90% of the walk is under the trees, which is great in the summer during the heatwave.

Machine-translated

Ginger42

01 May 2022 at 17:06 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The perfect way to enjoy the views without too much of a climb!
The route was a little crowded on Sunday, but that wasn't too much of a problem.

Machine-translated

oryx381

22 Nov 2021 at 10:41 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a lovely walk just above the fog with beautiful views of mont st eynard, the chartreuse and the belledonne range, the history of the batteries and the barracks deserves to be explained by a sign, slippery path (dead leaves) on the descent of the ridge, allow 3h45 for the whole quiet walk.

Machine-translated

Gast38

21 Sep 2021 at 17:35 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I was dropped off by car at the Col de Vence and continued on to Grenoble. In that sense it's very easy and quite nice.

Machine-translated

WOLFFBLANC

06 May 2021 at 14:43 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice walk near Grenoble. Very varied scenery, beautiful green meadows. Magnificent views over Grenoble, the Grésivaudan valley and the Belledonne mountain range.

Machine-translated

Guy R

19 Apr 2021 at 12:32 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb, quiet ride.
Lots of people (10kms confinement)

Machine-translated

M13I9C3H8

29 Dec 2020 at 10:35 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 29, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A popular walk for the people of Grenoble, so lots of people turned up

Machine-translated

HugoD2

28 Dec 2020 at 08:41 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I did this hike between the holidays with my father and brother. The summits are snow-covered and the paths a little slippery without suitable footwear, but it's still physically and technically very accessible.

Machine-translated

verocoizet

06 Jan 2020 at 09:52 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 06, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Great little walk for a Sunday afternoon . Quick and easy, with superb views of Grenoble and the Belledone (unfortunately covered!).