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To start, park at La Croix Ferrée, near a relay station, on a bend in the road known as "des 4 montagnes" which, from Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte (reached from Grenoble), gently descends towards Lans-en-Vercors.
(Any location on this road between La Tour and Pierregraine is suitable).
(S/E) Take the path below the road (CD 206) that runs parallel to it, heading south and sloping gently down to the hamlet of Pierregraine, where it rejoins the road. Continue along the road for a few dozen metres.
(1) Cross it and take a marked path that climbs straight up the slope between meadows and then quickly into wooded area. Continue straight up, ignoring the paths leading off to the right or left, until you reach the Bois des Mûres forest road, which you take on the right. It descends for 400 metres to an elevation of 1,268 metres.
(2) Turn left to climb a rough forest track. It continues as a path when the slope becomes steeper and you have to cross a few rocky steps, which can sometimes be bypassed on the left. It is steeper but not difficult if you follow the marked path that takes you up to the Pas de l'Échelle or Pas de la Bergère, a passage between two rocks leading to less steep slopes along the Combe de Saint-Nizier.
(3) The trail then continues on a gentle slope through increasingly sparse forest to a grassier area where you join theGR®91/GR® de Pays du Tour des quatre Montagnes.
(4) You can take thisGR® on the left to the summit, but it is more interesting, after a few metres, to climb up to the right on the grassy slope (paths) towards the Roche Saint-Michel ridge overlooking the valley. Once on the ridge, follow it to the left along beautiful paths that climb and then descend towards a pass: the wide path followed by theGR® is now very close: descend to it and then climb again towards the summit.
In a slight curve to the left, take the path on the right that climbs along the grass to rise diagonally towards the wooded ridge: this will take you directly to the summit.
(5) From the orientation table (where you are rarely alone), enjoy the view before taking the path down the western slope. You will reach a small valley from where you can approach the cliff where a hotel once stood for many years. From this platform, follow the path north-west, which stays fairly close to the cliff before beginning a steep descent with tight hairpin bends. This descent joins the wide path at 1690m, which descends from the summit on more regular slopes, skirting a secondary summit to the west.
Follow this path, which gradually turns northwards to a hairpin bend where you can see the austere Vallon des Forges.
(6) Do not enter it, but return 50 metres back to descend a path on the western slope, which joins theGR® trail running parallel a little lower down. Follow it to the right: it descends, climbs a short steep section and then descends again to join a wide forest path.
(7) Walk up this track for 50 metres to the right to reach a viewpoint over Les 3 Pucelles, then take it again in a relatively steep descent due west. When you reach a more eroded area, follow the marked path on the left which descends into the forest and returns to the right to cross the path and descend more steadily towards the north: you will soon reach the Bois des Mûres forest road. Do not continue straight on towards the Olympic ski jump, but return to the left onto the forest road after about 150m.
(8) You will reach a crossroads where you change direction again and descend a path on the right: you will be overlooking a large meadow at the foot of which is the road (CD 206) that you need to join. The path descends to a car park that can be reached from Saint-Nizier.
(9) Continue a few metres towards Mollarout and take the first path on the left, which descends a gully to the Route des 4 Montagnes (D106).
(10) Cross it (carefully) and follow the stony path on the left, which runs parallel to the road below. This will take you back to the starting point in 10 minutes (S/E).
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