Le Moucherotte starting from Saint-Nizier

Here is another route for climbing Moucherotte, a little more challenging than the one starting from Lans-en-Vercors. The elevation gain is a little greater and the mountain trail requires good footwear. The 360° panorama is just as sublime and the view over the Grenoble basin is just as impressive.

Details

130600
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.52 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 714 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 714 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,881 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,167 m

Photos

Description of the walk

My starting point is at a place called Le Belvédère (orientation table), but there is little room to park. It is better to drive to the car park indicated on the map below the ski jump, next to a transmitter.
The route follows theGR®91trail and is therefore clearly marked in red and white.

(S/E) From the car park, walk uphill for about 400 m on a good path to reach the ski jump car park (another parking area).

(1) Continue on and shortly after the barrier you will reach a crossroads.

(2) Take the left path, which is easy going, then begin a steeper climb. You will reach a wider path, which is the old ski run. At a bend in the road, you will come to a crossroads with a path leading to Les Trois Pucelles.

(3) Keep right on the old ski slope. After a steady climb, pass the place known as La Cheminée to reach a flat area at a crossroads.

(4) Turn right onto the path and continue following theGR® markings. After a long, easy traverse and passing a spring, turn almost 180° to the right to reach a restored and open refuge hut.

(5) Then begin the final climb to reach the summit of Moucherotte.

(6) Take the same route in reverse to return to your chosen car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,167 m - Parking area with viewpoint
  2. 1 : km 0.59 - alt. 1,230 m - Parking area
  3. 2 : km 1.01 - alt. 1,272 m - GR
  4. 3 : km 1.66 - alt. 1,440 m - Carrefour 3 Pucelles
  5. 4 : km 2.45 - alt. 1,621 m - GR
  6. 5 : km 3.93 - alt. 1,825 m - Refuge hut
  7. 6 : km 4.24 - alt. 1,881 m - Moucherotte (le)
  8. S/E : km 8.52 - alt. 1,167 m - Parking area with viewpoint

Notes

Between (4) and (5) A small spring on the way up.
(5) Refuge slightly below the summit (free access, unguarded).

Worth a visit

(6) It should be noted that a hotel was built in 1959 just below the summit, which was accessible by cable car.
A film starring Brigitte Bardot was shot in this hotel ("La bride sur le cou 1961"). It was abandoned in 1974 and then demolished in 2001. The site has been restored to its original state.
A plaque on the façade of the refuge briefly recounts the history of this hotel.
Enjoy the remarkable view from this summit over the Isère and Drac valleys.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 19 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
gilberteliane
gilberteliane

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful route with a 360° view. Acceptable elevation gain, a big effort at the beginning but then the climb becomes easier for those who are used to walking

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BRUNO48
BRUNO48

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Varied circuit and beautiful view from the summit

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sempervivum
sempervivum

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Snowshoe hike. Departure from the car park at the top of Templin/Adventure Park. The climb up the valley is a bonus, as it avoids the crowds on the trail early in the morning when it's -7°C. Magnificent view. Return with a detour at point 4 to pass east of La Cheminée. Best done on a weekday when the weather is good...

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vincentcoquard
vincentcoquard

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

This walk is best done in good weather as the steep sections are easily slippery. Beautiful 360° view of the surrounding mountains and the ever-present pollution.

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Chamois38
Chamois38

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An alternative to the classic climbs to reach Moucherotte. An ideal trail in summer as it winds through the cool forest. The Pas de la Bergère is easily crossed using your hands, but is not vertiginous
, leading to the plateau that provides access to the summit. The descent via the GR is recommended to form a loop and avoid slipping on the roots . A very beautiful loop that is not very busy on the way up.

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IsoRando
IsoRando

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Great hike! Lots of people, but that's to be expected for a hike like this. Be careful on the descent, which can be hard on the knees, but the effort is worth it for the view at the top!

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Claude R3.
Claude R3.

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

As for the car park at the start, I would advise against using the car park at the foot of the ski jump, which is not very practical. It is better to park at the top of the ski jump in the car park just after the orientation table, which saves you about a hundred metres of uphill walking and ultimately offers enough parking spaces.

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eric.gascard
eric.gascard

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

very slippery hiking trail! Avoid if it has rained in the previous days. Hike through woods where slippery roots and stones cause hikers to fall

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BD
BD

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

We followed this route to reach the summit of Moucherotte only (descending via the Moucherotte route through Saint Nizier). We parked the car next to the adventure park and quickly joined the route. A beautiful hike with magnificent views from the summit.

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CLOCLO 01
CLOCLO 01

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

a challenging hike with a significant elevation gain over a short distance for me, but a superb view at the summit. It's a shame the weather was grey

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URVOYP07
URVOYP07

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 14, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A bit crowded for me, as I only ever come across a few hikers in Ardèche.
I realised afterwards that there were other ways to get back down to St Nizier. So this round trip could be greatly improved.

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stilla
stilla

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 24, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very pleasant, with lovely views.
The descent via the Pas de la Bergère is very pretty at first but is long and prone to falls!

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efiat
efiat

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Unfavourable weather conditions, therefore limited views for this lovely half-day walk

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Gaétan2601
Gaétan2601

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

An iconic hike in Grenoble, with no difficulty. A few steep slopes.
Very well-guided and well-described route. It is impossible to take the wrong path.
Unfortunately for me, the view was obscured by clouds that hung over the Grenoble side of the summit all day. We consoled ourselves with the view on the Vercors side.

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Hitman Kdzias
Hitman Kdzias

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 28, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello,
Hike completed this Sunday, starting at 6:30 a.m. with headlamps from the car park just before the trail.
Reliable GPX track, used with Suunto, ascent time < 2 hours, just in time to see the sun rise behind Belledonne. Breakfast at the top.
Worth discovering

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