Le Moucherotte via Château Bouvier and the Trou Saint Michel

Access from Grenoble towards St-Nizier. Park your car at the last hairpin bend on the right before St-Nizier.

(S/E) The start is at the hairpin bend. Follow signs for Moucherotte via the Vallon des Forges. Take the Sentier de la Vie, which starts to the right of the bend. At the junction, carry straight on. Pass over the Trou de Poussebou, then under the Trois Pucelles, and do not take the paths coming from the left. Yellow and green markings will guide you.

(1) Ignore the sign for Vallon des Forges (return route) and turn left to head for Château Bouvier and reach the cableway.

(2) The path continues towards the Grotte Vallier, the entrance to which you’ll see a little further up. Take care, as the cable and the rock are often damp. Continue climbing until you reach a junction.

(3) This is the path coming from Seyssins. Head right towards the summit along a well-marked path dotted with blue markers.

(4) At the summit, the view is magnificent over the plain, 1,500 metres below, as well as over the Vercors plateaus and their peaks. Head due south along the left-hand ridge, towards the Trou St Michel, for a long walk that never strays far from the ridge, offering dizzying views (and even an arch and sharp limestone pavement).

(5) It is possible to descend into the hollow, which leads to a balcony where you can stop for a picnic. Head back up and take the path that descends westwards to the left, joining a track.

(6) Head north, to the right, pass close to the Habert des Ramées, then follow the track, keeping to the right at all times, until you reach the 1708-metre mark.

(7) Cross a track and take the path leading down to the north, on the left, towards the Pas de la Bergère, then head for the 1268-metre mark.

(8) Turn right onto the track heading north until you reach the next junction.

(9) Take the track that climbs to the right and becomes a steep path, then turn right again to reach the base of the Cheminée du CAF.

(10) Climb up the chimney and follow the path that leads on.

(11) At the top of the chimney, turn right at the junction, then left to join a wide track.

(12) Head down the track to the left until you reach the second hairpin bend. The start of the Vallon des Forges is there, right at the foot of the cliff. Take this path.

(13) At the junction, turn right to return to the junction you passed on the way out, crossing a vast scree slope and passing beneath high cliffs.

(1) Turn left and return to the starting point by following the route in reverse to the one you took on the way out (S/E).

No water along the route.

Magnificent views from the summit of Moucherotte and along the ridge.