Moderator's note added on 14/09/2021 (still relevant on 24 April 2023): the cable section is currently closed and undergoing renovation work. See comments at the bottom of the page.
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Park in the car park of the Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte industrial estate.
(S/E) Join the trail that crosses the east face below the road.
(1) Continue along the path that descends to the right, known as the Sentier de la Vie.
(2) After almost 2 km, you will have almost reached the end of the trail. At the intersection, continue on the path that climbs up to the right.
(3) A few hundred metres further on, look out for a small path that branches off to the left in a right-hand bend to cross the Vallon des Forges.
Be careful not to miss the intersection! The path you will need to follow is rarely used, so it may not be very visible.
If you are afraid of missing the turn and you have your smartphone with you and the VisoRando app, keep an eye on your geolocation on the map; the intersection is normally well marked.
The passage from point (3) to point (4) is the most "technical" and "complicated" part of this hike, so I will try to give you as much information as possible to help you reach the summit without any problems. Rest assured, if I managed it without precise instructions, you will too, if not better, with my few explanations.
Once you have found the intersection and taken the small path, be careful because although it is clearly visible at first, after a few dozen metres and once you have reached the end of the traverse, you will start to climb and it is easy to lose sight of it as the trail becomes increasingly blurred. You then need to climb, more or less along a cliff on your left, while trying to keep an eye on the trail. Normally, after a few dozen metres through the woods and up a rather steep slope, you should find the trail again.
A little further on, you will hesitate between taking the scree slope on the left (along the cliff) and following a trail that branches off to the right. Follow the trail to the right! It will lead you to a steep passage in the rocks where a cable has been installed. The climb (about fifteen metres) is very easy thanks to the cable.
From there, you will encounter a few more steep passages in the rocks that may require you to use your hands, but the path is fairly visible, so it's nothing too complicated... You will finally reach the summit!
(4) Begin the descent, staying as close to the ridges as possible to enjoy the view. Be careful not to fall into the void on your right. At the end of the ridge, join theGRP® Tour des Quatre Montagnes.
(5) After walking a few dozen metres along the forest road, leave it by going down the path on the left and then continue to the right (if you continue to the left, you will return to the summit).
(6) You will come back to the forest road you took earlier, which you should cross to continue on the ridge path.
(7) Continue along the path that branches off to the left (the path that branches off to the right leads to the Trois Pucelles rock).
(8) Descend the ecological trail that branches off to the right and continue along it until you reach the bottom of the ski jump and the car park (S/E).
Visorando member
Moderate 
Difficult 
