Le Pal de Fer

de fr

An original outing that allows you to discover the superb work carried out here for the construction of the Touvet funicular railway. The ascent is on foot and the descent, to relieve the knees, is by funicular.
(Please note): This route is currently closed. See explanations here
(Comment from a hiker) dated 18 June 2023: small difficult section: crossing the scree slope where you need to use two ropes to reach the path in the forest.

Details

n°154175
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 2.30 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 610 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 0 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 858 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 248 m
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Description of the walk

Park in the large car park at the Touvet funicular railway in Montfort, between Crolles and Lumbin.
(S/E) Go to the funicular station and go around it on the left.

(1) Find the yellow marked trail, begin the climb, and quickly pass the ruins of Château Robert, which is currently undergoing consolidation work. Continue on to the crossroads of the trail coming from Crolles.

(2) Turn right and continue climbing along a boxwood alley, passing the Oule waterfall before crossing the funicular railway line.

(3) Cross, ducking well below the passageway, then begin the numerous tight hairpin bends. The trail leaves the track and then returns to it, running alongside it using the steps parallel to the track. Leave it again for a few metres before reaching the Pal de Fer near the upper funicular station.

(E) Enter the station and, with the appropriate ticket, take one of the funicular carriages to the car park (S).

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 248 m - Lumbin station
  2. 1 : km 0.13 - alt. 256 m - Lower station
  3. 2 : km 0.7 - alt. 364 m - Crolles trail crossroads
  4. 3 : km 1.4 - alt. 506 m - Crossing the funicular railway track
  5. E : km 2.3 - alt. 858 m - Saint Hilaire station

Notes

Good shoes are essential as the path, although well used, is still covered with stones.

Worth a visit

Le Touvet and its launch site for paragliders and other hang gliders.
This is the Mecca of this aerial sport, which sees hundreds of people take flight in extraordinary outfits every year during the Coupe Icare on the third weekend of September.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 7 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
Claude38
Claude38

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route.
A good elevation gain.
A slightly tricky section but well equipped. A very beautiful hike ♥️

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Adrien Usseglio
Adrien Usseglio

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I set off from Montfort lower station and arrived at St Hilaire. The via ferrata is still closed today, but the trail is passable.
PS: There is one small difficult section: crossing the landslide corridor, where you need to use two ropes to reach the path in the forest.

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bernardino
bernardino ★

OK, thank you for that information. NF will add it to the description sheet.

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Toulahaut
Toulahaut

PLEASE NOTE: The funicular railway has been out of service since the bad weather at the end of December 2021.

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DANIELCOURRIER
DANIELCOURRIER

CHECK BEFORE YOU GO, AS THIS HIKE WAS STILL CLOSED RECENTLY SINCE APRIL DUE TO LANDSLIDES.

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kiwi07
kiwi07

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

On the way back after crossing the footbridge over the Ebron, stick to the lakeside. Swimming is welcome.

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The user account associated with this content has been deleted.

gege.38
gege.38

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 29, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hike downhill and return by funicular railway. Superb panoramic view of the Belledonne mountain range, with plenty of snow still on the ground for this time of year.
Passage under the funicular railway allows you to see the enormous amount of work that went into building this magnificent structure.
One small caveat: be careful on the descent as the "rock" is worn and therefore slippery, especially when wet...
A very beautiful hike combined with the very shady Tour des Dioux, which is best done in hot weather.

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michelpernet
michelpernet

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 30, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Very good hike, beautiful view of the Belledonne mountain range.

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mamy38
mamy38

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 03, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A very pleasant hike in the forest with superb views of the Belledonne mountain range and the Isère valley.
One small downside: after checking, the elevation gain is a little higher than stated in the description, closer to 700 m than the 600 m advertised, but that didn't stop us from setting off to explore Les Dioux straight away.

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