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To get to the starting point of the hike from Villard-de-Lans, take the road leading to the Bois Barbu cross-country ski centre. Continue along the forest road towards Saint-Julien-en-Vercors, passing the Valchevrière viewpoint, a key site of the Resistance. After a recommended stop at the viewpoint, continue on. Just after the Goutarou lodge, cross the Chalimont clearing and after about 1 km of climbing, park at the intersection of a track that leads off to your left. This track will be used to return from the hike.
(S/E) Start the hike by heading south along the continuation of the arrival road to the Col d'Herbouilly. At the pass, leave the paved road that branches off to your right and continue straight ahead, still heading south, along a path that first descends into the woods and then opens onto the large Herbouilly meadow, reaching a crossroads shortly afterwards.
(1) Continue straight ahead across the meadow. After about 700m, the path passes by a restored ruin, the remains of a hut where the Vercors maquis stayed in 1943/1944. You can read a commemorative plaque listing the names of these fighters, including the writer Jean Prévôt, one of the leaders of the resistance who was shot in July 1944.
(2) About 200 metres after the ruins, you will come to a crossroads. Leave the road heading south and take a narrow path on your left heading east (signposted "Pas de la Sambue").
Follow this grassy path for about 200 metres and further on, in summer, it crosses tall grass and ferns. It is a little oppressive and unpleasant but not dangerous. At the end of this vegetation, you will come out at the start of the climb to Pas de la Sambue in the forest.
The climb is on a dirt track, which is quite steep at first and winds upwards. You will climb 100 metres in altitude over a short distance. The slope then levels out considerably as you reach Pas de la Sambue.
(3) Walk along the flat for about 400 metres until you reach the Sambue crossroads, which is a cross-country ski trail in winter (signpost indicating several directions).
(4) Take the cross-country ski trail on your left heading north and continue on flat ground for 1.5 km until you reach a right-hand bend, where you will join the tarmac road leading to Château Jullien. At this point, do not take the paved road uphill to the left, but turn right and descend for 100 m until you reach a large bend at a place called "Chargeoir de la 46".
(5) At this point, look for a path on your left heading north (signposted "Scialet de Malaterre"). Take this path, continuing straight ahead, and after about 700m you will see the entrance to the karstic cave on your left. A metal footbridge spanning the entrance to the chasm allows you to safely explore the entrance. Follow the path for 300 metres until you reach the tarmac road.
(6) Cross the road and you will find a new path just opposite that climbs uphill and rejoins the road after 300m. Follow it to the left uphill to reach a car park and the large meadow of Château Julien.
(7) Continue west in the same direction to climb directly to the viewpoint via a path that may be difficult to see depending on the height of the grass. Join a better marked path and follow it to the left for about 200 metres until you reach the Château Julien viewpoint and its magnificent panorama.
(8) Thanks to the orientation table and in clear weather, you can enjoy a 360° view of the entire northern Vercors, including the cliffs of the eastern barrier of the massif (also much further away depending on cloud cover). After taking the time to admire the view and take photos, continue in the same direction to begin the descent to the southern end of the meadow.
(9) At this point, you will cross a path that branches off to your left and returns to Château Julien, and a fairly wide track that descends to your right. Take this track on the right, which after about 2 km of descent will lead you to the car park (S/E).
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