Le Pinet then La Croix de l'Alpe

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We took the path that starts at the chalets of Alpe and climbs directly to the summit: nothing to say about this part of the route, which follows a small gorge with very attractive rocks.
For the descent, we opted for a loop that follows the eastern slope of Le Pinet (a vague path that is more or less visible on the IGN map) but there are no landmarks on the ground, the cairns that were there five years ago have disappeared and the traces of the path are unreliable.
We used GPS and the topography of the terrain to guide us, avoiding tedious sharp limestone pavements.
It is regrettable that in a regional park, there are no signs on the ground (who is responsible for this, the park or the municipalities concerned?).
This route should be a classic in the area and the lack of markings could cause people to get lost, especially if fog rolls in during the descent.
This complaint also applies to the Cochette loop, not far from there: it is impossible to complete the loop because the path south of the classic trail has disappeared.

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Date of your route : Aug 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb 360° view from the summit, overlooking the Belledonne mountain range, Mont Blanc, Les Bauges, the Jura, the Chartreuse...

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Indeed, the descent from Le Pinet towards the Alpe cross and the chalets
is off-trail and you have to find your own route, so it's quite tricky and difficult. There are a few cairns at this time of year.
I did it on snowshoes with a group two years ago.

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Date of your route : Jul 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The site and the landscapes deserve 5 stars, so no complaints there.
However, the descent from Le Pinet to the Alpe chalet is tricky on the sharp limestone pavement. I tried to follow the GPS track, but it was only recorded between two points at one point, tracing a straight line that was impossible to follow on the ground.
I think it's better to start the descent earlier, and the IGN map shows a path that descends earlier and should be easier to follow.
The hike was described in 2013, so the vegetation may have changed the ease of the tricky passage.

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Date of your route : Jun 16, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful route for a trail hike.
From Le Pinet, we preferred to cut across the ridge rather than go back down the same way.
We easily found the trail again.
Beautiful view of Belledonne.

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Date of your route : Apr 15, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

With snow covering the plateau after the Alpette Pass, the hike to Le Pinet turned into a leisurely stroll through the valley to the Porte de l'Alpette: stunning scenery, carpets of crocuses, a herd of ibex...

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Date of your route : Sep 12, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A magnificent place to enjoy the end of summer. I got a little lost between Le Pinet and La Croix de l'Alpe. The weather was so lovely that it didn't matter much.

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Date of your route : Aug 13, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A magnificent hike. Beautiful climbs, a slightly technical descent, breathtaking views throughout the route, with a 380° view at the summit!

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there was still a lot of snow on the plateau and the climb to Le Pinet, which made orientation very difficult because all the markings were on the ground, under the snow. So it's difficult for me to give an opinion

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Date of your route : Sep 25, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

I didn't complete the entire circuit because the section between Le Pinet and La Croix de l'Alpe isn't very well marked and the passage through the sharp limestone pavement is tricky! The 360° landscape is very beautiful.

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Date of your route : Sep 26, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Superb hike.
The directions are reliable.
The section between Le Pinet and the cross on the mountain pasture is really tricky and requires particular attention.

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Date of your route : Aug 12, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike, with a gradual climb and magnificent views!
It's a bit tricky to find the path down from the Pinet ridge; you have to follow a few scattered cairns...

The next day, we continued with the ascent of Granier via Pas des Barres and descended to La Plagne via Grotte des Ours, another beautiful route, especially in the sunshine.

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Date of your route : Sep 04, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Given the large number of paths made by herds, it is difficult to know which trail to follow without markings, which is the case for this circular route that leaves the GR. So having loaded the trail onto the GPS helped us a lot. But the directions (15 minutes... 100 metres...) also helped a lot.
Lapiats, cliffs, 360° views... a truly beautiful tour. We extended it by 1 km and 300 m of elevation gain by descending the Pas de l'Echelle and climbing up the Pratcel valley towards the Col de l'Alpe.

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Date of your route : Nov 08, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello
We did part of the Croix de l'Alpe
A superb hike
If you would like to see some photos, there is a slideshow here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8GZVbsb...

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Date of your route : May 18, 2014
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello, superb hike, accessible despite the presence of snow, particularly below the summit of Le Pinet, making the markings somewhat unreliable in places. The descent to the alpine chalet is via a path that can be found by going around a "cirque-shaped hole" on the right. Magnificent views and marmots. Also worth mentioning is the warm welcome at the Auberge de l'Ours in the hamlet of La-Plagne.

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