Les Échelles walks

A pleasant walk in the woods overlooking the village of Les Échelles in Savoie.

This route takes you through the lands of Béatrice of Savoy. From the commandery to the panoramic viewpoint at the Chapelle de la Madeleine, you’ll have the chance to discover the rich history of Les Échelles.

A circular loop above Saint-Pierre-de-Genebroz with beautiful views.

A breathtaking heritage walk following the Sardinian ‘Route Royale’. Viewpoints and gorges are also on the itinerary. There is also the option to visit the caves (at the Grottes tourist site).

This circular loop combines a crossing of a little-visited summit offering views of the Chartreuse and the Avant Pays Savoyard with historic or documented passages: ascent via the Route Sarde and the Sentier du Beauvoir, return via the route Béatrice de Savoie and the Voie Royale.

Go back in time a few centuries, or even a few thousand years, first by discovering the Sardinian road built in the 17th century, then the prehistoric paths on the trail of the Magdalenians and Azilians. Please note that one path is closed in winter.

A short, quick walk at the foot of the Ruchère cliff, along a narrow path that climbs steadily and crosses the Chemin des Bœufs, which you’ll take on the way down. This leads to the impressive Pierre de Onze Heures and the Barthélemy Fountain, which is always flowing, along a path that runs entirely through the forest.

Short hike to discover prehistory at the Fru site and the historic passage of the Via Sarde between Lyon and Turin.

A beautiful, long circular route at moderate altitude, with exposed sections that can be slippery. Start directly below the Rocher du Quartier and climb via Tramoley, passing the Saint-André fir tree to the Col de la Sarriette, then cross the Plateau de la Ruchère before descending via the postman’s path beneath the Pointe du Frou.

Here is a gentle stroll that will delight young and old alike in a very pleasant forest.

Set off to explore the geological features in the forest above Miribel-les-Échelles, heading towards the Col des Mille Martyrs. Numerous crosses – some recent, others ancient and steeped in history – dot this route. In other open areas, you’ll enjoy panoramic views of the Chartreuse mountains and the plain stretching towards Les Échelles and Saint-Laurent-du-Pont. To avoid roads as much as possible, you’ll take certain paths deep within the forest that aren’t always shown on the IGN map.

The Col des Mille Martyrs is a road pass well known to cyclists, but hikers are also familiar with it, as there are many paths criss-crossing the area. The proposed walk takes place in a landscape of pastures and forests to the west of the Chartreuse Massif, offering panoramic views of the mountains.

A lovely, well-structured circular loop, though it lacks a few viewpoints.Part of the route is off-track along the summit cliff.Facing south to south-west, then west for the descent, and entirely through woodland, this route is in the shade, although the box trees have been severely affected by the box tree moth. Please note: on 4 August 2026, a user wrote => Circular route not feasible due to a local council order: path impassable.

This circular forest loop is accessible in all seasons, even in snow, and takes you through several areas of the Miribel, Saint-Aupre and Rocharey forests, crossing two medium-altitude passes, the Mille Martyrs and the Pilori. You can also enjoy some unobstructed views along the route.

This circular forest route, dotted with natural attractions and historic buildings, also offers, after a short round trip, a lovely view of the Grande Sure. A booklet dedicated to the heritage along this route is available.

This route mainly follows the snowshoe trails maintained by the Ruchère Nordic ski centre, allowing for a quick pace; snowshoes are only really necessary between (2) and (3). As over 90% of the route is groomed, the first few kilometres around the centre are generally quite busy. The route can be walked during the summer season.

This is a lovely, easy snowshoe walk, mainly through forest. The Col de la Ruchère, at the foot of the Petit Som, is a truly beautiful part of the Chartreuse.

A circular route starting from La Ruchère, which takes you along a significant section of the ridge comprising the Rochers du Frou, the Rochers du Quartier and the Rochers du Pertuis. The route is mainly through woodland, but offers some lovely views over the valley.

Hike through forests and mountain pastures, passing by the summit of Petit Som.

A classic Chartreuse route that can be started from several locations.

This circular can be done in almost any season (except after storms or heavy rain) and allows you to discover some lesser-known parts of Chartreuse.

Rather than heading off to see the Grottes des Échelles and the Voie Sardes, I suggest heading to the Gerbaix viewpoint, setting off from the picturesque little hamlet of Côte Barrier through woodland and mountain pastures, with lovely scenery and impressive views.

This easy hike in summer becomes more difficult with the onset of winter conditions. A few centimetres of snow are enough to cover the markings on the ground and make it harder to progress on the steeper sections. This hike can be done in half a day from mid-November onwards, but don't set off after 2pm, otherwise you'll need a head torch for the return journey.

A superb circular route, offering great variety in terms of terrain and sublime panoramic views. Two sections require mountain-walking skills: the chimney (take care not to dislodge any rocks) leading up to the Petit Som ridge, and the Pas du Loup, which can be tricky (a rope may provide reassurance for less experienced walkers, depending on the day’s conditions).

A beautiful snowshoe hike on the edge of the Grande Chartreuse Monastery, accompanied by the legendary peaks of Grand Som and Chamechaude. Choose a sunny day after a snowfall.

Climb to the summit of Petit Som from La Ruchère. You will enjoy a 360° view and may also encounter marmots and chamois.

A lovely circular route taking in two peaks, across a wide variety of terrain. You’ll encounter woodland, scree slopes, rocky outcrops and mountain pastures.

A peaceful hike from La Ruchère, at the foot of the Grand and Petit Som, along the paths of the haberts (shepherds' shelters). Autumn is a particularly good time to visit, with the colours of the beech trees and the sun flooding the few meadows you cross: Billon, Arpison, etc. Be careful at the end of the route, however, as there is a slightly steep path that may slow down inexperienced hikers (or in specific conditions, such as snow, rain, fallen trees, etc.). See comments.

Short family hike with a climb to Le Petit Som: 360° views, marmots and chamois.

Two stunning panoramic views in the heart of the Chartreuse, a well-balanced walk combining fairly steep sections with pastures and beautiful forests.

A very beautiful circular with views to the west, south and east. Remains at altitude throughout. Breathtaking view of the Grande Chartreuse monastery from the summit of Aliénard. A very quiet route with beautiful trails.

A beautiful circular on good trails and forest paths that passes by the two viewpoints of Pertuis and Arpison. This high-altitude route begins with a descent and ends with a descent.

This circular walk is a variation on route no. 107635379, the Grande Sure, a return walk from Saint-Laurent-du-Pont. The ascent to the summit of the Grande Sure is the same, but this route differs in its return leg, which starts from the Col de la Sure, from where the path leads to the Col des Charmilles, descends the opposite slope, then crosses the Rochers des Agneaux before hurtling down a steep cirque and joining the Route Forestière de la Charmette, which leads to the magnificent Chartreuse de Currière. This route offers the advantage of a different return journey with a similar elevation gain, despite being 2.8 km longer, but has the disadvantage of ending on a road.

A lovely, shaded hike along steep slopes through the forest, passing through a cirque notable for its scree of dazzlingly white limestone. As you emerge from the forest, a superb view opens up over a grassy valley dotted with a few wooded areas and nestled between imposing rocky ridges. From the summit, you’ll enjoy a magnificent 360° panorama: to the east, from Mont Blanc to the Écrins via Belledonne and the Grandes Rousses; to the south, the Vercors; to the west, the Dauphiné Mountains; and to the north, the Chartreuse.

This short 1½-hour walk is suitable for families.An artistic discovery route: all along the route, you can admire and discover works of art set against the backdrop of the old Sardinian road.

The Fourvoirie site marks one of the entrances to the Chartreuse Desert. One of the bridges, built in the 13th century, gave its name to the village of Saint-Laurent-du-Pont. On the right bank of the Guiers Mort, the Carthusians once started a major metallurgical industry, which continues today in the Saint-Laurent plain. On the other bank, the monks established a distillery, which was destroyed by a landslide in 1935.

There are numerous crosses in the area around Saint-Laurent-du-Pont. Here is a suggested route starting from the main church to see as many of them as possible, mainly in the plain.

Explore the western part of the Herrétang peat bogs from its observation points, after following the cycle path uphill towards the Rocher de la Garde to enjoy its 360° panorama.

In Saint-Laurent-du-Pont, there is a 6 km flat walk along a wetland discovery trail.