A circular route via the Pas de Montbrun and Pas de Rocheplane, starting from Les Massards

By car:

• Coming from the south via Saint-Hilaire-du-Touvet on the D30, at the roundabout at the entrance to the hamlet of Les Massards, follow the sign on the left marked ‘Station de Ski’ on a snowman-shaped sign. Take the Chemin des Pistes, which leads to the car park above the cemetery.
• Coming from La Terrasse on the D1090, take the D30 towards “Plateau des Petites Roches”. At the roundabout at the exit of the hamlet of Les Massards, turn right.

(S/E) Take the path at the north-eastern corner of the car park. Immediately afterwards, it turns right, then joins a track.

(1) Follow it to the left (north) for 100 m to reach the Chemin des Massards.

(2) At the signpost at the junction, turn left towards the Source du Sanglier (north-west). At the edge of the forest, the road continues as a forest track, marked in yellow and red, with signposts (Raquette no. 3).

(3) Cross (north) a first forest track, at an altitude of around 1160 m, and gradually head east, then, after 300 m, north again, to reach a second track.

(4) Cut across it and climb straight up for 200 m until you come to a footpath.

(5) Immediately after crossing it, turn left (west) and head towards a hairpin bend on the track, which you will cross twice further down.

(6) Follow the track to the right for 50 m, then leave it and take the almost parallel path to the left, until you reach a crossroads 150 m further on.

(7) At the sign for La Source du Sanglier (alt. 1290 m), ignore the path straight ahead towards the Pas de Rocheplane, which you will return via later. Turn right, towards the Col de Marcieu. 10 m further on, ignore the track you left earlier and take a overgrown path that runs on a slight incline. Follow the undulating path for about 1.2 km, passing two concrete water collection shelters, until you reach a crossroads.

(8) At the ‘Les Playères’ sign (alt. 1,310 m), leave the Les Playères path on your right. Take the first left, towards Col de Marcieu (Yellow/Red), climbing steeply north-west through the woodland of the same name. You’ll reach a logging clearing, continuing along a forest track.

(9) Ignore this track on the right and cross the clearing towards its left-hand end. Rejoin the path, which is still signposted (Yellow/Red). Climb south-west, turn right and emerge from the forest. Climb a few grassy hairpin bends to head north, then approach a scree slope (north-east). Ignore the first gap in the cliff and continue along the level ground for about 250 m until you reach a junction with an ascending path marked by a Red Cross and Yellow Cross on a rock, at an altitude of around 1,610 m. Looking towards the cliff, the Pas de Montbrun gap can be seen to the right of a rocky spur topped by a needle-like peak. Photo: Pas de Montbrun location.

(10) Leave the path and take the one on the left, marked by faint traces of faded blue paint. Climb the switchbacks through scree, then up the terraced sections of a rocky, grassy slope, still heading north-west. Reach the gap, which can be easily climbed through the centre. Take the path on the right, skirting a rocky escarpment. Climb the rocks using the carved notches. You’ll reach a cradle-shaped cirque where well-marked traverse paths run along the ledges. Do not be tempted by this cirque and its dead-end tracks; instead, on exiting the gap, follow the path on the left which bypasses the cirque and continues towards a small notch at the very top of the slope. Cross a few more rocky terraces to reach the ridge.

(11) Ignore the path on the right, towards the Dôme de Bellefont, and take the one on the left, which runs almost level, slightly below the ridge, to reach the Pas de Rocheplane (alt. 1,850 m)

(12) At the signpost, follow the sign for the Source du Sanglier to the left. Descend a vast scree slope via a clearly marked, winding path which is not difficult but features a few exposed sections. Head down a wide ravine and continue across grassy, less steep terrain. Cross the forest and reach the Source du Sanglier.

(7) Follow the route you took on the way out, in the opposite direction, to return to the car park (S/E).

Route details:
From (S) to (10) Conventional yellow and yellow/red markings.
From (10) to (11) – Scattered blue paint marks.
From (11) to (12) No markings, but the route is obvious if you follow the ridge.
From (12) to (7) Conventional signposting, then return via the outward route.

Please note: although this route is moderately exposed and presents no technical difficulty, it is not suitable for those prone to vertigo or lacking experience of exposed sections and small climbing moves. Nevertheless, it requires a good sense of direction and observation. Avoid in wet weather due to the risk of slipping.

This secluded spot is a good place to spot chamois.