Les Rochers de Chironne / Col de Rousset

The start is at the Col du Rousset, on the Chamaloc side.

If you want to see the Col de Rousset from a different angle, take this hike, which follows a magnificent path carved into the mountainside, with a via ferrata above if you feel so inclined. This path was used by mule drivers to reach Vassieux via the Col de Chironne.
You will also admire the magnificent Chironne rocks overlooking the Chamaloc valley.

Details

39090
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.89 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 585 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 582 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,538 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,243 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Climb up through Die and pass Chamaloc. When you reach the entrance to the Col du Rousset tunnel, park in one of the two car parks.

(S/E) Go back down the road a few metres and take the path on the right, continue until you reach the mule track and admire the work of the "ancients" who dug this path by hand overlooking the valley, a dizzying sight.
After this path, you enter the forest and arrive at the Bergerie de Chironne, then at the Col de Chironne.

(1) Take the path on the left that climbs steeply up the grassy slope and arrives at the ridge.

(2) We descended into the meadows on the left below to reach the Rochers de Chironne, where there are some vertiginous views, so take care.

(3) Then return to the previous intersection.

(2) Continue along the ridge trail to the But de l'Aiglette and the Rocher de l'Aiglette.

(4) Turn right onto the path halfway to the Col de Vassieux and look for a secondary path on the right among the fir trees (marked with green and yellow crosses).

(5) From there, you will reach another trail that joins the Col de Vassieux. Continue downhill to the right and join a large forest track.

(6) From there, simply follow the track on the right until you reach the crossroads. Turn right and continue for a few metres.

(7) At the bend, continue straight ahead (still following the green and yellow markings) and you will reach the Col de Chironne.

(1) Retrace your steps to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,244 m - Park near the tunnel. - Col du Rousset
  2. 1 : km 2.2 - alt. 1,412 m - Col de Chironne
  3. 2 : km 3.97 - alt. 1,499 m - Turn left into the meadows.
  4. 3 : km 4.63 - alt. 1,390 m - Rochers de Chironne
  5. 4 : km 6.55 - alt. 1,507 m - But de l'Aiglette
  6. 5 : km 7.22 - alt. 1,383 m - Fork, right
  7. 6 : km 7.82 - alt. 1,316 m - Forest track, on the right
  8. 7 : km 9.8 - alt. 1,406 m - Bend, opposite
  9. S/E : km 12.89 - alt. 1,243 m - Col du Rousset

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 67 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
marie_upsud
marie_upsud

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike.
Very pleasant trail, both along the ridge and at the end in the woods.
Magnificent view from the Col de Vassieux. I spotted a few birds of prey flying very close by while I was having my picnic near L'Aiglette.
Be careful of guard dogs, though. A hiker was bitten on the day of my hike (at the Col de Chironne), which made the rest of the hike a little stressful...

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foxy26
foxy26

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike offering magnificent views of the Drôme valley.

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VERCORS56
VERCORS56

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike thanks to its diversity and landscapes (mule track, forest, mountain pastures, ridges). The detour to the Chironne rocks is not to be missed! Cairn
No markings on the GR 93 between points 6 and 7. Follow the main forest road for about 2 km.

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Fabjack
Fabjack

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

What a view!

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Jeromeetveronique
Jeromeetveronique
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this walk during the week and we had very few people.
The loop is really nice, with a first half that's very beautiful in terms of the variety of landscapes and environments.
The second half is in the woods, which is more monotonous but not unpleasant.
There are some very nice places to picnic.

It took us 4 hours to complete the walk, and we didn't have to run or exert ourselves!

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benj1996
benj1996

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk, with a gradual gradient and beautiful scenery. Perfect!!!

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Lisam07
Lisam07

I'd just like to point out that the car park to the right of the tunnel entrance is closed off by barriers, I assume to do with the tunnel works that are about to take place. Only a few motorbikes can park there.
What's more, at the weekend, it's impossible to find somewhere to park near the starting point of the hike, because of the crowds...
In short, I had to turn back!

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schnogeloch
schnogeloch

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short but very spectacular walk over the rocks of Chironne. Before that, very fine views of the southern Vercors.

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cantagrel
cantagrel

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike, the views from the Chironne rocks are really impressive.
I wasn't expecting to see the path marked with a green and yellow cross in the fir trees at (4) so early on, so I continued straight on and then had a bit of trouble finding my way back.

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Patlemeyne
Patlemeyne

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Variation, after the goal of L'aiglette towards the Col de Vassieux just before take the Chemin des Charbonniers found the track to the sign Chemin de Chironne take it and descend to the combe de Néve and back on the Col de Chironne.loop a little longer but back in the forest to the pass (Nice hike)

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Patlemeyne
Patlemeyne

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

On the way down from the But de l'aiglette, I took the Chemin des Charbonniers, then the Chemin de Chironne and returned via the Combe de Néve.

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AntoineLur
AntoineLur

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Nice walk, clear route and description.

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Melandria2014
Melandria2014
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 06, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice hike, done on a very windy day, and even then it was fine (thanks to the fayards!).
The route and explanations are very clear, the scenery magnificent and there are no difficulties on the climbs.
My daughter (aged 12) and I did have one big scare when we went past the sheepfold. There was a flock 200 m from us and the dogs thought we weren't far enough away.
The youngest of them "accompanied" us with a lot of barking, and also by pinching a rucksack strap, and he was joined by a patou who wasn't very aggressive though. They left about halfway between the Col de Chironne and the top of the climb. In short, a very big scare, but nothing serious, especially as the dogs were with the herd in a closed enclosure on the way back.
So be careful, it's mountain pasture time!
Nota Bene: we started the hike at around 9.30am and didn't meet anyone. However, it was busier on the way back in the early afternoon.

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Papageno
Papageno

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 31, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent walk, particularly for the diversity of the landscapes.

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EMMAQUIMARCHE
EMMAQUIMARCHE

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hiking in fine, warm weather with vultures in the thermals and chamois in the pastures.
Great views of the Col de Rousset and the 3 Becs.
No difficulties, even for my 12-year-old daughter.
We did find the section of track leading back to the Col de Chironne a little long and monotonous.
The topo is very precise about distances.
However, there are no green and yellow markings.

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