Mont Pravouta and Col des Ayes

Short family-friendly walk with a magnificent view, manageable on foot or on snowshoes.

Details

526
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.69 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 338 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 338 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,755 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,417 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Access: From Grenoble, head in the direction of Saint Hilaire du Touvet. Just after the tunnel on the left head in the direction of the Col du Coq. The start of the hike is at the Col du Coq.

From the pass head down Route du Versant St Hugues for fifty metres and quickly take the first wide track to the right. This path soon rises gently through the forest. At the exit of the woods we find ourselves at the foot of vast fields; head up through these and see above them the summit of Pravouta. Crossroads of paths. (1) Turn right heading uphill. At about 1600 m there is a large shelf (2) in the hollow of which, a little further north, we see the Habert de Pravouta and behind it the Grand Som. The two domes of the Roc d'Arguille and the Pravouta then dominate the view overhead and a pretty pass located right between the tow path (3) provides the opportunity to get closer. From this section, head uphill due south on the north ridge of the Pravouta and few minutes reach the next summit at 1760 m. Here there is an unmissable opportunity for a contemplative break.

Head down via the south ridge. Depending on your fitness level and the snow conditions, you can head to just about anywhere on the south-east side, continue along the ridge to a small flat area, (4) shortly before the forest. Arrive at Col des Ayes. In the descent, roughly 300 m after the pass (5) find and take the GR9, which starts on your right to reach the Col du Coq and get back to your car.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,434 m - Parking at > - Col du Coq
  2. 1 : km 1.17 - alt. 1,540 m - Exit the woods. Go up to the right.
  3. 2 : km 1.75 - alt. 1,634 m - Large flat area.
  4. 3 : km 2.19 - alt. 1,696 m - Pass between Roc d'Arguille and Pravouta. - Col de Pavouta (1696m)
  5. 4 : km 2.54 - alt. 1,755 m - Pravouta summit
  6. 5 : km 3.6 - alt. 1,540 m - Col des Ayes
  7. S/E : km 4.69 - alt. 1,442 m - Parking at > - Col du Coq

This route passes through multiple protected areas, which may be subject to special regulations:

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 63 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
marie the quere
marie the quere

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful, very popular hike. Lovely scenery
hike with delighted children; you have to go all the way to Habert de la Pravouta
thank you very much

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Gilles38210
Gilles38210

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk in the cool air, alternating between forest and pastures

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Christiane B.
Christiane B.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike. At the beginning of the descent, there is a short, slightly steep section, then you return to pleasant shade.

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Jacques L1.
Jacques L1.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful, easy hike in beautiful weather with superb views of the surrounding mountains, even though the fog limited visibility. We walked a few hundred metres further to see the Habert de Pravouta and its many information posters about life here in centuries past. Very interesting! A hike to do with family or friends. Most of the trail is shaded.

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Francou38
Francou38

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hiking in beautiful sunshine. Lots of cars in the car parks and on the sides of the road at the Col du Coq, for the departures of the various hikes. Dent de Crolles and Pravouta being the 2 main hikes. As for the Col de Pravouta, there are a few hikers on the way, but they're not too bad. Room for a leisurely Pic Nic at midday at the pointe de Pravouta, with a magnificent 360-degree view. Descend via the Col des Ayes, mostly in the forest.

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CarolineY
CarolineY
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

we didn't choose this route as it was still too snowy. what's more, access from the col du coq was still closed.
we have postponed this walk until later in the season.

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Bidou61
Bidou61

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

First of all, thank you for a very pleasant hike.
Beautiful views from Pravouta.
We enjoyed a fine ascent in the sunshine, but the descent (steep and a little slippery after the Col de Pravouta) was completely in the shade... so on this fine day at the end of October, we regretted not having done it in the opposite direction.

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☀️
☀️

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

Clear, precise instructions at the start of the Col du Coq, a beautiful loop that's part forest, part plateau, with breathtaking scenery.
At the junction with the start of the Dent de Crolles, you feel the urge to continue but... That's for another time😉
Thanks for the guide

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edelaisR65
edelaisR65

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very nice route with beautiful views of the Chartreuse and surrounding mountains. Pleasant and not too difficult.

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hugues13
hugues13

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

a lovely walk despite slightly overcast weather

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Jft26
Jft26

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Good description
Well frequented on a normal Whit Sunday...

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Sofalex
Sofalex

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice walk, panorama
Magnificent views. Be careful if it has rained the descent is muddy and slippery but it can be done!

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odettounette
odettounette

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A hike in beautiful sunshine!
There was still snow at the top.
And the descent was very, very muddy!

But it was a very nice, short and pleasant walk to get some fresh air.

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Wingardium
Wingardium

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Walk made at the end of December 2022 in spring-like weather!
The Col du Coq road is closed, at least on the Haut-Grésivaudan side, so leave your car at the car park at the entrance to the Gorgette piste. From there, take the path (fairly steep slope) that leads directly to the Habert des Ayes and then to the Col des Ayes. Then follow the route described above. The return from the Col du Coq can be made via the road or a path that cuts through the switchbacks.
There is no snow on the areas exposed to the sun, and the little that remains in the shade is not really an obstacle.
After climbing to Pravouta, I made a short diversions to the Roc d'Arguille just opposite.
With the lower start and this little diversions, the difference in altitude was 650m for 8.9 km covered.
It was a great hike, with magnificent views from the summit of Pravouta of the Belledonne chain from end to end and, of course, of the Dent de Crolles just next door.
It's worth noting that there were quite a few people who'd had the same idea as me that day (the Gorgette car park was very full)!

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Anne Favre Juvin
Anne Favre Juvin

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very nice, easy and short hike (2 hours), ideal for children...
Superb, varied views as you climb up to all the Chartreuse peaks and the Vercors in the distance, and as you descend to the Dent de Crolles and the Belledonne range.

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