La Dent de Crolles via the Trou du Glaz and descent via the Pas de l'Oeille

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant, superb views, technical sections.
Be careful if it has rained recently, as even in dry weather it can be slippery in places.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike with diverse landscapes and magnificent views.
The bird's-eye view of Grenoble is breathtaking!
The climb via the Trou du Glaz is tough but didn't cause us too many problems. The descent was more difficult due to the steep slope and very stony path; it's wise to take your time 😉
The sheep scattered along the way back were more of a nuisance for the patous... But we got through it 🤷🏻♀️
There were more people on the way up; hardly anyone on the way down. And if you keep your eyes peeled, you can see some chamois 😉

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A superb hike, although the route is a little steep and even dangerous in places, with very slippery rocks due to weathering. Splendid views of the high peaks surrounding the area. On this particular day, due to fairly thick fog, it was impossible to admire the valley, but the sea of clouds was very beautiful

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

As it was very hot that day, I climbed straight up to the Dent in the morning.
And as there were quite a few people there, I didn't go back down the direct path to the Trou du Glaz, but followed the ridge from the summit as there is a small path. I recommend this as there was no one else there, and a little further on, among the small pine trees, there were some chamois.
What's more, the view from the ridge is magnificent with the cliffs, and the path is not dangerous as it is a good metre or even two from the edge of the cliff.
You can continue like this until you reach the Cheminée du Paradis, then descend to rejoin the GR. There is a well-marked path, but if you want to avoid a bend, you will have to cross the sharp limestone pavement and take a little care.
Once you reach the GR, you will come to the Trou du Glaz and the circuit.
It's a bit longer than the original circuit, but very beautiful.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,
Very nice route, the description is well done.
My only comment concerns the direction of the route: the Pas de l'Oeille seems less dangerous to me on the way up than on the way down. This is both my personal opinion and that of several other hikers in the area.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jun 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Opinion of an experienced hiker/someone who suffers from vertigo

--> After testing both passages, the Pas de l'Oeille seems more suitable for people who are afraid of heights or claustrophobic.

The other pass involves some climbing (nothing insurmountable, but still) and some parts are very narrow. A larger person with a rucksack might find it difficult to get through.
Not to mention the rocks, which are very slippery on this side (it's like an ice rink). In short, I didn't enjoy it at all.

The Pas de l'Oeille is more challenging but safer in my opinion.

The rest of the description is accurate.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike, but be careful on the descent via the Col du Coq, which is an aerial passage with a cable that is not too difficult but slippery in wet weather.
I met lots of families with young children.
It's a good idea to arrive early, before 11 a.m., as the car park fills up quickly.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : May 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A varied aerial route. Ascend and descend via two separate routes (loop), which is always more interesting. Not recommended for those who are afraid of heights, but not dangerous. Quite fast, with little elevation gain.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike in dry weather. People prone to vertigo may find the climb up to the Trou du Glaz challenging.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

In my opinion, the description is not very reliable because it doesn't mention the real difficulties of this vertiginous and very slippery trail. This trail isn't suitable for everyone. You've classified it as difficult, but the description doesn't match the actual difficulties of the route.
Several cable-protected sections on the Pas du Glaz side can cause serious difficulties for some people, as can the Pas de l'Oeille side, where the drop is even greater.
Despite my comments, I still consider this a wonderful adventure. The 360° view from the summit is magnificent, and everything went well for us.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike in fine weather, following the Pas de l'Œille trail and returning via the Trou du Glaz. Superb panoramic views and very varied landscapes. We ate lunch surrounded by chamois on the plateau. The descent was fairly easy in dry weather.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike with a few sections to avoid in wet weather, as the rock is slippery and a fall could be fatal.
I did it in the direction of Pas de l'Oeille Trou du Glaz, which seems safer to me because the descent via Pas de l'Oeille could quickly become dangerous.
Very busy on the Pas de l'Oeille side as we set off in the early afternoon after completing L'Aulp du seuil in the morning.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Sep 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello
We did this hike on Sunday, 18 September 2022 with eight adults and beautiful weather. It was a very nice hike with magnificent views and lots of children. Personally, I would never bring children on this hike, as there are several sections with cables and places very close to ravines on very slippery rocks.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Oct 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A superb hike at dawn. And luckily so, because not only are the light and the landscapes even more magnificent, but there is also hardly anyone around. The number of visitors increases significantly from 10 or 11 a.m., which can be a nuisance, especially if, like me, you're also looking to photograph wildlife, particularly the chamois that can be found along the cliffs and in the woods on the summit plateau. I did the route in the opposite direction, climbing up via the Pas de l'Oeille and descending via the Trou du Glaz, which is perhaps a little easier than the other way round. I'll have to do it again and try out the many other options, especially the Sangle de la Barrère.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very enjoyable family hike (done with children aged 9 to 13 who are good walkers) that I think is best done anti-clockwise, starting at the Pas de l'Oeille to avoid the crowds. This is the only downside to this walk, as it gets very busy! It's less noticeable at the summit because the plateau is very large and the groups spread out. Remember to take headlamps and an extra layer if you want to venture into the Trou du Glaz. About 400 to 500 metres can be covered without too much difficulty (at least 150 to 200 metres before the first small climbing passages). It's really fun! The icing on the cake was a wingsuit jumper who jumped off the summit in front of us. Impressive! Magnificent panorama at the summit

Machine-translated