Marquis Mill - Devil's Gate

This is a lovely little hike, with a trail that takes you to the middle of a cliff overlooking the Bournillon cirque 400 metres below, offering magnificent views of the Bourne gorges. This route allows you to discover the springs of the Moulin Marquis, the Grotte des Gaulois and the Porte du Diable, a natural limestone arch.
The total elevation gain for this hike is around 200 metres.

Details

87840
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 2.84 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 741 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 755 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 3,038 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,523 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the church in Saint-Julien-en-Vercors.
There are signposts on the first part of the hike (up to the cliff). From there, follow the yellow and green markings.

(S/E) Take the road behind the church. After 150 m, at the fork, take the road on the left. When you reach the last houses, continue straight ahead on the path. Leave the trailhead on your left and continue straight ahead until you reach the cliff.

(1). Before starting the descent, you can go to a viewpoint overlooking the gorges (5-minute round trip). To do this, leave the path and walk along the bottom of the meadow bordering the path. On the other side, there is a small path about 20 metres long that leads to the edge of the cliff. This area is tricky and dangerous.
Return to the trail and continue the descent, which is quite steep. At the bottom, you can go to the springs of the Moulin Marquis (10-minute round trip). To do this, turn left, otherwise continue to the right, following the yellow and green markings. The path runs along the cliff and passes by the Gaulois cave, which is perched a few metres up the rock face.

(2) The trail continues through the forest clinging to the cliff, with occasional panoramic views.

(3) Before tackling the climb to the Porte du Diable, you can access another viewpoint.
The climb up to the Devil's Gate, the only way to reach the plateau, is quite steep and the markings are not always clearly visible. The Devil's Gate is the most difficult part of the climb, and you may need to use your hands (follow the markings carefully).

(4) Once you reach the plateau, turn right and follow the path. Pass two paths on your left, then turn right.

(5) Leave the two crossroads further on (you are almost at the edge of the forest). Then go straight ahead for a few hundred metres until you reach the first houses of Saint-Julien-en-Vercors, following the road, and return to the church (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,976 ft - Church of Saint-Julien-en-Vercors
  2. 1 : mi 0.76 - alt. 2,795 ft - Access to a viewpoint off the trail
  3. 2 : mi 0.82 - alt. 2,566 ft - Grotte du Gaulois
  4. 3 : mi 1.26 - alt. 2,792 ft - Viewpoint
  5. 4 : mi 1.54 - alt. 3,012 ft - Devil's Gate
  6. 5 : mi 2.35 - alt. 2,917 ft - Fork to the right
  7. S/E : mi 2.84 - alt. 2,976 ft - Church of Saint-Julien-en-Vercors

Notes

The various viewpoints are located at the edge of the cliff.
The descent to the springs of the Marquis mill and the climb up to the Devil's Gate are steep.

Worth a visit

On the other side of the valley are the Choranche caves, which have been enhanced with superb lighting effects.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 78 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
User 13486992

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 05, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk. It gets quite challenging when you reach the ‘Devil’s Gate’. Right at the start of the walk, for about 5 minutes, the markings are red and yellow rather than green and yellow. When you reach marker 4, rely more on the map than on the route description. There are several magnificent viewpoints!

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User 29804897

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 06, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very enjoyable walk, and the Devil’s Gate is impressive – definitely worth a visit.

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FrancoisAnnie30
FrancoisAnnie30

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 22, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk. The climb up to the Devil’s Gate isn’t always clearly marked

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Marie-Colette
Marie-Colette

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 11, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, varied, shaded walk with superb views. Two chamois were watching us from the entrance to the Gauois Cave.
Not recommended for young children, as the path is exposed and slippery in places.

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Giannis
Giannis

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk in fine weather. Stunning views of the Bourne Gorges
Do make a detour to the Moulin Marquis spring
Signposting is easy to follow and clearly marked

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Deborah 26
Deborah 26

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A fantastic hike, with stunning views

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User 23959769

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Suitable for up to 6 people.
Suitable for children aged 8 and over.

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Philavoile
Philavoile

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The path effectively disappears into the forest as you approach the Devil's Gate. Stay close to the rocky outcrop on the right. Some tracks (animals?) lead downhill. Do not follow them as they become impassable after a while.

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User 17842528
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

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User 21413248

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very interesting hike with beautiful views. Wear suitable footwear; flip-flops are not recommended.

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User 1123056

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Early in the morning, there were few visitors... beautiful views, but very dangerous with children. No signage at the start...

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BECT
BECT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful, fairly short hike with stunning views along the entire route. The trail is fairly shaded. However, please be careful with children, as the trail runs along cliffs.

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PierrickBZH
PierrickBZH

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike with breathtaking views!
Not to be missed, but be aware that there are drops for a third of the route, so take care with young children and dogs.
On the downside, it's not very easy to find before you reach the Devil's Gate.

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User 26516831

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pretty hike to discover the charms of the Vercors, starting with a gentle slope from a typical village, slightly rocky forest paths, then suddenly the cool air arrives, an undeniable sign of the change in topography, with cliffs approaching. Indeed, the first view is breathtaking (welcome to the Vercors), with a beautiful descent along the Vercors precipices (take extreme care with children). Then comes the climb back up to Saint-Julien via the "Porte du Diable" (Devil's Gate). Physically demanding but short, the exit from the combes is through the gate, which is aptly named. This walk leaves us with pleasant memories and a sense of achievement. Thank you to Visirando for this guide.

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Eric04
Eric04

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Short, easy hike. Beautiful views of the cliffs and the Bourne Gorge.
Thanks for this guide.

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