Mount Rachais from Frette

Mount Rachais, from the hamlet of Frette, situated on its far northern side.

Technical sheet

n°62190

Creation:
19 May 2014

Last update:
17 May 2023

Last review:
28 Apr 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 7.50 km
Average duration: 3h 10
Difficulty: Moderate
Return to departure point: Yes
Vertical gain: + 368 m
Vertical drop: - 368 m
Highest point: 1,047 m
Lowest point: 760 m

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Chartreuse, Dauphiné
District: Quaix-en-Chartreuse (38950)
Start/End: N 45.244255° / E 5.739136°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3334OT, 3334OTR, 3335OT, 3335OTR
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Description of the walk

Park in Frette in the car park behind the bus stop (S).

Take Chemin du Rachais opposite you.
(1) After the last house, do not climb up to the antenna, but instead take the path on the left which looks more like a ditch than a path.
You will quickly reach a real path. Take note of the crossroads for the return.
Ignore two paths which branch off to the right.

(2) On the ridge, you will join a wide path, which you take to the right. At this point too, you need to locate the crossroads for the return.

(3) You will arrive at a signpost with several arrows - follow the arrow for "Mont Rachais".
The path roughly follows the ridge up to the summit indicated on the sign (4). Make sure you don't miss the view which opens up on the balcony on the left.

You return to Frette via the same path (E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 760 m - Car park behind the bus stop at La Frette
1 : km 0.37 - alt. 833 m - Left after the last house
2 : km 1.15 - alt. 984 m - Ridge
3 : km 1.68 - alt. 1,010 m - Post with many arrows
4 : km 3.77 - alt. 1,045 m - Summit indicated by a post
S/E : km 7.5 - alt. 760 m - Car park behind the bus stop at La Frette

In the nearby area

If you continue towards the north on the path along the ridge of Rachais, you will reach an old ruined battery, hence the name of the path, and a bit further on you will reach the buildings of the Office for Atomic Energy which is dedicated to magnetometry.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5

Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5

Clarity of route map
4.6 / 5

Route interest
4 / 5

J38

Apr 28, 2025 at 03:48 EDT

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

It's not at all easy to park at the start, with very little space available.
The climb at the start is quite tough.
Nice view on arrival.

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Cécilethi

Oct 26, 2020 at 14:38 EDT

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Pretty meadows on the ridge, plenty of places to picnic

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hell's_as

May 13, 2019 at 13:39 EDT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 12, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

nice way to get out of the city

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Mamavache

May 17, 2016 at 05:16 EDT

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : May 11, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

This is a pleasant walk for a picnic in the hills. You don't have to go all the way to Mont Rachais, I don't think it's worth the effort. You have to stop at the last large meadow and not enter the forest.

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gl38

Jun 14, 2014 at 08:54 EDT

Unless I'm mistaken, these orange marks are from the Trail de Quaix-en-Chartreuse on Sunday 18 May 2014.(http://trailquaix.fr/). These markings are not destined to live for very long, but for the moment they do make it easier to find your way around.

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Jomaf

Jun 14, 2014 at 08:01 EDT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 08, 2014
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Along the way, I found orange paint marks indicating the route to take. They are more visible on the return journey Mt Rachais -> Frette

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