Pas of hollowed-out tree trunks serving as drinking troughs

de fr

The second day takes you to the highest point of the route: Le Grand Veymont. It offers a magnificent view of the Vercors high plateaus, Mont Aiguille and the valley. There is a good chance of seeing ibex and marmots!

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Around the Grand Veymont

Details

n°340412
Creation:
Last update:
–
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.97 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 466 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,147 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,320 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,246 m
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

View of the Grand Veymont

Description of the walk

(S) Take the north/north-east path.

(1) Pass near the hollowed-out tree trunk serving as a drinking trough and continue until you reach Cabane des Aiguillettes.

(2) Continue along the path and begin the ascent of Grand Veymont. There is a good chance of seeing ibex on this section. The first part is winding, then the path is fairly even until the summit.

(3) After enjoying the view from the summit, continue down to Pas de la Ville via a descent that is very steep in places, so take care with your ankles.

(4) Turn right to reach the eastern balcony trail after a sustained descent.

(5) Continue straight ahead, ignoring the balcony trail, and you will easily reach the starting car park (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 1,927 m - Foot of the - Sommet de Montaveilla
  2. 1 : km 0.32 - alt. 1,915 m - Pas des Bachassons (1903m)
  3. 2 : km 1.13 - alt. 1,870 m - Cabane des Aiguillettes (1880m)
  4. 3 : km 3.22 - alt. 2,320 m - Le Grand Veymont
  5. 4 : km 4.84 - alt. 1,922 m - Pas de la ville
  6. 5 : km 5.68 - alt. 1,721 m - East Balcony Trail
  7. E : km 7.97 - alt. 1,246 m - Gresse en Vercors - Ski lift car park

Notes

You can fill your water bottles at the hollowed-out tree trunk serving as a drinking trough.
Important note: remember to set off early as most of the hike is exposed to the sun, and the sunrise at the top of Grand Veymont is sure to be magnificent.

PLEASE NOTE: The estimated time of 3 hours and 20 minutes is calculated using software, but the slopes are steep (especially the descent), which increases the hiking time. Allow around 5 hours to complete the hike.

As a reminder, the regulations of the Hauts-Plateaux du Vercors nature reserve impose the following main prohibitions:
- Dogs are not permitted, even on a leash
- Flying is prohibited within 300 metres (i.e. drones and paragliders are prohibited)
- No fires
- Intentional disturbance of wildlife is prohibited (be careful not to disturb marmots and ibex, among others!)
- Picking is prohibited
- Camping is prohibited, but bivouacking is permitted from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m.
- Littering is prohibited (including in the shelters, which are open to all!)
These strict regulations are necessary to protect the species and environments that inhabit this wild and unspoilt territory!

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Worth a visit

Magnificent view of the Grand Veymont.
Ibex and marmots to observe.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 4 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
REBOX57
REBOX57
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Departure from the Aiguillettes hut at around 7:30 a.m. to avoid the heat during the climb.
We encountered about ten ibexes on the way up and at the summit. The climb was not particularly difficult, just a matter of pacing ourselves as we were carrying heavy loads, and that did the trick.
The view from the summit is incredible, but by 9 a.m. the crowds are already arriving (those who left Gresse at 6 a.m.).
The descent before the Pas de la Ville is a bit hot because it's on the side of the mountain, but if you're careful, it's fine! Stay on the trail, because some clever people have created more vertical tracks to climb faster, and taking them on the descent is a bit steep.
The descent from the town pass is a bit long, but you have to go down all 1,100 metres to reach Gresse. Allow five hours with breaks, unless you're a tough, hard-core trail runner who runs downhill!

Machine-translated

LaurelineRo
LaurelineRo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Great hike, well explained, quite a few people but then again it was a Sunday in August...
Be careful not to get caught out by the cold, whether you're camping or climbing!
The hike takes about 5-6 hours.
I found the descent more difficult than the ascent! Be sure to bring walking sticks.

Machine-translated

mathnicoles
mathnicoles

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 05, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very interesting hike after a night camping near the fountain.
The climb up to Grand Veymont seems impossible and dangerous, but in the end, the path is quite safe. For me, it was easy, but my girlfriend had more difficulty with the last part, which is on the side of the mountain, vertiginous and very windy. But with time, everything went well. Once at the top of Grand Veymont, the view is magnificent (Mon Aiguille, Mont Blanc).
From Grand Veymont to Gresse en Vercors, it's all downhill (bring walking sticks to take the strain off your knees) and after a while it becomes almost "boring".
During the descent, some sections are dizzying, but with a little concentration, it's easy to get through.
As for the time: I challenge you to do this hike in 3 hours and 20 minutes. Allow 5-6 hours at a reasonable pace.

I recommend this hike on the way back after the bivouac.

Machine-translated

rollercalv
rollercalv

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The time indicated does not correspond to the time it took me to complete the route.
3 hours 20 minutes on paper, but it took me 5 hours with a rucksack for a 2-day hike.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking Crossing the Rochers du Parquet

Visorando member
Les Rochers du Parquet en traversée
↔14.52 km ↗+1,003 m ↘-1,003 m ◔7h 00 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Chichilianne (Isère)
A "Haut Plateau du Vercors" route with breathtaking views of Mont Aiguille.

Walking From the Col de l'Aupet to the Pas de l'Aiguille, starting from Richardière

Visorando member
↔16.89 km ↗+959 m ↘-952 m ◔7h 35 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Chichilianne (Isère)
A very pleasant, easy alternative for all lovers of the Trièves region. However, caution is advised as the ascents/descents are slippery, and as there are virtually no markings here, it is best to have something to help you find your way and to do this route in clear weather.

Walking The Cabane des Aiguillettes

Visorando member
↔10.71 km ↗+844 m ↘-846 m ◔5h 30 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Saint-Michel-les-Portes (Isère)
A pleasantly varied loop between vegetation and rock, spiced up by the crossing of a scree slope and a passage with cables at Pas du Fouillet. To be done outside the snowy season.Return facing the imposing block formed by Mont Aiguille. CAUTION! The scree slope and Pas du Fouillet between points (3) and (5) are currently closed (July 2025). At point (3), continue straight ahead to reach the Pas des Bachassons via the Serres and Maupas ravines, point (6), from where you can reach the Cabane des Aiguillettes, point (6), for a picnic. Then, you will need to return to the Pas des Bachassons to continue the hike.

Walking Petit Veymont via Pas du Fouillet

Visorando member
Petit Veymont par le Pas du Fouillet
↔14.00 km ↗+1,161 m ↘-1,161 m ◔7h 20 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Saint-Michel-les-Portes (Isère)
A less popular summit than Grand Veymont, offering a bit of variety in the high plateaus of the Vercors. Breathtaking views, particularly of Mont Aiguille, which dominates the entire start of the hike and part of the return journey. Marmots, ibex and choughs will be there to greet you after the ascent of Pas du Fouillet. Dogs are strictly prohibited on this hike as it is located in the Vercors high plateau nature reserve.

Walking From La Richardière to Bois des Granges

Visorando member
De La Richardière au Bois des Granges
↔5.34 km ↗+193 m ↘-193 m ◔2h 05 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Chichilianne (Isère)
This is a family walk offering views of Mont Aiguille. It does not present any particular difficulties.

Walking Views of Mont Aiguille from the high plateaus of the Vercors

Visorando member
Vues sur le Mont Aiguille depuis les hauts plateaux du Vercors
↔18.80 km ↗+1,032 m ↘-1,032 m ◔8h 20 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Chichilianne (Isère)
A hike with different viewpoints on three sides of Mont Aiguille and the Queyrie plain, known for its ancient Roman quarry and famous pruned tree.

Walking Pas des Bachassons and Pas de la Selle

Visorando member
Pas des Bachassons et Pas de la Selle
↔11.19 km ↗+900 m ↘-899 m ◔5h 45 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Saint-Michel-les-Portes (Isère)
A pleasant circuit on the eastern flank of the Vercors, which will take you close to the Hauts Plateaux nature reserve and Mont Aiguille.

Walking Le Petit and Le Grand Veymont

Visorando member
Le Petit et le Grand Veymont
↔18.13 km ↗+1,650 m ↘-1,644 m ◔9h 55 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Gresse-en-Vercors (Isère)
This circular hike will take you up the Petit Veymont and then the Grand Veymont, offering magnificent landscapes and impressive views of Mont Aiguille and the Vercors ridge, not to mention the Écrins Massif in good weather. The presence of numerous animals (chamois, marmots and ibex) will add to the enjoyment of this long hike.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.