Country:
City:
The start is at Place du Tilleul, near the church and the post office. Several small car parks are available at the northern and southern entrances to the village of Saint-Martin-en-Vercors or on Impasse de la Chicoune.
(S/E) From Place du Tilleul, head west along the Chemin des Écoliers. At the end of the tarmac section, continue to the right along the path under the trees.
(1) Stay on the path which climbs to the right. Walk through the forest, skirt a clearing and join a small road.
(2) Follow it uphill, turn right at the first junction and then left at the second. Continue along the road to Le Briac.
(3) Leave the road and turn right. After 100 m, carry on straight ahead along the wide track, leaving the path leading to the Château on your right. 100 m further on, take care not to miss the path that branches off to the left into a line of trees. A gentle climb along a meadow and then into the woods.
(4) Turn right towards the Pas des Voûtes. Then turn left at the next fork when you reach the forest track.
(5) Leave the main track and take a path on the right. There are several vantage points to choose from.
(6) Take a detour of a few metres to the right to reach the Belvédère du Bienveilleur, offering a sweeping panorama of the Bourne Gorges 800 m below and, opposite, the access road to the Choranche Cave. Then continue to the junction with the forest track.
(7) Follow it to the right, following the yellow PR® markings; climb before descending along a stony path towards the Pas des Voûtes. You’ll reach a T-junction at a place called Petite Cournouze.
(8) Keep to the right on the PR® path to reach the Pas des Voûtes.
(9) Do not cross it, but continue down the path through the forest in the Massif de la Grande Cournouse, a natural fortress protected on almost all sides by its high cliffs. You will reach the Grande Cournouse crossroads.
(10) Continue the descent along the path on the right. Go all the way to the end, through the boxwood, to reach the junction with the Sentier du Bec de Chatelus.
(11) Turn right onto this path, passing close to the karstic cave of the Curé, and complete the climb to the Bec de Chatelus; continue to the right to reach the viewpoint overlooking the Bourne above Choranche.
(12) Return via the same route to the previous junction.
(11) Continue to the right until you reach a flat area at the edge of the cliff.
(13) Turn sharply left onto a less steep path. Return to the Grande Cournouse crossroads you passed earlier.
(10) Turn right and follow the route you took on the way there, but in the opposite direction, until you reach the T-junction at a place called Petite Cournouze.
(8) Leave the main track and take a path on the right – a bit steep at first but then much easier – which leads to the Pas de l’Allier.
(14) Retrace your steps for a few metres, then take the path on the right. You’ll reach a crossroads with four directions leading off at almost right angles at a place called Les Scialères.
(15) Turn right towards Saint-Martin-en-Vercors, continue through the forest and then come out onto the D612.
(16) Cross the road and continue along the path opposite. After 200 m, at the first fork, take the path on the right towards Les Menuisiers. This is a very pleasant path through the woodland; you’ll come to another fork.
(17) Take the path on the left, leave the forest and then enter it again. Keep heading towards Les Menuisiers until you reach this hamlet.
(18) Turn left and continue along the road to return to the car park at Saint-Martin-en-Vercors (S/E).
Visorando Member
Moderate 
Easy 
Difficult 
