Pic de l'Oeillette

The Pic de l’Oeillette is a rocky monolith on the edge of the road between Saint-Laurent-du-Pont and Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse. There is no question of climbing it here; it serves merely as a visual landmark for a leisurely walk along the banks of the Guiers Mort.
Accessible outside the snowmelt season, it offers a welcome respite from the heat in summer.

Details

1625568
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 2.01 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 801 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 817 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,326 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,781 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the side of the D520B near the Pont de Saint-Bruno: 4 or 5 parking spaces upstream.

(S/E) Cross the bridge heading towards Saint-Laurent-du-Pont.

(1) Turn left. About 100m further on, head down to the left along the path to follow the course of the Guiers Mort upstream. Follow the course of the stream as it flows through a small gorge. Local markings featuring blue fish have been put in place; this makes it easier to navigate among the boulders and helps ensure you don’t get lost in sections that could become tricky.

As you make your way along the stream, cross it several times via footbridges installed by fishermen. Following the blue fish markings, head slightly uphill to the right towards a track.

(2) Take this track, turning left. Head down to the edge of the stream, then climb back up to reach the footbridge at the foot of the Pic de l’Oeillette. After the footbridge, join the road.

(3) Walk down for about 150m, then take a path on the left which leads back to the edge of the stream, where you can take a break if you wish. Depending on the flow of the stream and the water temperature, wade across to rejoin the outbound route on the opposite side. Continue to the right.

(2) Go straight on along the grassy, sometimes damp and unmarked path for about 800m until you reach a small cairn at the edge of the path.

(4) Turn right down the slope to descend to the stream via a winding path, rejoining the route that runs alongside the stream, then cross the bridge to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,886 ft - Saint-Bruno Bridge car park. Cross the - Guiers (rivière)
  2. 1 : mi 0.17 - alt. 1,834 ft - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : mi 0.7 - alt. 2,073 ft - Grassy path
  4. 3 : mi 0.96 - alt. 2,251 ft - Route
  5. 4 : mi 1.67 - alt. 2,090 ft - Cairn
  6. S/E : mi 2.01 - alt. 1,883 ft - Saint-Bruno Bridge car park

Notes

Ford after (2); if the water level prevents you from crossing this ford with dry feet, return to (2) via the path you have already taken.

(2) From this point, it is possible to descend to the edge of the stream and return via the route already taken to the start. The option shown here on the map was to continue along the grassy path.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Andy69
Andy69

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Following storms the previous day and that very morning, the route was very slippery, especially as most of it runs along the valley floor near the stream over rocky ground. Despite having good footwear, we slipped several times. This hike is anything but moderate, as it sometimes feels more like rock climbing than hiking; the use of cables secured by pitons in the rock is a good way to stay safe. Furthermore, I think this hike is not recommended for those prone to vertigo or for those with children. Apart from the sections with safety cables, crossing several bridges with a direct view of the torrent below (on this magnificent day with all the water there was!) may stress them out and stop them from moving forward. That said, the landscape and the torrent are breathtaking. We were unable to fords the stream (far too much water) and the return journey, whilst safer, was no less challenging: trees blocking the path, which was barely visible due to the tall grass, with some sections being very wet (we sank up to our ankles). This hike is best undertaken in dry weather (though with a less spectacular view of the stream?) by experienced hikers who are used to a bit of a challenge and are well equipped.

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Liparean
Liparean

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely little hike, fairly typical of this part of the Chartreuse (forest and gorges), with magnificent views over the Guiers Mort, a reasonable flow of water and rather charming, rugged, rocky terrain (magnificent colossal boulders), and a well-maintained path that crosses footbridges.
Note regarding the ford: it was passable at the moment, but in spring during the snowmelt, it’s less reliable: better to turn back.
Note on point 4 of the route: the path leading down to the Peirant bridge on the hillside is marked by a rather handy cairn.
Thank you for the accurate description

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Mimizen38
Mimizen38

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 22, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I wasn’t expecting much from this walk when I took my children along, but I was pleasantly surprised: short sections with safety cables and several slightly precarious footbridges… they loved it.
In summer, it must be brilliant for cooling off.
Be careful, though, as at this time of year the area is slippery in places (rocks/foliage): so don’t take children under 8 and/or those who aren’t well-behaved, as there is a risk of serious falls.
I also think this walk might be a problem for people who are very afraid of heights.
If you know of any other hikes like this (fun for children and not too difficult) in the area, I’d love to hear about them.

However, we turned back at the bridge used to cross the Tenaison as it was damaged. For an adult who isn’t afraid of getting their feet wet, crossing it is no problem, but I preferred to stop there with my children.

I think I’ll go back on my own to see that monolith: to extend the route a bit (to make a 10–15km route with points of interest), where would you recommend I go?
Thanks in advance,

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JCParavy
JCParavy

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 02, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A route taken during a brief spell of good weather in the middle of several days of rain.
The path, which requires more care as it is slippery, remains safe
It’s not too bad during periods of high water either: simply, the ford is obviously impassable and on the way back, crossing the Torrent de Tenaison means you’ll get your feet wet!
I’ve added a few more photos to illustrate the situation during high water.

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