Pic du Grand Doménon (2902m) walks

A stunning hike that allows you to discover two gems of the Belledonne massif that are almost never visited: the Lac du Bois and Lac du Bœuf are little jewels off the beaten track of the massif. The Pic du Grand Domènon, the highest point of the walk, is a magnificent viewpoint that is much less visited than the Croix de Belledonne, offering views of the Bauges, Mont Blanc, the Grandes Rousses, the Oisans, the Dévoluy, the Taillefer, the Vercors and the Chartreuse and, of course, Belledonne and its lakes. Please note: this hike is on the borderline between very difficult and extremely difficult.

This route begins with the classic ascent to the Refuge de La Pra. From the refuge, the route takes you off the beaten track into a magnificent high-mountain setting. Head towards Lac David via the western slope of the Grande Lauzière, which offers a beautiful view of the Claret, Longet and Bernard lakes. Shortly afterwards, you look out over Lac David. The path crosses a small pass, descends into a small valley and climbs up a rocky ridge with views of the rugged eastern slope of the Grande Vaudaine. You follow the southern ridge of the Grande Lauzière up to its pass. From there, you can see the route leading to the Pic du Grand Doménon.At the summit, there is a superb view of the Alps. The descent to the Col du Bâton follows its northern ridge. Then, via a scree cone, the route joins the Croix de Belledonne path. You walk alongside the Grand and Petit Doménon lakes to reach the Col de La Pra, from where the ascent path leads back to the car park. This route is reserved for mountaineers in good physical condition.