Pic Saint-Michel via the Combe Oursière and return via the Chemin des Anciens

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One of the peaks bordering the Vercors Regional Park to the east. Relatively easy to access, in good weather it offers a wide panorama from Mont Blanc on your left to the Écrins massif via the Belledonne chain. The climb via the Combe Oursière is less frequented than via Les Allières. A well-shaded route for most of the way.

Details

n°1370881
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.79 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,850 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,860 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 6,355 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 4,449 ft
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Photos

A "mother" of a cloud
Pic Saint-Michel

Description of the walk

Start from the snow stadium car park.

(S/E) Head south and join the forest road that passes at the foot of the Roche Rousse ski lifts. You will arrive at the start of the Bachassons ski lift and the lake used to store water for making artificial snow.

(1) Continue left on the forest road.

(2) At a fork, take the left-hand path. Head south. At a crossroads, continue straight ahead.

(3) At the signpost "Combe Oursière 1650m", continue straight ahead for about 100 metres, then gradually turn east to reach the boundary of the Vercors Regional Park, marked in green on the IGN map.

(4) Continue on the path heading south until you reach the next signpost.

(5) On your left, you will see the cross marking the summit. Retrace your steps back to the signpost.

(5) Then head south on the path at the edge of the park towards the Col de l'Arc.

(6) At the pass, continue downhill to your right on the path, which is clearly visible given how popular the site is.

(7) At the signpost, turn right onto the Chemin des Anciens, which becomes theGR®91at the junction with the Chemin Gobert.

(8) At the signpost, continue right on theGR®, following the traditional red and white markings.

(9) At the signpost, continue straight ahead towards Collet du Furon, pass a "cross-country skiing" toll hut, then take the wide forest road that passes near the Auberge des Allières. Walk north.

(10) After a hairpin bend to the right, leave the track and take a steep path on the left that crosses it. Turn left again to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 4,623 ft - Car park at the Lans en Vercors snow stadium
  2. 1 : mi 0.16 - alt. 4,646 ft - Signpost "La sierre 1400m"
  3. 2 : mi 0.4 - alt. 4,783 ft - Fork
  4. 3 : mi 1.46 - alt. 5,377 ft - Signpost "Combe Oursière 1650m"
  5. 4 : mi 2.08 - alt. 6,191 ft - First panorama
  6. 5 : mi 2.23 - alt. 6,342 ft - Signpost indicating access to - Pic Saint Michel
  7. 6 : mi 2.9 - alt. 5,686 ft - Signpost - Col de l'Arc
  8. 7 : mi 3.12 - alt. 5,509 ft - Signpost Change of direction
  9. 8 : mi 3.53 - alt. 4,980 ft - Signpost Change of direction
  10. 9 : mi 4.03 - alt. 4,744 ft - Signpost "La Salière 1440m" - Refuge des Alliéres
  11. 10 : mi 5.64 - alt. 4,544 ft - Fork in the path. Near the - Furon (rivière)
  12. S/E : mi 5.79 - alt. 4,623 ft - Return to the car park

Notes

At the edge of the park, there is a significant drop (from point (4) to point (6)). Extreme caution must be exercised, especially in the presence of children. They must be prevented from approaching the cliff.
The Combe Oursière is shaded, as is the return route from the Col de l'Arc to the Collet du Furon.
There is old yellow-green signage between point (1) and point (6) (Col de l'Arc), but unfortunately it is not always very visible and is often on the ground. However, on theGR® section, the red-white signage is clearly visible.

This route passes through multiple protected areas, which may be subject to special regulations:

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 33 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
cyberlorenzo
cyberlorenzo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A hike undertaken in bright sunshine on 21 July 2026 with my favourite adventurer. This walk is easily accessible and starts at the ski resort, where there is a large car park. It begins gently along a wide path that gradually climbs, alternating with sections through the forest. The altitude rises quickly, and you’ll need to follow a rugged, rocky route with a steep gradient to reach the ridge and take in an exceptional panorama of Grenoble and the surrounding mountain ranges. The walk continues along the ridge, offering continuous splendid views, including a view of Villars-de-Lans. The slightly steep descent takes you through some absolutely magical sections of woodland, then past the Auberge des Allières, from where you’ll reach the resort via a long path – admittedly a bit of a slog and not particularly interesting.

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Annick84
Annick84

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A really lovely hike; you lose the path a bit in the scree a few hundred metres before the summit, but it’s nothing to worry about – you won’t actually ‘get lost’; it’s well worth the effort – the view is breathtaking; thanks to the person who mapped this route

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Sardokar
Sardokar

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk, best done on a weekday as it’s less crowded.
Splendid 360° views; on a clear day, you can see Mont Blanc. Stunning views of the Vercors, as well as the Chartreuse, Belledonne, Les Rousses, the Trièves and the Dévoluy.
No particular difficulties if you’ve got the right footwear and take a bit of care on the sharp limestone pavement. The stated elevation gain is accurate – no nasty surprises.
The return route via the Auberge des Allières gives you the chance to enjoy a much-appreciated cold drink.

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BAN1
BAN1

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 15, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike – quite a workout, but what a reward once you reach the summit!
The only slight downside is that the end is a bit of a slog from the Auberge des Allières.
Thanks to the person who created this hike!

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01rando
01rando

I didn't have the chance to do this hike between "sky and sea of clouds". It must have been truly sublime.
Thank you for your prose, which will undoubtedly inspire many other hikers to take this hike.

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grefrog
grefrog

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This hike to Pic Saint-Michel, via Combe Oursière, offered a breathtaking spectacle between sky and sea of clouds. From the very first switchbacks, the climb plunged into a hushed atmosphere, enveloped in dense fog, before opening up, towards the ridges, to a panorama of exceptional purity. Above the cloud layer, the Vercors seemed to float, bathed in light, while only the highest Alpine peaks pierced the distant horizon. The climb, gradual but steady, passed through varied landscapes combining forests, scree and limestone cliffs. The contrast between the damp darkness at the start and the dazzling brightness at the summit reinforced the feeling of escape. At the peak, the silence and the sea of clouds stretching as far as the eye could see invited contemplation, suspending time. The descent, gentler, allowed us to rediscover the Vercors relief from a peaceful angle. This well-marked circular, rich in contrasts, offered a condensed version of everything that the mountains can inspire: effort, beauty and serenity.

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villarino michel
villarino michel

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

breathtaking views of Grenoble and Mont Blanc from Pic St Michel. Overall, a beautiful route.
HOWEVER, some clarifications are needed: the change of direction at point 9 is not clear enough and the last section from the Auberge des Allières is along a completely uninteresting forest track to the car park.

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SiobanS
SiobanS

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Thanks to the author for this hike. The trail starts in the forest and relatively quickly opens up into more open spaces. From there, the trail becomes rocky, but it's worth the effort: magnificent views from 4 to 6. The beginning of the descent is also pleasant, but shortly after 9, things take a turn for the worse: 3 km of trail in full sun. It seems that it is possible to take a path to the east, a little before the inn, which will certainly add some elevation (180 m?), but will avoid this track, which we found very difficult.

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mariepistache
mariepistache

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike, easy parking, not too many technical difficulties apart from the slippery ground (but that's normal at the end of October). I regretted not bringing my walking sticks ;-) A few people at the Col de l'Arc, but a very pretty view from the summit.

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01rando
01rando

Hello,
I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the hike.
As for the 750m elevation gain, I seriously doubt that you followed the route exactly.
Best regards
Rando01

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t.bernollin
t.bernollin
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A route with exceptional views. At the moment, there is snow in several places along the ridge between Pic St Michel and Col de l'Arc. However, the elevation gain is greater than stated; we were at around 750 metres. I highly recommend it!

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ecdescamps
ecdescamps

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Snowshoe hike completed mostly without snowshoes despite the snow. However, there were a few very slippery (ice under the snow) and steep sections where snowshoes were very useful. Crampons would have been sufficient and less cumbersome :-). A few forks in the trail where you need to pay attention. The route chosen to reach the summit is not necessarily the easiest or quickest; most hikers chose to climb the last few dozen metres on the left (more direct) rather than on the right (detour). Splendid panorama at the summit. The return trip was pleasant through the forest, then less so along a wide, very wide path. It was 13 kilometres instead of the 9 or so that had been announced. A beautiful day in any case.

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JeanMie
JeanMie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant hike with some snow still on the ground and, above all, icy sections. Crampons are strongly recommended in these conditions.
The last part from the inn is quite unpleasant and uninteresting
The view from the summit is exceptional

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Agon58
Agon58
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

An excellent hike that gives you a taste of what climbing is like, with a very accessible elevation gain and length.
The only downside is the return to the car park: take great care at the last few points. Otherwise, it's perfect!

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MaCat
MaCat
• Edited:

A very beautiful and varied walk with spectacular views.
As I'm afraid of heights, the last few metres to the ridge were difficult, as it's quite vertiginous.
There is a source of drinking water (the person we met ahead of us said they had checked and the water had been tested recently) between points 8 and 9 (in the forest, on the left). It's just a trickle, but enough to fill your bottle with very fresh water!
Thanks for the very clear directions. Just for the start, it's best to park in front of the ski school (piou piou), leave it on your left and take the path that goes straight ahead after the last ski lift.

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