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

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Date of your route : Jul 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful, easy hike in the mountains (with proper footwear) offering magnificent scenery and views.
The route is easy to follow as it is well-trodden and well signposted.
However, the high number of visitors means that wildlife is very scarce, if not non-existent, along the route.
Thank you for this route.

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Date of your route : Jul 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

By following the description and the markings on the ground, it is very difficult to get lost. The map may be useful.
In terms of difficulty, the final path to the summit and the descent to the Col de l'Arc are not very steep. However, it is recommended that you wear good hiking boots. A pair of walking sticks may help with some sections. Thank you to the author for this hike.

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Date of your route : Jun 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The final stretch of the hike is quite difficult because it climbs almost vertically at times and the ground is slippery due to the many stones rolling underfoot..
The same problem arises on the descent.
The very end of the hike is a long forest path in full sun with little of interest.

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Date of your route : Sep 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike in very varied terrain, wide trails, steep paths, long passages through rocks with slopes of varying steepness, etc. Once at the summit, there are beautiful views. All in all, a very beautiful hike. Highly recommended. 👍👍👍

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