Pic Saint-Michel circular from Les Blancs

The hike starts at the hamlet of Les Blancs near Lans and takes us to Pic St Michel via the Chemin des Anciens and the Col de l'Arc. The return journey is via Les Allières and the Pierre Berchue viewpoint.

Details

52418
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.21 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 864 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 857 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,937 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,118 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Leave your car above the hamlet of Les Blancs, at the end of the road.

(S/E) At a bend at the start, turn right onto a forest path. Where this path makes a U-turn to the left, leave it.

(1) Turn right onto Chemin des Anciens. Follow this path uphill, going straight ahead at each intersection.
Once on the plateau, you will come to a fork.

(2). Turn left, then 100 metres further on, turn right onto a wide track. You will join theGR®91.

(3) Turn right and follow theGR® and its red and white markings until you reach a four-way crossroads.

(4). Turn left to climb up to the Col de l'Arc.

(5). Turn left, heading north, and follow the ridge path to the summit of Pic Saint-Michel. Enjoy the superb view from here.

(6) Follow the ridge for about 300 metres, then turn left at a 90° angle, straight down the slope.

(7) Descend westwards, turn right at a 90° angle and reach a new fork in the Combe Oursière.

(8) Turn left and join theGR®91at the small pass of Furon, not far from the lodge.

(9) Turn left and follow theGR® until you reach the crossroads you passed on the way there, notably the Chemin des Anciens.

(2) Turn left to reach Pierre Berchue.

(10). Walk past the tables and you will come to a fork, at the starting point for paragliders.

(11). Turn sharply left and take the path that descends into the valley, turning right then left to reach an intersection just before Les Issarts.

(12) Turn right, heading north, and rejoin the forest path you started on at the U.

(1) Turn left and follow the same route as on the way up to reach the Blancs car park (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,118 m - Car park in the hamlet of Les Blancs.
  2. 1 : km 0.23 - alt. 1,164 m - Departure from Chemin des Anciens.
  3. 2 : km 1.59 - alt. 1,436 m - Crossroads of the circular
  4. 3 : km 1.75 - alt. 1,446 m - Junction with the GR91
  5. 4 : km 2.59 - alt. 1,514 m - Crossroads of four paths.
  6. 5 : km 3.63 - alt. 1,733 m - Col de l'Arc
  7. 6 : km 4.69 - alt. 1,927 m - Pic Saint Michel
  8. 7 : km 5.01 - alt. 1,880 m - Ridge.
  9. 8 : km 6.55 - alt. 1,604 m - Combe d'Oursière
  10. 9 : km 7.33 - alt. 1,446 m - small pass du Furon - Refuge des Alliéres
  11. 10 : km 8.69 - alt. 1,382 m - Pierre Berchue viewpoint
  12. 11 : km 9.06 - alt. 1,386 m - Paragliding launch area.
  13. 12 : km 10.03 - alt. 1,149 m - Les Issarts
  14. S/E : km 11.21 - alt. 1,118 m - Car park in the hamlet of Les Blancs.

Notes

No water except drinks at the Lodge des Allières.
Good walking shoes and an IGN map are recommended.
This hike can also be done on snowshoes.
The route is marked in yellow and green in the park (except for the last section on the way back). Red and white markings forthe GR®91 trailon the section used.

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

Worth a visit

Cross-country ski trails in Lans-en-Vercors on the plateau.
Vercors Park House in Lans-en-Vercors.

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.

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 16 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
User 20289900

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The return loop was difficult to find at the junction of the ascent route. We did not use our mobile phone, only the paper copy of your description and map.

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Louvard
Louvard

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike of medium difficulty +++ (13 km and 980 m elevation gain). Lots of rocks and steep slopes, so if you have knee or hip problems, it's best to avoid this route.
The signposting is incomplete, so it's impossible without Visorando geolocation. The end of the route is rather complicated (passing through fields, etc.).

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Christel69
Christel69

Yes, indeed! Almost exactly the same! 😂
But no matter, it was still fun! 😃

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HélènO
HélènO

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike, no problems climbing up to Pic St Michel; return via Col de l'Arc where part of the group had stayed behind.
We had great difficulty on the descent from 12, just as Christel69 described, but we didn't see her comment until afterwards... So, 1,070 metres of elevation gain, 14 km and completely exhausted on arrival!

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pouget yves
pouget yves

That's true. It's probably complicated given the number of paths and trails we take, especially since I mapped out this route a long time ago (10 years) and some of the trails may have changed. You'd need a GPS to find your way around.
But the climb is original and makes a change from the usual routes.

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Christel69
Christel69

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

We were warned by reading other reviews, and we weren't disappointed! 😀😉
Even though we were cautious and paying attention, we still got lost on the way up.
As for the return trip, we got lost two or three times, so we decided to check regularly with the GPS to make sure we were on the right trail.
We don't blame the author of the description, who I think did their best to be precise, because there are so many intersections that the possibilities for trails are endless!
But the return trip was still a bit of a hassle... especially on the last section at point 12. The trail is not marked and is almost non-existent. There is a barrier on the right with a tiny passage that you can't see at first glance (especially when you're coming downhill!). It was only when we got to the bottom that we realised we had passed it and had to go all the way back up (and it was steep!). Once you've passed the barrier (on the left as you climb!), you have to cross a large field of tall grass (there's a semblance of a path that you imagine because it doesn't really exist anymore) and there we had to use our walking sticks to clear a path before reaching the undergrowth where we finally found the real path.
So unless you know the route well, you need to be very careful!

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HUPAT
HUPAT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Wonderful to do again and again.

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CFMarie23
CFMarie23

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike, stunning views at the summit,
slightly difficult descent due to rocks, pebbles and gravel,
make sure you start on the right at the car park; we also made a mistake because on the left it says "chemin des anciens" (old path) and this path is mentioned at the beginning of the guidebook... but you have to look for it on the right.
We had to use the GPS quite often for the return journey, in addition to the guidebook, but overall the route is easy to follow.

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chantoune42
chantoune42

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
We made a mistake at the start of the walk; it should say to turn right at the car park.
Also, the car park is right at the top, after a house and on an unpaved road.
So, by turning left, we added 3 km to the walk, but that's no problem as it's an easy climb.
Very beautiful view at Pic ST MICHEL.
The descent is technical with lots of gravel, and you'll need walking sticks for the climb up to the peak as it's quite steep.
Otherwise, a very beautiful hike.
The Auberge des Allières is the ideal place to eat or, above all, quench your thirst.

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AUDUC
AUDUC

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike. The departure point from Les Blancs is less crowded. Limited parking space. For the return trip, we retraced our steps between points 2 and 1 (instead of 10 and 11), enjoying a lovely descent through the undergrowth on the leaves. Just be sure to avoid the pine cones.

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pouget yves
pouget yves

Yes, there are lots of forest tracks and other paths, but with a good map or GPS, you should have been able to find your way.
I've done it several times without any problems, but I know the area well.

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yoyo42380
yoyo42380

Overall rating : 3.5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2019
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Having just arrived in Grenoble, I decide to go on my first hike in the Vercors.
The path to the peak is really good, especially when you walk along the cliff.
However, the return trip was a disaster, as most of the marked trails no longer existed...
We'll remember the ascent, but the return trip really needs to be changed...
Thanks anyway for the route!

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pouget yves
pouget yves

It's always interesting to explore a little. The easy option isn't always the best. See you soon for more hikes.
PS. You can also do this route on snowshoes in winter.

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jp_rando
jp_rando

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful route with extraordinary views.
The route can be a bit tricky at times (especially on the way back) and I must admit I made good use of my satnav to find my car.

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randosoise
randosoise

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Yes, I confirm that the numbers for the points along the walk obscure the route, which is a shame.
Very nice walk, we avoided the summit because it was like being in Place Grenette
on a Saturday... On the other hand, it was very quiet on the descent to Les Allières, but the path was rather
steep and stony...

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