Ambel plateau

The Ambel Plateau, a mix of pastures and forests, covers an area of 1,231 hectares. The view of the surrounding peaks and mountain ranges is superb: to the east, the Vercors High Plateaus and the Grand Veymont; to the west, the Tête de la Dame (1,506 m), from where you can see the Diois, the Baronnies and the Omblèze valley with its cliffs below; and to the south, the Saint-Julien-en-Quint valley.

⚠️ Between 1 July and 15 September, Prefectural Order DDT-SEF-2026-0176 of 4 June 2026 concerning temporary restrictions on access to the Saoû Forest and the Ambel Plateau in the event of a fire risk, assessed on a daily basis. A map is published every evening (around 5.30 pm) for the following day.

Details

n°132383

Creation:
08 Jul 2015

Last update:
09 Jul 2026

Last review:
29 Jul 2026

Activity: Walking
Distance: 12.16 mi
Average duration: 7h 30
Difficulty: Difficult
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 2,146 ft
Descent: - 2,116 ft
Highest point: 4,934 ft
Lowest point: 3,924 ft

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Vercors, Dauphiné
City: Omblèze (26400)
Start/End: N 44.897811° / E 5.233788°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3136ET, 3137OT
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Description of the walk

Access: from Léoncel, take the D199 for about 9 km to the Col de la Bataille, where you can park at the side of the road after the tunnel.

(S/E) Follow the track (^GR®®93) which runs horizontally to the right, heading south, at the foot of the Roc de Toulau.

(1) At the Pas du Gouillat, at a left-hand bend, leave the track (^GR®®93) and continue due south along the path that follows a fence, towards “la Tête de la Dame” and “Les Sarnats”. Pass the Croix d’Ambel, leave the path on your right heading towards Omblèze and continue to the Tête de la Dame (1,506 m).

(2) Continue to follow the ridge and ignore the paths leading into the park. Pass the Pas de Rouisse, a shepherd’s hut, a water reservoir (Pas d’Ambel), then climb up to point 1492 before descending to the Pas de la Ferrière, the western end of the walk marked by a fence and a gate.

(3) Turn almost completely round, taking the path (^GR®®93) heading south-south-west, which runs horizontally along the edge of the woodland. Ignore the path branching off to the left (dotted line on the IGN map) and continue a little further down the slope towards the west, crossing a wooded area to reach the Pierre de l’Ours.

(4) Leave the^GR®®93and continue along the small path downhill, below the Pierre de l’Ours, through the woods. Cross a track and descend to the Tubanet refuge.

(5) Follow the track due south for about a hundred metres, then rejoin the path (^GR®®93) which branches off to the right through the woods. Further down, this path reaches the Ambel mountain pastures, enters the park and follows the edge of the woods. Halfway up the slope, after the small valley, it turns to the right and continues more or less level through the woods before becoming a small track. In the next small valley, take the most clearly marked track branching off to the right (^GR®®93) as it climbs. Reach the Ambel refuge by continuing straight on when you reach the next small valley.

(6) Continue along the path (^GR®®93) that you left to go to the refuge. Pass the water trough used to water livestock, head back up through the woods, then rejoin the track you took at the start at the Pas du Gouillot.

(1) Turn right to return to the Col de la Bataille (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : mi 0 - alt. 4,304 ft - Col de la Bataille
1 : mi 1.45 - alt. 4,344 ft - Pas du Gouillat
2 : mi 3.16 - alt. 4,934 ft - Tête de la Dame (1506m)
3 : mi 7.12 - alt. 4,754 ft - Pas de la Ferrière
4 : mi 7.82 - alt. 4,583 ft - La Pierre de l'Ours
5 : mi 8.06 - alt. 4,354 ft - Refuge de Tubanet
6 : mi 10.07 - alt. 4,022 ft - Farm - Refuge d'Ambel
S/E : mi 12.16 - alt. 4,304 ft - Col de la Bataille

Notes

Dogs are not permitted from 1 May to 31 October

Bring plenty of water as the only water source is at the Refuge de la Ferme d’Ambel.
The hike is classified as difficult due to the distance, the total elevation gain and the fairly undulating terrain. However, the path does not present any significant difficulties.

You may encounter livestock guard dogs (patous). If they come towards you barking, stop, speak to them calmly (as you would to your own dogs, if you have any) and then carry on, taking a detour to avoid heading towards the herd. They will accompany you for a short while and, once you have moved away from the herd, they will rejoin it.

Alternatives:
Combine this with the ascent of the Roc de Toulau by heading to the Pas du Gouillat (1): approximately 8 hours.
Roc de Toulau, Tête de la Dame: go via the Roc, return via the track: approximately 4 hours.
Tête de la Dame round trip via the track: approximately 3 hours.

Another route suggested on the website: Ambel

Worth a visit

Nearby:
Vercors Departmental Museum of the Resistance.
Rue Fourna - 26420 – Vassieux-en-Vercors
For further information: Resistance Museum

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5

Based on 36 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5

Route interest
4.9 / 5

zouzoutdoors

29 Jul 2026 at 16:27 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Hello, I went on this hike one Monday in July. I came across very few people (five in total). We did the route in reverse (not by choice – we’d just got it wrong 😁), which was perhaps nicer as we ended up with the beautiful views of the ridges and the Tête de la Dame.

We completed the walk in 5½ hours, including a short break for lunch and at a steady pace.

Points to bear in mind:
- In very windy conditions or with strong gusts, the hike is not recommended. We’d hesitated to go ahead as the forecast predicted gusts of 70 km/h, but in the end (after they revised the forecast to 50 km/h) we went ahead. On the ridges, you’re really exposed to the wind. You could lose your balance. If this happens, do not follow the route that instructs you to walk along the cliffs; instead, take the path 20 metres below. This path stays on the ridges.
- To clarify a point about the ridge path: the route marked on the map is not actually a hiking trail. It’s simply a path running alongside the cliffs. I therefore advise you to stick to the official path. It’s important to stay on the beaten track so as not to disturb the biodiversity. Above all, it’s very close to the edge.

- The Ambel and Tubanet mountain huts have been renovated. They are spacious and brand new.
- During the summer months, there are herds on the plateaus. There are mountain dogs with them. Please follow the correct procedure (stop, stay calm, and when the dog relaxes a little, give the herd a wide berth and do not look the dog in the eye).

Finally, the walk is not particularly difficult. It can be done with young children.

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pierredslv

08 Jul 2026 at 20:49 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An excellent walk, suitable for a wide range of people (children aged 11 or 12 and over).

A few points to note:
- The route is very exposed to the wind on the plateau: make sure you wear a securely fastened cap!
- You may come across a few livestock guard dogs. They can look intimidating, but we didn’t have any problems.
- In a few places, the route shown on the app deviates slightly from the actual path. Just follow the signposts and the footpaths.
- There are no particularly challenging sections. Just be careful around certain ditches if you stop to admire the scenery.

We completed the walk in 4½ hours, without any breaks. For a group walking at a brisk pace, the estimated time of 7½ hours seems rather generous to us.

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FlickaPatsy

06 Oct 2025 at 13:36 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We hiked in fog, sleet showers, cold weather and, above all, strong gusts of wind (70 km/h), which prompted us to change our route at the sheep park, where we followed the GR93 to the Tubanet refuge, where we had a picnic in the warmth. This allowed us to see the karstic cave of the 4 Gorges, which has been closed to the public since 2022 due to the risk of rockfalls. We thus avoided the ridges above the cliffs, which we considered dangerous given the wind conditions.
We'll have to do it again in good weather to enjoy the landscape we glimpsed on the way back.
Fortunately, although we were unable to enjoy the landscape, we were rewarded twice by hearing the bellowing of deer below the Tubanet refuge.

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L'abatrosvinois

13 May 2024 at 08:51 7200 • Edited: 13 May 2024 at 08:52 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A truly magnificent hike offering spectacular 360° views throughout. The full tour suggested by Visiorando takes around seven hours at a normal pace. The route is not difficult, so it can be enjoyed by people who are not necessarily experienced hikers!
The route is very well signposted by Visorando! Thank you for a wonderful day. Gérard

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NALLA

16 Oct 2023 at 12:17 7200

Hike not completed. Too much fog at the Col de la Bataille. We went to Vassieux to do the hike
starting at the Col de la Chau, Col de Font Payanne, then Font d'Urle. Very beautiful view.

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randotam

08 May 2023 at 09:39 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Observations: Do not attempt in foggy, rainy or windy conditions. (Precipice)
Be careful when walking along the edge of the cliff
Be careful, it is cold at altitudes above 1,100 metres.
The route is signposted.
There is no shade on most of the route, so wear a hat, although this did not prevent me from getting sunburned. (I did not take a hat as it would have blown away).
Mobile phones do not work.
Don't forget your camera
dogs are prohibited by departmental order from 1 May to 30 October, even on a leash.
Picking flowers is prohibited.
Do not stray from the route: there are precipices and karstic caves.
Trail created in 2012, some changes to the route since then.
Completed on 04/05/2023

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REDGE30

31 Oct 2022 at 13:10 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb hike, between pastures and woods, during the deer rutting season,
(the bellowing of the stags) – a real treat!!!

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chipolata

24 Oct 2022 at 23:02 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 24, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb walk on this magnificent plateau. To be done again and again.

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denis metifiot

27 Jun 2022 at 11:50 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

this is the umpteenth time we've done this route, and it's still as appealing as ever.

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patricklegone

23 May 2022 at 15:33 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy loop that takes 6½ hours to complete, offering unobstructed views along its route at the edge of the plateau. Best done in spring to see the carpets of flowers.

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Lenam96

09 Aug 2021 at 14:04 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Wow! What a superb hike. We completed it in 7 hours and 25 minutes with 12 kilos each on our backs, for training. So, without the weight, the time could be reduced.
In any case, the view is breathtaking! Between the plateau stretching out with the relief highlighted by the passing clouds, the ridges that are beautiful both up close and from afar, the superb Urle and the fact that you can get so close to it that you can see details as if you could touch it with your hands... And a pleasant return through the undergrowth. A very good hike! Thank you!

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frivier

14 Jul 2021 at 18:30 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 10, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, starting out in the mist and then ending up in beautiful sunshine
The estimated duration of 7.5 hours is very generous. At a moderate pace, it takes around 6 hours

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madomardeche

05 Jul 2021 at 10:24 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

By leaving early and during the week, there weren't too many hikers.
Very beautiful panoramic views.
Long hike (21 km) but not difficult.
Worth doing again

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Wingardium

29 Aug 2020 at 09:35 7200 • Edited: 29 Aug 2020 at 09:40 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An absolutely magnificent hike, fairly easy despite its length, with beautiful panoramic views of the Omblèze and Quint valleys, the Diois and Baronnies regions, and of course, the Vercors.

I didn't follow the route exactly as described because I wanted to see the Scialet des Quatre Gorges. So, at a place called "Les Moutons", just before the sheepfold at St Julien en Quint, I left the ridge trail and turned slightly left towards the Tubanet refuge. The karstic cave is to the left of the trail but is not visible at all.
I rejoined the route at the Tubanet refuge.
The watering hole at the Ambel refuge is ideal for cooling your feet!
There are numerous herds of cows and horses scattered across the plateau, but no sheep, so no guard dogs (patou).
The signposting on the ground was perfect and some of the markings between the Tubanet and Ambel refuges had clearly been repainted.

In terms of visitor numbers, there were a few hikers (between 15 and 20) between the Col de la Bataille and the Tête de la Dame, but hardly anyone after that (two or three couples). There were five or six cars at the pass when I arrived (9:30 a.m.) and seven or eight when I left around 3:30 p.m.

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Konig alain

13 Jul 2020 at 09:40 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,
Just one small comment: the estimated walking time of 7.5 hours is a bit long. We did it in 5 hours and we're not particularly fit (aged 62 and 60). Even if you take your time, 6 hours of walking (not including snack breaks) would be more accurate. Kind regards

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