Saint-Martin-d'Hères walks

The advantage of Grenoble is that just 15 minutes from the city centre, you can go for a hike in the low mountains. Here’s a short circular route to get fit before spring, or a family walk to get up high and enjoy the views.

On the outskirts of the capital of the Alps, a circular route starting from Eybens provides access to the Fort de Montavie overlooking Grenoble. This is more of a walk than a hike, offering remarkable views of the three mountain ranges surrounding the Drac and Isère valleys: Belledonne, Chartreuse and Vercors.

This circular route takes you around the Quatre Seigneurs hill, offering a variety of breathtaking views of the nearby city of Grenoble and the Grésivaudan valley.

A leisurely stroll starting from Eybens church, offering a view of the Grenoble conurbation as you pass the Belvédère du Sabot orientation table.

A special hike organised as part of both the Grenoble-Vizille half marathon and the hike itself.

A leisurely stroll in the hills above Herbeys with a magnificent view of the Vercors.

This is a lovely walk, offering a number of views of the Vercors, some of the Matheysin mountains, the Chartreuse in autumn and Belledonne. The village of Villeneuve is also very charming. The climb is manageable, though the descent is quite steep.

Grenoble, capital of the Alps, is well known. Climbing 400 metres from the centre of the city reputed to be the flattest in France is less common. We suggest a slightly challenging walk to the military memorial on Mont Jalla and, on the way back, discovering the "380 steps".

From the city centre (where you can take your time exploring as you please), head out to the banks of the Isère for a short, entirely flat circular walk along the towpath – either on the embankment if the riverbanks are wet, or on the dirt track closer to the river if it is dry enough. Wide views of Belledonne, which may be snow-capped, depending on the season.

There are countless route options in this forested area on the outskirts of the Grenoble conurbation, delighting both walkers and mountain bikers alike. The advantage of this route, linking the village of Saint-Martin-d’Uriage to Eybens, is that it offers varied views, first of the Belledonne massif and then of the “capital of the Alps”, dominated by the Vercors and the Chartreuse.

A countryside walk combining forest paths with visits to villages such as Venon and Saint-Nizier, as well as a few hamlets tucked away in the woods...

A “Town-to-Mountain” hike that takes you from the banks of the Isère to the summit of Mont Rachais. At 1,046 metres, its ridge overlooks the eastern part of the Grenoble conurbation, the Haut-Grésivaudan and the Belledonne range. En route, you can visit the fortifications of the Bastille and the memorial to the Alpine troops on Mont Jalla. No particular difficulty (apart from the cumulative elevation gain of around 900m) and as this slope is well exposed, the route can be tackled in winter as the snow melts very quickly there.

The Grenoble metropolitan area has developed a Frange Verte (Green Belt) to the south, bringing together several walking trails that are popular with everyone and offer views of the mountains. This route takes you along the Frange Verte in Échirolles, up the Combe de la Gouderie to the Étang de Jarrie-Le-Haut, then down the Voie Romaine, which no longer exists today. The route is classified as easy, although the climb up the Gouderie may put some people off. Fortunately, it is relatively short.

This circular will take you to the heights of Murianette, with beautiful views of Grenoble and the Grésivaudan valley. The climb is quite steep, but the reward of superb views is well worth it! You will pass through Les Molinières and La Pérérée without crossing them, then cross Les Combes and the Combeloup National Forest before reaching Pressembois. All these places are charming and the trails are bucolic!

A short walk taking in various historical sites in Grenoble. Very easy and accessible, the route allows you to discover the historic centre and the squares that have marked Grenoble. With numerous cafés along the route, allow more than just walking time.

The city has developed the western ascent of the Bastille, which is little known except to a few runners. This ascent is accessible via the Route de Clémencières. The proposed descent takes you back to the Jardin des Dauphins, but you can take another usual route (Fontaine du Lion or Porte Saint-Laurent, or even the Grenoble cable car, nicknamed "les Bulles").The slope is quite steep but safe. You will pass by some unusual views of the valley and the Grottes de Mandrin, a defensive structure of the Bastille's glacis.This hike should not be attempted in rainy weather or up to 24 hours afterwards, as the ground is slippery. The return trip is not recommended.

A beautiful, physically demanding route in the hills above Grenoble with impressive views. Quite a long route, with the possibility of running on several sections. Be careful, however, as the route on the La Tronche side is a bit chaotic.

Whilst the Croix de Quinsonas, situated on Mont Jalla, pays tribute to local Resistance fighters, the one on the ridge of Mont Rachais is far more enigmatic as to its origin. But both offer superb vantage points over the sprawling Grenoble conurbation, surrounded by Belledonne, the Taillefer, the Matheysine and the Vercors.

Exploring La Bastille and Mont Jalla. Since 2000, the summit of Mont Jalla has been home to the National Memorial to the Mountain Troops.

A pleasant walk that takes you to the Clos des Capucins, either through the woods or along the quiet streets of the upper parts of Corenc and Meylan.

This gentle walk not only takes you along the Haute-Jarrie Nature Reserve and its reed beds, but also allows you to admire beautiful landscapes of the Vercors and Belledonne mountain ranges and stroll through the Haute-Jarrie forest with its chestnut and birch trees. The walk can be lengthened or shortened.