Saint-Pierre-d’Entremont – Cirque de Saint-Même

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The fourth stage of the Tour of the Ten Highest Peaks of the Chartreuse, linking Saint-Pierre-d’Entremont to the Cirque de Saint-Même, via the Granier (northern summit) and the Pinet (also known as the Truc). This is one of the longest stages of the Tour, featuring a technical section at the Pas des Barres. A special mention goes to the Grotte de la Balme in Collomb.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Tour des 10 plus hauts sommets de Chartreuse

Details

n°100890167
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.94 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 12h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Very difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 5,669 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 5,003 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 6,342 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,096 ft
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Description of the walk

Start from L’Herbe Tendre in Saint-Pierre-d’Entremont.

(S) Follow the road towards the church.

(1) At the junction, turn right and cross the bridge over the Guiers Vif. Walk past the town hall and the chapel, following the road alongside the Cozon.

(2) Take a short detour to the right along Rue de la Fruitière, rejoin the road and continue along it to the right.

(3) Cross the bridge over the Cozon, pass the Pont du Lac and carry on straight ahead, staying on the road to reach Épernay. Reach the junction between the town hall and the church.

(4) Turn right onto Route de l’Église, then continue along the track towards the hamlet of La Plagne.

(5) Pass the turn-off to the houses at La Grénery on your left and carry on straight ahead to join the Route de la Plagne.

(6) Before reaching the telecoms mast, ignore the road on the left and carry on straight ahead. Pass the Habert farm.

(7) Leave the road and take the path on the left leading to the centre of La Plagne. Cross the hamlet from the north, then turn left onto the forest track to head for the Priz barns.

(8) Turn right and continue climbing. The gradient becomes much steeper.

(9) At the junction, head sharply to the right to begin the very steep climb leading to La Balme à Collomb (incorrectly spelt on the IGN map).

(10) Pass through this cave, which was home to cave bears over 25,000 years ago, then continue to the left above the cave, following the path to the ridge: yellow signpost.

(11) Temporarily ignore the path on the right which descends to the Col de l’Alpette and continue straight on to the summit of Mont Granier, marked by a plaque on the ground. The cross is 300 m further on, to the north.

(12) Retrace your steps to the junction.

(11) Head down to the left towards the Col de l’Alpette via the Pas des Barres.

(13) Descend the Pas des Barres chimney, which is equipped with cables. Continue to the Col de l’Alpette.

(14) Head down to the left towards the Cabane de l’Alpette, leave it on your right and climb through the woodland in the Cirque du Pinet until you reach the edge of the forest.

(15) Head right to reach the summit of Le Pinet (Le Truc).

(16) Return to the junction.

(15) Continue the route to the right across the vast Alpe plateau.

(17) Pass by the pastoral ruins of Habert de Saint-Vincent, walk alongside a small lake, then take a sharp right-hand bend, leaving the Chalet de l’Alpe on your left. Look out to the south for posts marking the path through the sharp limestone pavement and head for the first one.

(18) Look out for the next marker and continue south. Cross a gap next to a marker post and continue zigzagging through the sharp limestone pavement until you reach the Pas de l’Échelle: note the engravings in the rock marking the border between the Kingdom of France (fleur-de-lis) and Savoy (cross).

(19) Continue downwards.

(20) Go through a barbed-wire fence to descend into the Pratcel valley. You’ll reach a watering trough at the Pré de Pratcel, where a few cows graze on the mountain pastures in season.

(21) Continue along a good forest track which descends steeply.

(22) Leave the forest track and take a path on the left which winds down through the forest. This path starts just after a large concrete support beam. This fairly steep path leads out onto the Route de Saint-Même, which you follow to the left up to the Chalet du Cirque de Saint-Même (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : mi 0 - alt. 2,133 ft - Saint-Pierre-d’Entremont
  2. 1 : mi 0.17 - alt. 2,110 ft - Crossroads
  3. 2 : mi 0.59 - alt. 2,116 ft - Rue de la Fruitière
  4. 3 : mi 1.39 - alt. 2,231 ft - Cozon Bridge
  5. 4 : mi 3.43 - alt. 2,759 ft - Épernay
  6. 5 : mi 3.93 - alt. 3,192 ft - Junction: go straight on
  7. 6 : mi 4.26 - alt. 3,399 ft - Junction: go straight on
  8. 7 : mi 4.68 - alt. 3,543 ft - Chemin du Closet
  9. 8 : mi 5.17 - alt. 3,973 ft - Granges du Priz
  10. 9 : mi 5.77 - alt. 4,711 ft - Turn right at the fork
  11. 10 : mi 6.14 - alt. 5,650 ft - Balme Cave in Collomb
  12. 11 : mi 6.78 - alt. 6,040 ft - Yellow signpost 1840 m. Return to the summit
  13. 12 : mi 7.55 - alt. 6,339 ft - Mont Granier
  14. 13 : mi 9.24 - alt. 5,381 ft - Pas des Barres
  15. 14 : mi 10.21 - alt. 5,030 ft - Col de l'Alpette
  16. 15 : mi 11.7 - alt. 5,935 ft - Edge of the forest. Return trip to the summit
  17. 16 : mi 12.01 - alt. 6,125 ft - Sommet du Pinet ou le Truc (1867 m)
  18. 17 : mi 13.37 - alt. 5,404 ft - Chalet de l'Alpe / Habert de Saint Vincent
  19. 18 : mi 13.75 - alt. 5,446 ft - Signpost
  20. 19 : mi 14.03 - alt. 5,410 ft - Pas de l’Échelle
  21. 20 : mi 14.28 - alt. 4,984 ft - Barrier
  22. 21 : mi 14.53 - alt. 4,780 ft - Water trough
  23. 22 : mi 15.3 - alt. 3,694 ft - Path to the left
  24. E : mi 15.94 - alt. 2,818 ft - Cirque de Saint-Même

Notes

Hitchhiking is possible between (S) Saint-Pierre-d’Entremont and (4) Entremont-le-Vieux, or even as far as La Plagne.

The cross beyond the summit of the Granier (12) is inaccessible due to a risk of rockfall.

The Pas des Barres (13) is equipped with cables.

The Chalet du Cirque de St-Même (E) is only open for half-board accommodation from April to September.

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Worth a visit

  • Bread oven and wash house in the hamlet of La Plagne.
  • The Grotte de la Balme in Collomb (10).
  • The magnificent panoramic views from the summits of the Granier (12) and the Pinet (16).
  • After reaching the summit of the Granier, there is the option to continue on to the outskirts of La Croix.
  • Ibex in the Col de l’Alpette area (14).
  • Inscriptions carved into the rock at the Pas de l’Échelle (19).

Other walks in the area

Walking The Cirque de Saint-Même waterfall

Visorando Member
La cascade du Cirque de Saint-Même
↔6.06 mi ↗+1,430 ft ↘-1,424 ft ◔4h 00 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Pierre-d'Entremont (Isère)
From Saint-Pierre-d'Entremont, this beautiful walk leads to the source of the Guiers-Vif, follows the course of the torrent, passes through hamlets and reveals the large clearing of the Cirque de Saint-Même. The Cirque de Saint-Même is a very popular spot, attracting families in search of fresh air in the summer months. Hikers will find a little more freshness and tranquillity as they climb towards the Cascade du Guiers-Vif.

Walking Route du Château, Randocroquis

Tourist office
Circuit du Château, Randocroquis
↔3.87 mi ↗+1,217 ft ↘-1,204 ft ◔2h 50 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Pierre-d'Entremont (Isère)
This circular walk exploring Château de Montbel is also a Randocroquis® route offering introductory art workshops: drawing techniques, contrasts, perspective and landscapes.

Walking Chemin des Mules from Saint-Pierre-d'Entremont

Tourist office
Chemin des Mules depuis Saint-Pierre-d'Entremont
↔3.72 mi ↗+584 ft ↘-597 ft ◔2h 15 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Saint-Pierre-d'Entremont (Isère)
This route winds its way between the two churches of Saint-Pierre-d'Entremont before slipping into the Cozon valley. It follows an ancient path, a haven of greenery and freshness where it is pleasant to walk with the family on hot summer days.

Walking The summit and the Roche Veyrand circuit

Visorando Member
Le sommet et le tour de Roche Veyrand
↔8.34 mi ↗+3,156 ft ↘-3,150 ft ◔6h 35 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Saint-Pierre-d'Entremont (Savoie) (Savoie)
Starting from Saint-Pierre-d’Entremont, the climb to the summit of Roche Veyrand is steady and at times steep, with sections secured by cables where you’ll need to use your hands, but there are no technical difficulties or vertiginous sections. The rest of the route is a pleasant walk, mainly through woodland, which takes you all the way round Roche Veyrand via the Col de la Cluse, then down into the Corbel valley before climbing back up via the Pas de la Coche to return to the starting point. Given the nature of the ascent, this walk is not recommended for novice walkers (IBP = 97).

Walking Circular Saint-Pierre-d’Entremont loop, via the bottom of the Cirque de Saint-Même

Visorando Member
↔9.14 mi ↗+1,804 ft ↘-1,781 ft ◔5h 45 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Pierre-d'Entremont (Savoie) (Savoie)
A circular route around Saint-Pierre-d’Entremont via the Cirque de Saint-Même, returning via the Torrent du Cozon gorges. The views are magnificent all along the way, and you reach the cirque on foot, rather than by car, to see the first waterfall. The route is marked and well signposted with numerous signs.

Walking Roche Veyrand, circular from Saint-Pierre-d'Entremont

Visorando Member
Roche Veyrand, en boucle depuis Saint-Pierre-d'Entremont
↔4.92 mi ↗+2,612 ft ↘-2,592 ft ◔4h 30 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Saint-Pierre-d'Entremont (Savoie) (Savoie)
Roche Veyrand is a peak that proudly dominates the two Saint-Pierre-d'Entremont villages. Its steep slopes have made it possible to equip a Via Ferrata. This route is a classic in the Entremonts: it climbs directly up a steep path close to the equipped cliff, then descends via a wide forest detour that takes you through several hamlets of Saint-Pierre-d'Entremont (Savoie).

Walking Le Pinet via the Fouda Blanc strap

Visorando Member
Le Pinet par le sangle du Fouda Blanc
↔7.07 mi ↗+3,753 ft ↘-3,760 ft ◔6 hrs ▲Extremely difficult
⚑Departure from Saint-Pierre-d'Entremont (Savoie) (Savoie)
Here is the guidebook for the longest ledge in Chartreuse and, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful. It is a loop circuit that forms a figure 8. The west, slightly north-west orientation of this ledge leads me to recommend that you set off at the end of the morning and in this direction so that you can enjoy the most beautiful landscapes at the end of the afternoon. A much more complete description can be found in Pascal Sombardier's book "Les Randonnées du Vertige" (Vertigo Hikes).

Walking The sangles of Fouda Blanc and Le Pinet and finally the Grotte à l'Échelle

Visorando Member
Les sangles de Fouda Blanc et du Pinet et pour finir la Grotte à l'Échelle
↔7.22 mi ↗+3,986 ft ↘-3,960 ft ◔7 hrs ▲Extremely difficult
⚑Departure from Saint-Pierre-d'Entremont (Savoie) (Savoie)
Please note that this exposed route is not suitable for people who are prone to vertigo and have no experience of aerial crossings and climbing steps. It should not be attempted in wet weather due to the risk of slipping.This circular hike crosses the very aerial sangles of Fouda Blanc and Le Pinet, which, at over 3 km, is the longest in the Chartreuse. The Fouda Blanc sangle is slightly less exposed and busier than the Pinet. The latter is narrower, often grassy, slippery in wet weather, and has a few unstable earthy passages that must be crossed with caution. Access to this crossing is via the Varvats trail at Pas de l'Échelle. At the end of the ridges, you reach the summit of Pinet, also known as Truc, then the ridge trail joins Pas de Fouda Blanc, which you descend before crossing the Grotte à l'Échelle. The descent down a scree slope and then through the woods takes you back to the return path.GPX track required.

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