Sainte-Marie-du-Mont walks

This is a short, unusual walk that follows the Alloix torrent. Curious walkers will spend more time admiring the work of the water than walking. This walk can end with a leisurely stroll through the narrow streets of the old village or, as the locals say, "on the paths of yesteryear", where local markings will guide you.

Short hike in the forest to discover the waterfalls of the Guiers Vif.

Hike to discover the sources of the Guiers Vif and the Crêtes du Grand Manti, among waterfalls, caves, cliffs and mountain pastures. Please note that this hike is vertiginous in some areas (Pas de la Mort) and is not recommended for people who are prone to vertigo or in wet weather.

Une superbe boucle où l'on côtoie, cascades, tunnel naturel, grotte, pas d'escalade, vire aérienne, alpage avec pour couronner le tout, au long du parcours, de très beaux points de vue. Attention, ce parcours exposé n'est pas adapté aux personnes sujettes au vertige et n'ayant pas l'expérience de traversée aérienne et de pas d'escalade. A éviter impérativement par temps humide en raison des risques de glissade.

A lovely with snowshoes, with a beautiful view of the Alpine peaks at its height. Note that this hike can be done in all seasons.

A pleasant walk in the Hauts de Chartreuse nature reserve. Lost in the mountain pastures, the old boundary markers between Savoie and Dauphiné still look beautiful.

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.

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).

A beautiful loop in the northern Chartreuse with magnificent 360° views of the Alps.

Le Pinet is a viewpoint overlooking Les Entremonts. Less frequented than its neighbour, Le Granier, it is just as much a part of the Hauts de Chartreuse Nature Reserve and its access via the normal route is well suited to families, with a few variations possible.

A very beautiful loop, much less frequented than the classic Mont Granier route, starting from the beautiful church of Bellecombe and particularly pleasant in summer. After the Porte de l'Alpette, the hike runs along almost the entire cliff face of the mountain, passing through the magnificent "gardens" of the upper Alpette du Granier and returning to the Pas de la Porte pass overlooking the Grésivaudan valley.

The "Passage de l'Aulp du Seuil" ("Aulp du Seuil" passing): this hike is one of the most beautiful hikes of the Chartreuse massif.

Around the two communes of Saint-Pierre d'Entremont, this walk covers the two departments of Savoie and Isère, exploring the architectural heritage and Carthusian landscapes. The most beautiful panorama can be seen from the esplanade of the Château du Gouvernement in Saint-Pierre d'Entremont (Isère).

Spectacular hike to the hanging gardens of Charassons with two magnificent arches to discover.As the Marcieu valley is entirely private, the hike never passes through it and always remains on authorised terrain. This hike is extremely difficult, beyond what is usual on Visorando, and requires climbing a short 3c section (a single move). An ice axe is recommended even (especially) in summer to tackle the steep slopes of the hanging gardens without stress. Most of the hike takes place on unmarked and (very) poorly marked paths. See Practical Information. This hike takes place largely at the foot of cliffs. Geolocation (GPS, etc.) is therefore approximate, with errors exceeding 40 m. You must therefore use your brain and critical thinking skills and act according to the terrain. As is often the case, this hike is a variation on a theme by Pascal Sombardier.

Take a stroll along the Cozon torrent and enjoy a refreshing break in this lively corner of the Chartreuse. Cultural visits and relaxation will round off the day.

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.

To reach the Fontanieu chimney, the classic route climbs through the forest on the western slope of the Mallissard valley. It is difficult to find your way here due to a maze of forest paths created by logging. In addition, the maps are often out of date.The proposed hike avoids this wooded valley and passes through a little-used area where the route is easy to follow with very few intersections. It consists of a single track, climbing up a valley to the Col de Fontanieu. However, this adds 2 km to the hike and 50 m to the elevation gain. From the pass, the trail climbs to the foot of the cliff and follows it to reach the Fontanieu chimney. Then there is a long aerial traverse followed by a ridge crossing. From the summit of the Lance Sud de Malissard, the return is via the Col de Bellefont and the Col de la Saulce. 4/12/2023: Some sections may be closed (see practical information).

This circular loop can be completed in almost any season, even in half a day, allowing you to enjoy beautiful views, discover fossils and, when in season, a renowned site for lady's slipper orchids.

A somewhat challenging hike for the start of the season, but well worth the effort...

A very beautiful hike, not very long but with a steep section. Magnificent view of Mont Blanc just before the summit and of the entire Chartreuse range from the summit. The route is very well signposted throughout. Ascent time indicated on the signs: 1 hour 35 minutes (it took us a little longer as we had a 2½-year-old girl who walked part of the way) Time for the descent: 1 hour 10 minutes.

A beautiful hike in Chartreuse that follows the route of the 120 hairpin bends to reach the Col du Frêt, before turning onto the Col de Bovinant. In the second half of June, the flora is in full bloom: St Bruno's lilies, martagon lilies, columbines, anemones, gentians...

La Cochette in Chartreuse (1,618 m) is an easily accessible peak.

Mont Outheran is a long plateau stretching nearly 4 km, running roughly north-south between Col du Planet (1,184 m) and Col du Grapillon (1,509 m). It is a rather wild area, and for good reason: access via the Pas du Cuert is not the easiest, and the descent to the Col du Mollard requires the utmost caution. Warning: For those prone to vertigo, please read the wpt description carefully (2)

A short mountain hike leading to an exceptional viewpoint.

A beautiful hike to be done with or without snowshoes.

A snowshoe circuit in the Entremonts valley. It is a loop alternating between ascents and descents, passages through forests and mountain pastures, shady slopes and sunny slopes, crossing the hamlet of Grand Carroz with its few houses.

This is definitely the easiest and shortest way to climb the Grand Som. Caution for those prone to vertigo: between (2) and (3), the walk becomes a climb in places. The passages are often narrow and can be daunting.

A lovely little walk through the Savoyard vineyards in the commune of Les Marches. It is possible to add other itineraries to this description, as there are so many paths and trails. The proposed route takes in the typical landscapes of the Abymes vineyards, formed by the collapse of the Granier in 1248.

This route has the least elevation gain for climbing one of the four peaks over 2,000 m in the Chartreuse. Magnificent view of the back of the Dent de Crolles, the north of the Chartreuse and, on the other side, the majestic Mont Blanc.

A walk well sheltered from the sun in the heart of the Cartusian forest. Best done on hot days. Once you reach the hut, you will be rewarded with a splendid 359° panorama. Please note! Several hikers have reported a landslide between points (3) and (4). This landslide could be a problem for people prone to vertigo and could prove dangerous.

This is an unusual and challenging hike. It takes in all the highlights of the Dent de Crolles and its surroundings. Source of the Guiers Mort, Arche à l'Aiguille, Sangle Barrère, Chemin des Crêtes, Arche de Rocheplane and Lance Sud de Malissard.

A short hike around the Guiers Mort, a pretty little stream. The walk is mainly through the woods and along the valley floor to discover its source. This walk can be followed by a second one, still around the same stream: the Gorges du Guiers Mort, where you can even take a dip. These two short hikes can be done one after the other (3½ hours + 30 minutes by car) or separately.

A beautiful, fairly challenging walk offering splendid views of all the peaks of the Chartreuse. Caution! Read the comments carefully. A tricky scree slope has been reported.

On the Saint-Hilaire du Touvet plateau, this is a circular loop of 2 to 3 hours that is suitable for young children. Very shady and close to the Saint-Hilaire paragliding training slopes (FFVL South take-off point), it also gives children a fun opportunity to watch the sails inflate.

Whether you're a paraglider or hang glider, Saint-Hilaire-du-Touvet is paradise. From the valley, the funicular takes paragliders and walkers alike to the Petites Roches plateau, where everyone can take off into the air or walk on the edge of the void. For hikers, this route at the foot of the Dent de Crolles offers a viewpoint over the valley before entering the forest in search of the remains of the Moulin de Porte-Traîne mill.

An easy hiking version of this climb to the Grand Rocher. Once past the refuge, the route follows the Crêt Luisard ridge, where the view is breathtaking in all directions, and you can even see Mont Blanc from the summit.

Short hike to the Crêt du Poulet orientation tables via the Chalet Pierre Roubet.

A stone's throw from town and you're high in the mountains. But pay attention to the risks.

A family walk through forests and meadows in the Belledonne Massif with superb panoramic views of the Grande Chartreuse Massif on one side and the Vanoise and Sept-Laux on the other.

A lovely snowshoe hike above Grésivaudan through forests and meadows, offering beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. The route is easy and ends at the Crêt du Poulet refuge, where you can enjoy a glass of mulled wine.