Sangle des Belles Ombres and Porte de l'Alpette

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A wild and off-the-beaten-track hike linking the high-altitude ridge of Les Belles Ombres, where chamois frolic all year round, with the bucolic meadows of L’Alpette, where marmots abound.

This route is mainly off-trail and requires sure-footedness and a good sense of direction. It is unlikely that you will encounter other walkers, except at the Croix de l’Alpe and on the section of path leading there.

Details

n°1127948
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.44 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 3,432 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 3,419 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 5,974 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 4,629 ft
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Photos

Chamois below the path
Panorama from the Belles Ombres ridge
L'Alpette
Sangle des Belles Ombres - Panoramic view

Description of the walk

Park at the Pré Orcel car park.

(S/E) From the car park, take the yellow-marked path which climbs northwards (signpost indicating the path and the Croix de l’Alpe). This path soon emerges from the fir trees and, after three hairpin bends, joins a wide track at the Cabane de l’Allier, which will serve as a landmark on the return journey.

(1) Turn left onto this track and head south-south-west along a gentle slope for about 600 metres.

(2) In a small valley, a small cairn marks the start of the Col des Belles Ombres trail (the main path heads under a rocky overhang at the exit of this valley; turn back if you have gone that far). Climb this steep path, which begins with a few hairpin bends and heads generally west-north-west. After passing through a small gap in the rocks, cross a flat area beneath the forest to come within sight of the Col des Belles Ombres. Do not continue all the way to the pass (see instructions in the practical information).

(3) Look out for a small scree slope leading off to the right, towards the north, which marks the start of the traverse. Set off along the traverse, which, after a wide circular loop, heads north, following the undulations at the foot of the cliff.

(4) The vertical drop at Les Giffres (see details in the ‘Practical Information’ section) marks the middle of the ridge path. Continue through several deeper cirques, sometimes passing beneath fairly low rock overhangs. When the path enters a more wooded area of pine trees, look to your left for the rock bearing the yellow mark and blue arrow indicating the path’s exit (see the ‘Practical Information’ section).

(5) Turn left to follow the Blue arrow and climb due west up a steep, grassy and slippery slope to reach the base of the short exit couloir; climb this by using your hands on the rock.

⚠️ The route described here between (6) and (8) is very tricky, as the forest is truly untamed and the terrain is dotted with treacherous sharp limestone pavements. If you’re not feeling confident or are tired, it’s best to use the quick return route.

(6) Step onto the ridge (see the ‘Practical Information’ section for a quick return route) and turn left (south) onto a path. Follow this for about twenty metres until you can see the Alpette mountain pasture below on the right through the trees. Then head into the forest (no marked path), heading towards this mountain pasture, but veering slightly to the right (north-west) at each obstacle and watching out for sharp limestone pavement. You will reach the bottom of a small valley blocked to the west by rocky outcrops.

(7) Stay at the bottom of this valley, where the forest is less dense, and head sharply north-north-west to follow the valley floor. This will take you out onto the upper part of the Alpette meadows. Walk up through these meadows, continuing in the same direction, to climb a steeper slope opposite, criss-crossed by several paths, all leading to the Porte de l’Alpette.

(8) From the Porte de l’Alpette, head south again in the opposite direction, skirting the edge of the forest and keeping it on your left at a distance of about 50–100 metres. When the forest becomes denser again, take a gently descending path heading south-west which joins the wideGR®®9path after 200 metres. Turn left onto this path and follow it for about 300 metres. Leave this path on your right as soon as it reaches the edge of the forest, then head up towards the mountain pastures in a due south direction, keeping to the forest edge at a distance of less than 50 metres from it (keep the forest on your left). When the slope becomes steeper, the rounded dome of the Croix de l’Alpe is the summit in view (the cross itself is not visible). Head up towards it in an east-southeasterly direction to reach the highest point.

(9) From the Croix de l’Alpe, take the well-marked path heading due east towards the Col de l’Alpe, behind which the snow-capped peaks of Belledonne are visible. Depending on the remaining snow cover, follow this winding path or take a steep slope to the left if it still allows for a controlled descent. In either case, you will emerge onto the almost level path which passes once more by the junction leading to the Col des Belles Ombres.

(2) Continue the descent and, after two hairpin bends, you’ll reach the Cabane de l’Allier.

(1) From the hut, turn right onto the path taken on the way up, which quickly returns to the Pré Orcel car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 4,629 ft - Pré Orcel car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.32 - alt. 5,016 ft - Allier Hut
  3. 2 : mi 0.76 - alt. 5,305 ft - Start of the Col de Belles Ombres trail
  4. 3 : mi 1 - alt. 5,699 ft - Start of the Sangle des Belles Ombres
  5. 4 : mi 1.7 - alt. 5,853 ft - Vertical drop at the Griffes de l’Ours
  6. 5 : mi 2.56 - alt. 5,620 ft - Exit marker: Yellow Circle and blue arrow
  7. 6 : mi 2.59 - alt. 5,686 ft - Trip to the Rochers de l’Alpe
  8. 7 : mi 2.81 - alt. 5,305 ft - A valley with a sparser forest
  9. 8 : mi 3.42 - alt. 5,082 ft - Porte de l'Alpette
  10. 9 : mi 6.11 - alt. 5,974 ft - Croix de l’Alpe
  11. S/E : mi 7.44 - alt. 4,629 ft - Pré Orcel car park

Notes

(4) The Griffes de l’Ours route
Visual landmarks:
The start of the ‘sangle’ can be identified using two photographs: the pass and the start of the ‘sangle’.
The pass is clearly visible in the photograph on the right, and the ‘sangle’ begins in the patch of grass illuminated above the edge of the shadow in the middle of this image. The same light-coloured patch can be seen in the photograph on the left, as well as the scree that leads directly to the ‘sangle’ from the edge of the forest where these photos were taken. Click on the photos to enlarge them.

To find your way out of the path, look for the markings on the rock near the path.

This yellow circle and the half-faded blue arrow indicate the direction to follow to exit the path. These markings are difficult to spot as they are above the path and obscured by the trees until the very last moment.

As you climb towards the exit of the natural path, you can see the end of the path. It disappears behind a cliff; it is not possible to go any further.

The exit from the gully and the return to the ridge is via a steep, grassy couloir followed by a few steps of easy climbing (grade 2). A yellow mark on the rock indicates the location (click on the photo to view it full size).

Difficulty:
The main difficulty lies in finding the route through the forest and the steepness of the slopes below the ridge; the grade is at the upper limit of ‘Difficult’ and crosses into ‘Very Difficult’ if you opt for the Pas de la Rousse variant.

Please note: snowfields persist for a long time on the ‘sangle’, often until the end of June, making it difficult to cross the ‘sangle’ without an ice axe. They can also cover the sharp limestone pavement that covers the west face of the Rochers de l’Alpes, turning them into hazards where it is easy to injure yourself if you move too quickly.

Equipment:
Use of the Visorando app is highly recommended to compensate for any lack of a sense of direction.

For this route, the only essential equipment is walking poles and an ice axe, which allows you to cross the frequent snowfields until the end of June and to climb the steep clay slopes below the Sangle pass.
As always, a helmet is a wise precaution: chamois or other walkers often dislodge stones.

Trousers will prevent you from getting scratched by the dense woodland beneath the Rochers de l’Alpe.

Water:
The Fontaine du Bénitier is just a short walk from the off-trail route (see IGN map). A short detour via the Cabane de l’Alpette also allows you to top up your water supplies, though this involves crossing the very busyGR®®9.

Dogs:
Dogs, even on a lead, are prohibited on the high plateaus and mountain pastures. In any case, the route is not particularly suitable for dogs.

Terminology:
The word ‘sangle’ is synonymous with ‘vire’ in the Dauphiné region. It is always used in the masculine form in this context. The one at Les Belles Ombres (click on the photo to locate the sangle) is a typical example.

A ‘sharp limestone pavement’ is a limestone ledge criss-crossed with narrow fissures and crevices with sharp edges.

The ‘ramasse’ is a technique for descending snow slopes that involves sliding down the slope whilst using an ice axe and a leg bent backwards to slow oneself down.

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

Worth a visit

Not to be missed:
April and May see crocuses blooming on the mountain pastures.

But whatever the season, it is the sunrise over the rocks of Les Belles Ombres that offers the most beautiful spectacle. This is also the time of day when you are most likely to spot numerous chamois.

The photographs from this hike give a good idea of the scenery just after dawn.

To make the most of this, you must set off from Pré Orcel an hour before sunrise.

Alternatives:
You can shorten the walk by heading straight for the Col de l’Alpe once you’ve left the Sangle at (6). To do this, head south along the ridge path overlooking the Rochers de Belles Ombres. This path runs slightly below the ridge at the start, but you should always try to join the ridge itself to enjoy the views, particularly of the Griffes de l’Ours at around 1,820 metres.

From the highest point (1,845 m), the path becomes a better-defined track which passes through the Col de Belles Ombres; simply follow it to the Col de l’Alpe or the Croix de l’Alpe (9). From there, the return to the car park follows the main route of the walk.

This short alternative route allows you to complete the route in 2 hours 30 minutes.

Another alternative is, once you reach the Croix de l’Alpe (9), to descend via the Pas de la Rousse to completely avoid the crowds of walkers. Be careful, however, as the Pas de la Rousse is Very Difficult, especially on the descent. This longer alternative adds between 1 hour and 1 hour 30 minutes to the route.

To reach it, head for the base of the rock formations topped with pine trees to the south-east of the cross and follow them until you find a path leading up through meadows (IGN elevation 1,768 m); see the caption for the photograph on the right below and the picture taken when there was no snow.

Continue along this path, which winds through sheep pastures, until you reach the ridge and the cliffs overlooking the Grésivaudan. A wide gap in the cliff, bordered by pine trees, marks the way to the Pas de la Rousse. Enter this gap (worn yellow and blue markings) and follow the track which descends due east, keeping the cliff on your left. Pass beneath the Trou de la Rousse, then descend the steep scree slope (tracks) and through the forest to reach a level path at around 1,400 metres. Turn left onto this path to head north-east and reach the car park (start/finish) at Pré Orcel.

Finally, as suggested by mimizen38, a more challenging alternative is to continue from point (5) along the Sangle trail to complete the full route as described in the ‘Sangle des Belles Ombres’ guide. This takes you to point (8), climbing up onto the ridge at the very last moment. This alternative is more difficult, as the route is poorly marked and the exit onto the ridge is hard to find. However, it avoids a rather awkward section of sharp limestone pavement and undergrowth between points (6) and (8) of the route described above.

Finally, the hike combining the ‘Sangles du Fouda Blanc’ and ‘Sangles de Belles Ombres’ routes indicates the locations of several beautiful arches along the way.

Pascal Sombardier isthe inspiration behind this circular walk, as he is for many others; see the excellent *Vercors secret* or his other works (which are, unfortunately, often out of print).

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.

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Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 6 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
bader
bader

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Carried out today, the descent into the forest was difficult and exhausting from point 6 to point 8, but feasible.

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PASCALOU27
PASCALOU27

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike. Unfortunately, some of the directions are difficult to follow. At point 2, you must not climb over the fence, but instead head back down a few metres to find the marked rock on the right (this isn’t visible when you’re going up). The view from the straps is magnificent, and the section between points 5 and 6 isn’t as difficult to navigate as it seems. On the other hand, the walk through the forest is very tedious and adds nothing of interest to this hike. After crossing the mountain pasture, we decided to top up our water supplies at the water point near the refuge, then rejoin the hiking trail via the GR. The climb across the mountain pastures between points 8 and 9, with no visibility of the cross to guide us, makes this section more difficult.
The description of ‘difficult’ is not inaccurate.

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ChristianNant70
ChristianNant70

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We only did the round trip along the path so as not to make the day too challenging, and in keeping with our fitness levels...
A 3.3 km climb up a stony track to reach Pré Orcel. From there, a climb of about 350 m to reach the start of the path at the foot of the cliffs. If you don’t suffer from vertigo, there’s no difficulty in walking this path.
Magnificent setting and views. The Isère Valley, the Alps... Jagged, colourful cliffs. Lots of paragliders flying overhead.
Brilliant!!

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bouvierjr
bouvierjr ★

Good evening,

thanks for the feedback!
The route through the forest is indeed really only for those who enjoy adventurous terrain.

Unfortunately, the return route along the ridge (6) that you suggest requires going back almost as far as (3), which considerably lengthens the hike. A more direct option that avoids the forest is to follow the entire Sangle route as described in this hike, but the difficulty increases slightly.
As for the various arches of Les Belles Ombres, I have indicated their location and how to reach them in this very long hike linking the Fouda Blanc and Les Belles Ombres trails at the stages (8) and (14).

Happy hiking – jr

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Opetigny
Opetigny

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
Route completed this weekend.
Thanks for the description and the route map, which were very helpful.
Like others, I think the section through the woods after point 6 is really unpleasant, even borderline dangerous (it’s easy to twist or even break an ankle in the woods with its sharp limestone pavements and holes often hidden beneath the vegetation).
It took us (the two of us) ages to get through it, and we’re actually keen walkers.

Having looked at the slopes on the way back, I think we wouldn’t waste any time returning (in six) via the well-marked track towards the Col des Belles Ombres and then heading right (west) down the alpine slopes as soon as we really leave the forest and see the plateau, before heading north back to the Porte de l’Alpette. It adds a bit to the distance but probably not much to the time for a route along the ridge, and it’s much safer.

Otherwise, a very beautiful hike; no one on the upper ridge apart from an eagle and two young ibex...

The next day, heading back up to the Croix de l’Alpe, I set off again towards the summit at 1,843m along the ridge trail to find the Arche des Belles Ombres. It wasn’t easy to find the entrance to the chamois track leading there, involving a few rather exposed steps. Fortunately, I bumped into Pierre, who had marked the route with red dots some twenty years ago and who was kind enough to accompany me there... thanks to him, without whom I surely wouldn’t have found it!
A lovely encounter with this local resident who knows the area like the back of his hand.

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Mimizen38
Mimizen38

Thank you for the information, and good luck to your business and your staff: it’s a difficult time, but not an insurmountable one

It’s true that, thinking about it, even 12 hours is a bit short if you want to take the time to enjoy the scenery. I’ve tried to think of ways to shorten the route, but there are so many points of interest that it would be a shame to miss out on any of them. For the ‘Foudra Blanc’ section, we could head in the opposite direction to what’s described, but it’s still a shame to miss out on the ladder. However, be careful on this hike: the GPS track is incorrect in the circular section before point 6; if you follow it strictly, you risk falling onto 3–4-metre ledges as there are scree slopes (I’ve noted this in the comments).

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bouvierjr
bouvierjr ★
• Edited:

You’re lucky to be able to get out this weekend (I’m stuck trying to keep my business and its staff afloat following the Covid restrictions)!

For the Crête des Crocs this weekend, I reckon you’ll have little or no snow on the east face; as the western slopes are less steep, an ice axe will probably suffice – no need for crampons. Be careful between the point (3) and (4) – the path is barely visible. The descent from the point (13) is essentially on sight; just head west then north and stay in open terrain until you reach the rocky ridge that descends towards the Fontaine du Berger. If this presents any difficulty, go round it from below.

As for your suggestion to combine the Fouda Blanc with the Rochers de l’Alpe and the Belles Ombres, I think it’s a brilliant idea; I’ll try to do it, but it’s likely to be more than 12 hours’ walking at a steady pace. Along the way, there are limestone mushrooms, several karstic caves, etc. I’ve never combined these routes, but it’s undoubtedly spectacular. In principle, I’d aim for the IGN contour line 1799 after the point (4) on the Fouda Blanc hike, then the 1679 line (incidentally, there’s a very beautiful sheepfold nestled in the rock), then descend the GR to contour line 1638, followed by a climb on sight along the forest edge towards the Col de Belles Ombres (there is a section off the trail and out of the forest described in the Sangle des Belles Ombres hike). Then, you do indeed followthe entire Belles Ombres route between (8) and (12), but after the last point, instead of strictly following the edge of the forest on your left, you head back down to the Cabane de l’Alpette and from there follow the normal signposted route up to Le Pinet.

I’ll make a note of that in my book of future routes – thanks for the idea!

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Mimizen38
Mimizen38
• Edited:

The Alpette meadow really is lovely; it would be a shame to miss it

As for the full route, I’m not sure I’ll ever do it: a 10-hour 45-minute hike plus 3–4 hours’ drive (as I have to cross Grenoble )… that’s going to be too much for me (I’m not a fan of getting up early).
However, I do plan to do the Sangle again next year, but starting from Saint Pierre d’Entremont (that way, I avoid going through Grenoble and save 1½–2 hours on my drive... I’d rather walk than drive).

I was thinking of doing it like this:
1- Follow the hike https://www.visorando.com/randonnee-le-p... up to point 4.
2- Head to the Croix de l'Alpe (which path should I take?)
3- Follow the route https://www.visorando.com/randonnee-pas-..., points: 8-9-10-11-12
4- Cross the Pré de l'Alpette (not necessarily the whole thing... at least the most interesting part)
5- Join point 5 of the hike https://www.visorando.com/randonnee-le-p... (which path?) to finish it normally

That would make a lovely circular pattern (two hikes for the price of one )

And if you’re up for posting the hike online, I’d love to see it
In your opinion, how long should we allow for this circular route at a moderate pace? Less than 9 hours?

Anyway, thanks for your input; tomorrow I’m off to do your hike https://www.visorando.com/randonnee-peti... ... though I’m a bit unsure – will there still be snow (I hope not)? Which website should I check to find out?

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bouvierjr
bouvierjr ★
• Edited:

Hello Mimizen, and thank you for your constructive comments!
Indeed, at this time of year, snow from the western slopes of the Chartreuse ridge overlooking the Grésivaudan is still present and dangerously conceals the sharp limestone pavement.

I can confirm that if you turn north-east too early before point 3, you risk ending up on the route leading to the Griffes de l’Ours (it’s magnificent); it is possible to scramble upwards afterwards to get back onto the ‘Sangle des Belles Ombres’, but it’s rather awkward.

The reason I did not extend the hike between point (6) and (8) along the ridge, as is possible by following the entire ridge (a hike I also authored), is the difference in difficulty: although the terrain described here is chaotic and awkward, it poses no danger other than the infamous sharp limestone pavement.

On the other hand, the route between point (6) and the Porte de l’Alpe, as described in the full route, is extremely difficult, both in terms of finding the route and the exit onto the plateau, and I didn’t want to make it too challenging. However, I will mention this option in the alternatives, noting also that the terrain between (6) and (8) is rather awkward.
If you do this full route, please do leave a comment so I can improve the descriptions!

Another alternative I’d like to mention is to turn back by reaching the ridge at (6) and following it south-south-west to reach the Col des Belles Ombres. It’s also cluttered with low trees, with poor visibility, but it shortens the circular route at the expense of the section through the very beautiful meadows (see your photo) of the Alpette.

Happy hiking!

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Mimizen38
Mimizen38
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 16, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A hike with stunning scenery!!!
The GPS track is accurate: thank goodness, because without it I’d probably have got lost, especially when you reach point 3 – if you follow the visible path, you tend to veer right too early (perhaps it joins up later?). It seems impossible to me to complete the route relying solely on a description (GPS is essential for me).
On the other hand, I didn’t enjoy the section through the forest between points 6 and 8 at all: you’re in the middle of primeval forest where you have to make your way through the undergrowth and moss-covered sharp limestone pavements (so it’s easy to hurt yourself on a section which, for me, isn’t particularly interesting). What’s more, at this time of year (mid-May 2019), there was still snow in places in this forest that couldn’t be avoided. In theory, you can avoid this forest by continuing to follow the path (see this route: https://www.visorando.com/randonnee-pas-...): I therefore recommend taking that route... unless anyone sees a point in going through the forest anyway? What is it?
Otherwise, as for the rest of the route, I didn’t find anything difficult (for an adult, I should point out… and one who isn’t prone to vertigo).

Thank you for this discovery

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bouvierjr
bouvierjr ★

Thank you for this review; the hike is indeed challenging, mainly because of the difficulty in finding the route.

Are there any improvements that could be made to the description to make it more accurate? Or should I change the rating to TD rather than D?

Thanks in advance, - jr

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ourabah
ourabah

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 15, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The off-trail section is challenging

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↔5.27 mi ↗+1,050 ft ↘-1,033 ft ◔3h 20 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Sainte-Marie-du-Mont (Isère)
A route offering stunning views of the Chartreuse, Belledonne, Maurienne and, time and again, Mont Blanc (especially when the trees have no leaves or have shed them). Numerous streams and torrents create a lovely atmosphere, but require good footwear, unless you fancy having wet feet. Unfortunately, my route description seems to be causing problems, so I strongly recommend using GPS and the map on your phone!

Walking Mont Granier via the Pas des Barres and the Balme à Colon

Visorando Member
Mont Granier par le Pas des Barres et la Balme à Colon
↔7.02 mi ↗+2,956 ft ↘-2,979 ft ◔6 hrs ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from Entremont-le-Vieux (Savoie)
A beautiful loop in the northern Chartreuse with magnificent 360° views of the Alps.

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