The Dent de Moirans
Easy walk on this “tooth” overlooking the Isère valley and offering an interesting view over the east foothills of Chartreuse.
Technical sheet No. 4098645
Calculated time: 4h00 ? 
Distance : 10.71 km
Vertical gain : 339 m
Vertical drop : 340 m
Highest point : 972 m
Lowest point : 655 m 
Difficulty : Moderate
Back to starting point : Yes
Pédestre
Areas :
Alps
, Vercors
, Dauphiné
Location : Montaud (Isère)
(38210) 
Starting point : N 45.264525° / E 5.566127° 
Today's forecast :
Description
At Veurey take the D3 connecting to Montaud. In line with this village turn right onto the Route de Saint Quentin sur Isère (D218), park at the car park of the Montaud village hall (S).
The tour starts with the right road leading to the houses of the hamlets of the plain. At the intersection of the cross (1) turn left to head to Fayard. Stay right to reach the forest track. At the electrical cable (2) turn right (sign for Dent de Moirans) and then follow the standard Vercors Park Green, Yellow markings.
Walk quietly on an area along a very slight slope. Enjoy the small path right at marker 934 to visit the viewpoint (3) placed in a clearing.
Return to the track and follow the markings and signs to lead, on the right, to the summit of the Dent de Moirans (4).
Retrace your steps up to the crossroads (5) and take the path on the right signposted for Montaud and Saint Quentin, this trail also uses Green Yellow markings, and meets with a track below and leads to the hamlet of Les Maîtres (6).
Leave Green Yellow markings providing connections to Saint Quentin to then turn left on the road. At the crossroads turn left (7) (sign for Les Etroits), cross Les Etroits and reach the outbound path at Le Fayard (1).
Repeat it to reach the car park.
Waypoints :
D/A : km 0 - alt. 683 m
1 : km 0.92 - alt. 685 m - Crossroads at the cross
2 : km 1.41 - alt. 737 m - Head under the high voltage lines
3 : km 3.48 - alt. 938 m - Orientation table
4 : km 4.25 - alt. 962 m
5 : km 4.61 - alt. 943 m - Dent de Moirans
6 : km 7.67 - alt. 671 m - Les Maîtres
7 : km 8.48 - alt. 655 m - Carrefour les Etroits
D/A : km 10.71 - alt. 683 m
Useful Information
Nothing too unusual about this trip, there is a hut near the viewpoint but it is for hunters. A nice fountain provides fresh water in the very friendly hamlet of Les Maîtres.
However the top of the Dent requires a great deal of care, especially with children. The face opposite to that of the path is made of a SINGLE STEP. And this step is very high (about 800 m). Needless to say, if you take the first step... To indicate this there are red patches on the signs, but it is good not to leave your children alone if you bring them there. Rest assured that despite this the hike is quite within the reach of any child.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
During the walk or to do/see around
This walk provides good views of the Isère valley. At the viewpoint overlooking Grenoble is worth enjoying when there is not too much haze, but this is a rare occurrence.
Above, the Dent de Moirans dominates the glacial lock that stretched here a few millennia ago. This glacier which reached up to here also explains the fact that Grenoble is, despite being a mountain town, the flattest city in France.
Now in the 21st century that glacial lock has become a very important crossroads as two motorways lead from here to Lyon to the north-west and Valencia to the south-east. The result is immediately visible: the artisanal zones bloom before our eyes: Moirans, Saint Egrève, Noyarey-Veurey.
For visits you must stop at Veurey to see the Tower of the Templars. You can drive to continue to Montaud and take the old road that connected it to Autrans. At the Col de Montaud car park, extend the walk to visit the big cave of the mountain that crosses the road after about 500 m. Further on there is the tunnel that lets you pass to the Vercors plateau.
Opinions and comments
Average
Global average : 4.33/5
Number of opinions : 2
Clarity of route description : 4/5
Clarity of route map : 4/5
Walk interest : 5/5
Walker
Global average : 4.33 / 5
Date of walk
: 10/03/18
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest
: ★★★★★ Very good
Very nice walk with beautiful views from the "cliffs".
Walker
Global average : 4.33 / 5
Date of walk
: 18/02/18
Clarity of route description
: ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map
: ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest
: ★★★★★ Very good
Very beautiful winter walk! Might be very muddy in spring.
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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.