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

n°3972

Creation:
4 Apr 2012

Last update:
6 Nov 2024

Last review:
15 Jun 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 10.71 km
Average duration: 4h 15
Difficulty: Moderate
Return to departure point: Yes
Vertical gain: + 403 m
Vertical drop: - 403 m
Highest point: 978 m
Lowest point: 648 m

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Vercors, Dauphiné
District: Montaud (Isère) (38210)
Start/End: N 45.264525° / E 5.566127°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3233SB, 3235OT
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Description of the walk

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

S/E : km 0 - alt. 679 m - Montaud village hall car park
1 : km 0.92 - alt. 682 m - Carrefour de la croix
2 : km 1.41 - alt. 735 m - Under the power line
3 : km 3.48 - alt. 932 m - Orientation table
4 : km 4.25 - alt. 944 m - Crossroads under the Dent de Moirans
5 : km 4.61 - alt. 923 m - Dent de Moirans
6 : km 7.67 - alt. 674 m - The Masters
7 : km 8.48 - alt. 648 m - Carrefour les Etroits
S/E : km 10.71 - alt. 678 m - Montaud village hall car park

Practical 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.

In the nearby area

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.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5

Based on 100 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5

Clarity of route map
4.2 / 5

Route interest
4.4 / 5

Frederique38

Jun 15, 2025 at 12:00 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very nice route!
I tried it in both directions but I prefer the opposite direction to the one indicated, so you can climb in the shade of the forest.
To avoid the road, the path between Les Maîtres and Chausson is very pleasant.

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vincent agnes

Jun 12, 2025 at 09:45 EDT

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

We completed this entire route without any difficulty, and it was shaded.
It was a very pleasant hike.

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Claude R3.

May 19, 2025 at 08:47 EDT

It's a shame we didn't do the last 2 km! But don't worry, this route is very popular at weekends.

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AlainMariette

May 19, 2025 at 06:44 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

We did this route avoiding the last 2 km, which we felt were unnecessary.
Taesch Alain

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Claude R3.

Nov 06, 2024 at 10:20 EST

This route is not very popular during the week, but at the weekend we are almost never alone..........

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polo381

Nov 06, 2024 at 08:46 EST

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

I walked this route as a reconnaissance for a group of senior hikers.
Concerning the passage towards point 2 between the Fayard and the track, the path is not very visible and quite cluttered with brambles and branches. In my opinion, it's better to continue on the road as far as Chausson and pick up the track at this point. As for the rest, the route is easy to follow and thanks to the Visorando app, as the signposting in the Parc du Vercors sometimes leaves something to be desired, especially after point 4 on the way back.
The site at the summit is very pleasant, but I repeat, beware of taking the wrong step, which can send you tumbling 800 metres.

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Bernard Foray-Roux

Aug 13, 2024 at 02:05 EDT

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Clarity of route map : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : Yes

This is the first time I've given a negative review.
The signposting is inconsistent: sometimes it's brand new, sometimes it's hidden under ivy or faded.
As a result, you hesitate for quite a while at several crossroads.
It's better to follow the wooden signs and have the IGN map.
Otherwise, well done Visorando for your work: I regularly go "with you" and without any problems.
Bernard

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bernardino

Jul 28, 2024 at 03:44 EDT

Hello.
Thank you to Sissi for reiterating the need for caution at the top of the Dent. This only reinforces my message of caution mentioned in Red, which also indicates that the step is high.

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Claude R3.

Jul 27, 2024 at 13:03 EDT

I couldn't agree more, although the route is relatively easy to find.

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Sissi

Jul 27, 2024 at 11:33 EDT

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A well-shaded route through the undergrowth, pleasant in summer with some fine viewpoints, discovering the hamlets of Montaud (with the possibility of gourmet breaks with a farm selling ewe's milk cheese and yoghurt and an artisan chocolatier (cookies, chocolate ice cream, bars).
No danger, but be very careful around the tooth, especially with children, as it is steep.

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Nousky38

Jan 01, 2024 at 09:24 EST

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

An interesting hike to do in winter, as snow is not often found at this altitude.
What's more, there are hardly any crowds.
Towards the end of the route, the climb back up to the village of Montaud can be a bit daunting.

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Claude R3.

Nov 01, 2022 at 14:12 EDT

OK, but still quite busy

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jluca

Nov 01, 2022 at 07:02 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

very nice itinerary. Thanks for the idea.

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Claude R3.

Oct 24, 2022 at 05:23 EDT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

An interesting hike, especially for the view of the Grenoble suburbs from the belvedere. The summit is also interesting for the view of the Isère river and the Voironnais area.

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randonneur38

May 30, 2022 at 02:40 EDT

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : May 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

very nice route and very well detailed . to do being in the region

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