The Pic Saint Michel

This easily accessed summit is located on a ridge between the "Vallée de la Gresse" and the Vercors plateau. It offers a breathtaking view on Belledonne, Les Rousses and a bit further Les Ecrins.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.68 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 681 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 682 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,939 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,262 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S) (Start point) Park your vehicle at the "Parking des Barnets", on the road to the "Stade de Neige" of Lans en Vercors. Take the large trail in front which leads to the "Refuge des Allières".

(1). Continue straight ahead until you reach a trail crossroad. Follow the trail waymarked with red and white stripes (trail GR91). You reach a second crossroad.

Turn left. (2) A sign indicates "Col de l'Arc". Follow the path waymarked in yellow;after about 10 minutes you head out of the forest and start climbing;after a hairpin bend, you reach the alpine pasture. You then walk almost horizontally up to the "Col de l'Arc".

(3). At the "Col de l'Arc" pass, a sign indicates the different directions. For the "Pic Saint Michel" follow the path on the left, along but at some distance from the ridge. It is waymarked in yellow and with cairns from place to place, and reaches the "Pic Saint Michel" summit without difficulty.

(4) To go down, continue on the trail, still waymarked in yellow. You head North and reach "Combe Oursière".

(5) The path then makes a 90-degree left turn and heads West, goes through the mountain pasture and after a series of switchbacks, heads back to the "Refuge des Allières".

(1). You then take the path back to the parking.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,263 m - Parking des Barnets on the edge of the - Furon (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 1.34 - alt. 1,421 m - Refuge des Alliéres
  3. 2 : km 2.63 - alt. 1,513 m - Col de l'Arc footpath junction
  4. 3 : km 3.59 - alt. 1,735 m - Col de l'Arc
  5. 4 : km 4.63 - alt. 1,939 m - Pic Saint Michel
  6. 5 : km 6.43 - alt. 1,604 m - Combe Oursière
  7. S/E : km 8.68 - alt. 1,262 m - Parking des Barnets

Practical information

The Vercors massif has a few watering places. One of them is located on this trail, under the crossroad between the GR91 and the "Col de l'Arc" trail. The water is fresh.

The "Refuge des Allières" offers a pleasant stop, especially when the weather is hot, but it is also open most of the year and welcomes tourists and hikers in a splendid house typical of Vercors.

Please note that the cliffs on the "Vallée de la Gresse" side, namely the East side, are very abrupt, with a steep precipice. If you hike with your children, keep an eye on them and prevent them from venturing close to the cliff's edge. This is also true at the summit of the "Pic Saint Michel".

In the nearby area

Visit the Vercors plateau and its landmarks, its towns and villages such as Villard de Lans, Saint Nizier du Moucherotte and Autrans, famous for the 1968 Olympics Games.

 Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 131 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
rimss
rimss

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

good

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Martin21
Martin21
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

It's a lovely walk, a bit strenuous, but the views are splendid.
It was very busy on Saturday.

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Capucine S
Capucine S

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A slightly strenuous hike, but the reward awaits you at the summit!
To be done on a perfectly clear day to take full advantage of the view of the surrounding mountains,
And if possible during the week and outside school holidays, for added peace and quiet.

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Petiot
Petiot

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

It's a lovely hike, the climb goes very well, you have to take it easy, the view is splendid when you get to the top, it's a feast for the eyes, it's magical. Be careful on the way down, it's slippery, so it's best to be well equipped.

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Pas Cal
Pas Cal

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Thanks to Visorandonneur for this track. A lovely hike. A magnificent view from the peak. Mont Blanc and the Ecrins mountain range. A loop completed in 3h30. Please note: On the descent, after Point 4, the current signposting no longer follows the path that passes through the karstic cave at Pic St. Michel, but follows the path that goes off to the left at hill 1853 on the map. Even though the old path has some old beacons ..... and marmots. But watch out for the right turn that is not signposted before you reach the baume des allières. Thanks again.

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Laetitia2626
Laetitia2626

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : May 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

I advise you to come in the morning around 10/11am and do the circuit in reverse.
Start with the steep slope to reach the peak, so the return journey will be easier on your knees.
A great hike with a breathtaking view!
However, beware of the difficulty rating: "medium level", as this is not a gentle walk.
(You need to be a bit of a sportsman to climb the path to the summit).

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alsa281052
alsa281052

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

Beautiful views in winter, but very busy.

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migar
migar

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

We did the ascent the other way round, taking a little longer towards the Combe des Oursières to climb more gradually. It was quite windy at the top, so there were quite a few paragliders.
Thursday was a sports day at Grenoble University, and the students were enjoying themselves too.

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Gauthier-Lefeu Catherine
Gauthier-Lefeu Catherine

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

On the descent, not far from the summit, the route follows the old signposted path that runs off to the left in the valley, and it's a perfect itinerary 👌🏻D. In fact, it's the only one I knew... It's well marked on the ground and you can see the old signposts again. You arrive above the Auberge des Allieres Autrement, and the hikers descend along a track full of small stones. At the summit, the Alpine hunters put back a cross and left the temporary one made with skis. Thank you 🙏🏻

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hauteroute84
hauteroute84

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A pleasant hike, easy to get to, suitable for families or those with little exercise. Magnificent views from the summit of Mont Blanc to the hills of the Ardèche.

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georges betton
georges betton
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Lovely walk, not too difficult, great view from the top.

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paquerette73
paquerette73

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Superb views after a good climb.
Less easy for the start of the downhill path, which is still slippery on the rocks.
A great hike!

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damJ38
damJ38

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very pleasant hike, especially early in the morning when it's not crowded.
At the top there was a fine view of Belledonne despite the morning mist, which made it impossible to see the rest of the route.
No problem with the directions, but be careful on the way back because of the slippery stones.

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Charlie 38
Charlie 38

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A beautiful hike with a superb panorama at the top.

The route is reliable and very well marked.

We didn't meet many people on the way up as we left early.
However, on the way back it was full of people (50ths of a person).

The site is very busy, so if you're looking for peace and quiet you won't find it here...

Superb view of Belledonne, Taillefer, ecrins, chartreuse....

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dory
dory

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Superb hike!
We did the proposed route "backwards" and after a good climb we were lucky enough to have a completely clear horizon. Ideal for the view of Grenoble surrounded by the Belledone and Chartreuse massifs.

The path is well signposted, but gets a little lost in the snow (fortunately, many hikers before us had marked the path ) and there are a few tricky stony sections.

PS: Watch out for muddy, snowy slips!

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