Tundra and lakes of Grand Galbert and Taillefer

Warning: although not particularly difficult, this hike involves over 10km of walking entirely off-trail. It is therefore important to read the practical information before setting out on this route. A large number of photos also help you find your way.

(S/E) From the car park, follow the red and white marked route of^{the GR®®50}towards the Plateau des Lacs and Ornon.

(1) After just under an hour’s walk, at a sharp bend in the path, leave the^GR®® and take the path on the left (heading north-east). Follow the path to the southern branch of the Ruisseau des Sagnes, which runs through peatland. At a fork in the road, turn right and head for the southern end of Lac Fourchu. Continue along this path eastwards until you reach the unnamed pass overlooking the Jasse lakes.

(2) At the unnamed pass, do not continue on the^GR®®50, but follow a track to the left that climbs up the ridge separating Lac Fourchu from the Lacs de la Jasse. Follow the ridge of this terrain north-eastwards until you reach the Pas de l'Enviou.

(3) At the Pas de l'Enviou, continue north-east on the^GR®®50towards the Refuge du Taillefer (red and white markings and signpost). This path remains level until it crosses the Ruisseau de l'Échaillon.

(4) Step onto the left bank of the stream and leave the path to head due north (to the left) along the stream until you find shepherd’s tracks. Follow one of these parallel tracks, still heading due north, to follow the stream upstream. After a few sections of scree, reach the grassy plateau dotted with numerous small lakes at Clos de Chambre. Pass half a dozen pools and, when the slopes steepen, veer right to climb north-east up the grassy slopes strewn with rounded boulders leading to the Infernet.

(5) Upon reaching the Infernet ridge, veer left to pass a small pass to the north, and from there, climb the summit slope of the Grand Galbert where the grass becomes sparser and chamois more common.

(6) At the summit, turn left to follow the ridge descending south-west towards the Cime Chalvine and the Col du Treuil.

(7) At the pass, continue south-west to stay on the ridge and enjoy the impressive view towards the Romanche valley. Look out for the lakes on the left, and once you reach the point directly above the last of them, Lac des Aiguillons, take a path leading towards a rocky outcrop to the right of this lake (south-south-west), the Pointe de Beauregard.

(8) When you reach the foot of the Pointe de Beauregard (no need to climb it), turn left heading due east, passing by Lac des Aiguillons and then Lac de Beauregard. Pass the latter on its southern side and continue due east until you come to a stream on a flat area. Cross the stream and then follow it north-eastwards along its left bank until you reach the Lacs du Grand Pré.

(9) At Lac du Grand Pré, turn right, heading due south, to follow a series of ridges running alongside small lakes and leading to Lac du Petit Pré. The Taillefer marks the direction to follow. Walk along the shore of this last lake (the right-hand side is easier) to reach its outlet, the Ruisseau des Viallets. Descend along this stream, heading south-south-west, to reach the wide, flat area of La Valette, where the stream joins the Ruisseau de Rioupéroux.

(10) The Valette plateau marks the end of the off-trail section. Turn right onto the path marked with yellow signs, heading westwards, until you reach some small waterfalls.

(11) Descend the switchback below the waterfalls and continue towards the Barrière chalets; a side path branches off to the left (south) before the chalets, allowing you to avoid civilisation if you wish. In any case, always take the paths on the left to stay on or return to a wide track that turns into a forestry track. This track leads back to the starting point (S/E).

Regulations to be observed in Natura 2000 sites:
- swimming prohibited,
- camping and bivouacking prohibited (except in designated areas),
- fires prohibited,
- littering prohibited,
- dogs must be kept on a lead.

Tips for navigating:
The best way to fully enjoy this hike is not to stick rigidly to the route. Once on the plateau of the lakes (i.e. once you reach Lac Fourchu). Lac Fourchu, Le Taillefer and Le Grand Galbert serve as landmarks visible from everywhere: Le Taillefer points south, Le Grand Galbert marks the north, and Lac Fourchu indicates the direction to take to then descend to Lac du Poursollet and the car park (S/E).

To climb to Grand Galbert, follow the Ruisseau de l’Échaillon, which runs almost perfectly north-south. On its left bank (recommended for the ascent) lies the ridge bordering the slopes descending towards Ornon, a ridge that you never cross to the east. On its right bank lies another small ridge, or rather a shoulder, which you should observe carefully once at the Grand Galbert before descending. This shoulder serves as a permanent landmark on the descent, for the further down you go and the closer you get to Lac Fourchu, the closer you must get to it, in order to easily find the gap in the Ruisseau des Viallets that leads to the Valette plateau via a main path.

A quick glance at the map beforehand and memorising these directions is all that is needed to set out to explore the Tundra without the risk of taking a wrong turn or getting lost.

Visual landmarks:
The panoramic view shows almost the entire circular loop on the Grand Galbert tundra. It was taken during another hike at Taillefer. The largest of the lakes is Lac Fourchu (which can also be seen from its other end here).

On the ascent, the route passes at the base (not visible here) of this lake and at the pass (2), barely visible and in the sun, beneath the hillock to the right of the lake. It then climbs up this hillock and follows the ridge to the right as far as the Pas de l’Enviou (3) — hidden by the hillock — directly above Lac Noir. It then follows the flank of the next hillock down towards the^GR®®50, until it reaches the large, shaded valley rising to the left beneath the Grand Galbert (the highest point of the circular route).

At the bottom of this valley liesthe junction with the Échaillon stream (4). Follow this stream up its left bank to reach the small lakes in the shade of the Clos de Chambre (see the view of the Échaillon valley from the summit of the Grand Galbert to get your bearings). From there, you reach the ridge at the boundary between shade and sunlight, then the summit of the Grand Galbert (6) by following this ridge.

From the summit, follow the ridge overlooking the Romanche Valley, which separates our massif from that of Belledonne in the background. Pass via the Col du Treuil (7) and then follow a contour line until you almost reach the shaded slopes in the right-hand third of the photo, i.e. the Pointe de Beauregard at 2131m (8). From there, we descend towards the centre of the photo, staying well on the plateau, passing by a few lakes, then we climb gently up the slope along the stream which lies exactly on the boundary between shadow and light in the centre of the photo, until we reach the network of lakes at Grand Pré (9).

From there, the Taillefer (in the background) but above all the Pyramide (the peak on the left) and the Rocher Culasson (to the right of the Taillefer) serve as landmarks. From the Grand Pré lakes and then the Petit Pré lake (visible in the overview; it is the clearest lake), you must always keep the Taillefer massif in sight to stay on the route.

You leave the plateau, still keeping the Taillefer in sight, by following the Ruisseau des Viallets, which flows from Lac du Petit Pré. This stream joins the Valette plateau (in the shade at the centre of the overview), where it heads due west, following the Ruisseau de Rioupéroux. Once on the Valette plateau (10), you are back on a marked trail.

Difficulty:
Only the length of the hike and the off-trail section account for the difficulty.

Equipment:
No special equipment is required. However, the plateau des lacs is often waterlogged and good waterproof shoes are useful. Trainers are not recommended. For sunrise enthusiasts, don’t forget a head torch.

Water:
Water is plentiful along the route.

Weather:
This hike must be undertaken in good weather, unless you’re a fan of orienteering in the fog.

Dogs:
Dogs are allowed in this mountain range but must be kept on a lead in the mountain pastures, except in autumn when the herds have come down.

The best time of year to explore this plateau is early autumn:
the colours are fantastic, cotton grass carpets the water’s edge, the weather is generally clear, the sun rises later and so you can watch it rise without having to wake up too early.

Allow 1 hour from the car park to the first viewpoint towards Oisans to the east; as astronomical dawn occurs about 30 minutes before sunrise, you should set off from the car 1½ hours before the official sunrise to fully enjoy the spectacle. To do this, do not stop at Lac Fourchu (which remains in the shade for quite some time), but continue on to the unnamed pass (2) overlooking Lac Culasson and the other Jasse lakes.

After admiring the sunrise, take your time following the route along the ridge separating the Jasse lakes from Lac Fourchu, allowing you to watch the latter gradually light up.

The ideal spot for a picnic is Lac du Grand Pré, where large white animals frolic

It is possible to return to Lac Fourchu from the Valette plateau (10). To do this, turn left (south-east) to climb up to the Pas de l’Envious (3), where there is a signpost. Turn right (west-south-west) to follow a path up towards Lac Fourchu and reach it at its northern end. At this point, turn right (due north) to follow the path that leads to Lac Canard, and then continue along this path until you reach the Ruisseau de Rioupéroux and its waterfalls (11).