The starting point is at Baie des Lionnets on the D3 road between Chorges and Espinasse, shortly after the tunnel exit and before reaching the lake museum: there is an unmarked car park just after the bridge over the Rolland stream (S).
(1) South of this car park, take theGRP® trail around Lake Serre-Ponçon, marked in yellow and red. It enters the forest and climbs rapidly until it reaches a tarmac road after about 500 metres.
(2) Take this road westwards (turn right) to the village of Rousset, (3) which you cross, still following the GRP®.
At the edge of the village, the tarmac road gives way to a track which you follow, still heading west, following the yellow and red markings, until you reach the Col de Pré du Laus (1068m).
(4) Three paths lead off from this pass: leave theGRP® trail on your left, which continues towards Espinasse; leave the path marked "Vière 7Km" on your right; and take the middle path, which descends rapidly to meet the Trente Pas torrent after 1250m.
(5) Cross this stream and climb up the right bank. Shortly afterwards, admire a magnificent group of "demoiselles coiffées" (rock formations) on the right.
The track continues northwards, gradually climbing, and arrives at a first fork one kilometre after crossing the stream. Take the left-hand path. You will arrive at a second fork (signposts). Both paths lead to Vière.
(6) Take the shorter of the two paths on the right, unless the stream you have to cross immediately is large. After a steep climb, you will come out just in front of the church in the village of Vière, which no longer has any permanent inhabitants.
(7) Leave the village to the west, crossing the Claret stream, and climb up the track on the right towards the Col de la Croix des Près. After 1.5 km, you will reach the pass (1,388 m), where there are picnic areas.
(8) After the picnic areas, turn immediately right (east). Do not take the Gapian path that branches off to the right shortly afterwards, but continue straight on for 1 km until you reach a clearing with a hut, the Clot Clavary.
(9) Three paths lead off from Clot de Clavery to the east: take the one furthest to the right (signposted "chemin de la procession" and marked with yellow and red markers), as this is where you will find theGRP® trail around the lake, which you will now follow until you return to your starting point.
This path climbs steeply to the ridge, which we will follow for 1.5 km, enjoying beautiful views of the path we have just walked, Chorges and the mountains above it (Piolit, Aiguilles de Chabrières) and Lake Serre Ponçon. You will reach a viewpoint with orientation tables. From there, the path descends. Follow the yellow and red markings closely to reach a clearing under a high-voltage power line, the Clot Charmentier. Continue to follow the yellow and red markings until you almost reach the D3.
(10) Do not take the D3, but climb up to the right along a wide track towards a small pass (1115 m). There are beautiful views to the west over the colourful ravines carved into the marl. Leave a track on your left and continue south along a narrow path signposted "Rocher Chabrand et saut de Rolland".
(11) After 500 m of fairly level trail, leave the Chabrand rock trail, which continues straight ahead, and turn right towards the Rolland waterfall via a winding trail on a steep, bare slope, following the yellow and red markings. At the bottom of the trail, turn right and you will soon reach the Rolland waterfall, an impressive waterfall in a canyon.
(12) Cross the torrent upstream and continue to follow the yellow and red markings on the right bank. After crossing several tributary torrents, you will finally arrive at the starting point (E).