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Font d'Urle can be reached from Die via the Col du Rousset and Vassieux-en-Vercors or from Saint-Jean-en Royans via the Col de la Machine. At the Chaud Clapier resort, take the road that leads to the site in the Font d'Urle mountain pastures (hotel, chalets, etc.). There are plenty of parking spaces on arrival.
(S/E) From the car park in front of the hotel, return to the access road (CD76b) for 300 m and turn right onto theGR®93.
(1) It climbs up the mountain pasture towards the east. It is not very clearly marked on the ground and crosses several similar paths: follow the markings carefully, gradually heading south-east.
After a tumulus with several cairns and before a small plateau covered with cairns, look for a trail on the left that cuts across the fence.
(2) Take this path to descend a small valley which turns right at the bottom. Les Scialets des Cloches are just on the left in a hollow at the edge of the forest.
(3) Visit the edge of the four Cloches (without going down as the climb back up is very technical) then return to the access path which climbs south-east to a beautiful sharp limestone pavement (cairns), after which you turn south to join theGR® and descend a little to the Pot de la Croix crossroads.
(4) Follow the path opposite, which climbs diagonally towards the Crête des Gagères. When you reach the ridge, where the path flattens out before descending, climb the grassy ridge on the right (few traces) to easily reach the summit of Puy de la Gagère.
(5) After enjoying the 360° view, retrace your steps along the fence and, at a grassy pass on the left, turn sharply to cross the small rocky ridge and descend into the meadow to the west, following the fence.
(6) At the foot of the slope, the path passes through Pas du Follet and continues along the edge of the cliff to a double arch marking the edge of a deep pit.
(7) Continue along the path beside the fence at the edge of the cliff, with a few ascents and descents, pass Pas Pascaud and join the "Sentier du Kartz" which leads to the wide Col de la Porte d'Urle.
(8) Cross the path to climb up to the pylons. Above the second one, a path descends on the south-west side to pass at the foot of the cliffs and cross level to the Grotte du Berger (the one on the left).
(9) After visiting the cave, continue crossing level under the cliffs at the altitude of 1658m. The path is less marked than before the cave and runs through scree about twenty metres below the cliff.
Cross over to a corridor that allows you to climb back up to the ridge. From there, a level path leads to the Chalet du Serre de Montué (pass to the left of a water reservoir so as not to disturb the shepherd and his sheep).
(10) The path, which follows theGR® 93, climbs diagonally to bypass the 1698m point to the Pas de l'Infernet.
(11) From the pass, go around the 1692m point on the right to climb up to the Col de l'Infernet.
(12) Leave theGR® towards the Plateau d'Ambel and turn right heading north. The tracks may vary depending on the passage of herds, so follow the most clearly marked ones: after a slight descent, go around the first hill (1685m point) on the left (west).
From the next pass, climb the main summit (1706m) either by following the tracks that go around it on the left and then back south, or directly up the grassy slope (less clear but easier tracks)
(13) From the summit, descend to the pass to the south and return to the path taken on the way up to the Col and Pas de l'Infernet. Descend to the reservoir at the Chalet du Serre de Montué.
(10) Continue down towards Font d'Urle on theGR® until you reach a crossroads.
(14) Leave theGR® trail downhill and take the path starting at the same level opposite. It passes near a watering hole. Continue either level or down a lower path, as the slope is marked with multiple tracks left by passing herds. Avoid going back up, but descend a little to follow the clearest track, which leads level back to the pylons at Porte d'Urle and then to the pass.
(8) From the crossroads at the pass, take the path directly opposite heading east, which joins the "Sentier du Karst". Take this path to the left to pass a protected chasm and climb northwards to the Glacière de Font d'Urle, which has been clearly visible for some time.
(15) Visit the Glacière: if heading east, return via the plateau at the western entrance and take the path that leads back to the Route de la Porte d'Urle, follow it to the right to return to the car park (S/E).
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