Crossing the Vercors Plateau

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This route describes a four-stage crossing of the Vercors Plateau, from Corrençon to Clelles station.

Details

n°5338
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 32.40 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4 days 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 4,354 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 5,358 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 6,047 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,723 ft

Photos

Vent du nord à la cabane de l'Essaure
Paysage vercussien
Lapiez sur le plateau du Vercors
Cabane de la Jasse du Play

Stages of the route

This route needs several days, find the details below:

  1. S
    De Corrençon-en-Vercors à la Jasse du Play

    From Corrençon-en-Vercors to the Jasse du Play

    ↔10.84 mi ↗2,224 ft ↘682 ft
    First stage of a 4-day crossing of the Vercors. It’s a long trek but the elevation gain isn’t excessive.
    View the route
  2. 2
    De la Jasse du Play à la Baraque du Pison

    From the Jasse du Play to the Baraque du Pison

    ↔9.47 mi ↗735 ft ↘928 ft
    The second stage of the Vercors crossing. Less elevation gain than the previous day, but still a good distance. However, we’re now properly entering the Vercors plateau, and a map, a compass and a good sense of direction are essential, especially when it’s foggy!
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  3. 3
    De la Baraque du Pison à la Cabane de l'Essaure

    From the Baraque du Pison to the Cabane de l’Essaure

    ↔6.53 mi ↗1,234 ft ↘889 ft
    This is the third stage of this Vercors traverse. We’re now reaching the southern part of the Vercors plateau, where the terrain and vegetation make navigation very tricky, but the scenery becomes absolutely stunning!
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  4. E
    De la Cabane de l'Essaure à la gare de Clelles

    From the Cabane de l’Essaure to Clelles station

    ↔5.54 mi ↗174 ft ↘2,858 ft
    The fourth and final stage of the Vercors crossing. We leave the plateau to descend via Chichilianne to the foot of Mont Aiguille. Choosing Clelles station as the end point for this crossing means you can do the whole thing from Grenoble, but it’s of course possible to arrange for a car to be waiting in Chichilianne before setting off.
    View the route

Notes

To get to Corrençon by bus: Transisère
For all information on mountain huts and water sources: Refuges.info

Please note: as the Vercors huts are unmanned, and backpacking is quite common in the area, it is advisable to bring everything you need for a bivouac! Similarly, take plenty of water – it’s better to carry 2 litres too much than to run out.

The Vercors plateau is also renowned for being difficult to navigate. Don’t forget your maps (3236OT and 3237OT) and your compass, and perhaps an altimeter, and avoid straying from the existing paths. And if you’re unsure, it’s better to turn back before you get properly lost!

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 2 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
Michmar
Michmar

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A superb three-day hike with a short detour via the Grand Veymont. Watch out for water at the end of August – almost all the springs had run dry.

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baracuda38
baracuda38

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We ended up doing this route over two days, as my brother had to work on Sunday. As a result, there were quite a few changes:
- We set off from Corrençon as planned; it was extremely hot right from the start (9.00 am, when the bus arrived), and this heat stayed with us throughout the day, making the walk – particularly in the narrow gorges (Canyon des Erges) – especially gruelling,
- We altered the route to finish at the Cabane des Aiguillettes via the Pas des Chattons – phew!!! The problem with this ‘crossing’ is the water; make sure you check the park’s website carefully (spring flow rates). We had no problems at all: the source at the Plaine de la Chaux on the GR91 and, the following day, the source at the Pas des Hollowed-Out Tree Trunks Serving as Drinking Troughs. We set off with 3 litres of water each,
- From the Aiguillettes hut, we headed towards the Pas des Bachassons, past the Roman quarry, and then due south to the Jasse de Peyre Rouge, where we followed a path marked with cairns that took us to the Chaumailloux hut, with the summit of Tourte Barreaux as a highlight. We descended via the Pas de l’Aiguille and returned to Clelles station.
A magnificent route, with three vultures feasting on a marmot’s carcass; very undulating and presenting no difficulties, well signposted by the cairns dotting the trail.
In conclusion, a very lovely route, made difficult by the heat; it should be done over at least three days, which is possible without pushing yourself too hard and by going via the Pas de l’Essaure. We’ll do it again via the Grand Veymond and taking the same route as on the second day… but over three days.

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Other walks in the area

Walking From Corrençon-en-Vercors to the Jasse du Play

Association / Club / Walk leader
De Corrençon-en-Vercors à la Jasse du Play
↔10.84 mi ↗+2,224 ft ↘-682 ft ◔6h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Corrençon-en-Vercors (Isère)
First stage of a 4-day crossing of the Vercors. It’s a long trek but the elevation gain isn’t excessive.

Walking The Champ de la Bataille circular path

Visorando Member
La boucle du Champ de la Bataille
↔3.38 mi ↗+299 ft ↘-289 ft ◔1h 50 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Corrençon-en-Vercors (Isère)
A circular walk taking in three key sites in Corrençon-en-Vercors: the Champ de la Bataille, the golf course and the biathlon stadium.

Walking Corrençon circuit via Darbounouse and La Coinchette

Visorando Member
Circuit de Corrençon via Darbounouse, et la Coinchette
↔10.98 mi ↗+1,355 ft ↘-1,355 ft ◔6h 15 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Corrençon-en-Vercors (Isère)
A trail at the gateway to the Vercors plateaus, with the outward journey on theGR®91and the return via La Coinchette. Most of the route is through woodland, offering views of the Vercors ridges from Darbounouse. The return journey is partly off the beaten track, before rejoining the forest paths via the Baraque Guillet, Les Auberges and La Fleur du Roy.

Walking The 45th parallel

Visorando Member
Le 45e parallèle
↔4.78 mi ↗+692 ft ↘-669 ft ◔2h 50 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Corrençon-en-Vercors (Isère)
Halfway between the North Pole and the equator, this is a fun route for everyone. It is possible to do it on a mountain bike, but be careful in the second part.

Walking Crossing the Rochers de la Balme

Visorando Member
Traversée des Rochers de la Balme
↔9.70 mi ↗+3,330 ft ↘-3,304 ft ◔7h 20 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Corrençon-en-Vercors (Isère)
Les Rochers de la Balme offers the possibility of an off-trail ridge crossing, which is quite long but not very technical. Several combinations are possible depending on the access routes chosen. This circular route offers a complete traverse from Tête des Chaudières to Pas Ernadant, with a steep climb (partly off-trail) via Combe de Fer and a more conventional descent via Cabanne de Carrette and theGR® 91.

Walking Variation on the 45th Parallel Route

Visorando Member
↔5.26 mi ↗+702 ft ↘-692 ft ◔3h 00 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Corrençon-en-Vercors (Isère)
This variation on the classic route offers even more shade. And if you keep quiet, you may be able to hear and see wildlife.

Walking Corrençon loop via Herbouilly

Visorando Member
Boucle de Corrençon par Herbouilly
↔8.75 mi ↗+2,178 ft ↘-2,175 ft ◔5h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Corrençon-en-Vercors (Isère)
This fairly varied loop between Corrençon and Herbouilly (two of the gateways to the Nordic ski area with Bois Barbu) takes you along wide forest tracks and more peaceful forest paths. In places (at the start and finish), it runs alongside the golf course and roller ski tracks. It reaches its highest points at Pas de l'Âne and Pas de la Sambue. It passes the Roybon inn and the Herbouilly cross-country ski centre before taking the Pas Saint-Martin path and crossing the Herbouilly plain. On the way back, don't miss the view of the Grande and Petite Moucherolle, the Tête des Chaudières and the ski slopes of Villard-de-Lans and Corrençon-en-Vercors.

Walking The Tête des Chaudières loop

Visorando Member
La Tête des Chaudières en boucle
↔7.63 mi ↗+3,087 ft ↘-3,104 ft ◔6h 10 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Corrençon-en-Vercors (Isère)
A beautiful, uncrowded summit, reached by climbing up a wild valley and a path off the trail.

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