Crossing the Vercors from Engins to Saint-Gervais

Start from the car park on Route de Villard-de-Lans or from the T64 ‘Les Jaux’ bus stop in Engins.

(S) From the car park, turn left and follow the road for about 200 metres to the next junction. Turn right onto Route Joseph Coynel and follow it to the hairpin bend.

(1) Leave Route Joseph Coynel and take Route de Fournel, at the communal bins.

(2) As you come out of the left-hand bend, take the Chemin des Envers. Head uphill, first skirting a meadow on the edge of the forest, then cross a stream and join the GR®9 and the GR® de Pays.

(3) Continue the climb along the GR® until you reach the edge of the forest.

(4) Continue the climb alongside the fence, then head to the right of the shepherd’s hut.

(5) After the hut, turn left onto the signposted path and walk for about a hundred metres until you spot a clearly visible track on the right.

(6) Follow this to climb gently up to the ridge and reach the Pas du Tracollet.

(7) Head left towards the summit of Charande (1,709 m), marked by a sign.

(8) Turn back and return to the Pas du Tracollet.

(7) Then head straight down to the left towards the Refuge des Feneys and join the forest track.

(9) Walk past the Refuge des Feneys, leaving it on your left, then reach a meadow.

(10) In the meadow, look out for a path leading down alongside the fence: this is the Sentier des Feneys. From here, follow the track closely using the GPX file: the route is poorly marked and it is easy to lose your way. Rely on your experience and your ability to read the terrain. Cross a track suitable for vehicles, then rejoin the path, which becomes increasingly steep, until you reach the Villeneuve enclosure. You’ll come to a junction of paths.

(11) Turn right. Running alongside the fence is a very well-defined path leading to a track suitable for vehicles.

(12) Turn left at the sign, pass a fountain and walk through the village of Villeneuve. Join the D218, follow it to the right for about fifty metres and look out for the start of a path on the left.

(13) Take this path. In the forest, look for a better-marked path that climbs steeply up to a forest track.

(14) Continue left for about 50 m until you reach the hairpin bend, then turn right. After another 50 metres, at the bend, join a track – which is flat for a few kilometres – and follow it until you rejoin the forest road further on.

(15) Carry on to the right along the Route Forestière des Epérières. Just before a mountain hut, at the hairpin bend, leave the track and take a path to the right.

(16) Begin the climb towards the Signal de Nave. Cross the Route Forestière de Nave and continue the ascent to the Sentier de Pierre Taillée. The junction with the GR®9 marks the end of the steep climb.

(17) Turn right onto the GR®9 path, which climbs gradually towards the Signal de Nave.

(18) At the three-way junction, keep left, stay on the GR®9 and head for the Signal de Nave (1,609 m). Enjoy the view and the bench!

(19) Turn back and follow the path in the opposite direction.

(17) Continue along the GR®9, descending until you reach a fork. Leave the GR®9 here and take a signposted path on the right which climbs back up towards the Pas de Montbrand.

(20) At the Pas de Montbrand, follow the path down the western slope of the Vercors. Then join a track and continue straight down the slope until you reach a forest road.

(21) Turn left and cross the Versoud. At the next junction, turn right towards the Passage du Versoud. Further on, you’ll reach a crossroads marked by a cross, with a path starting off to the left.

(22) Take this path and cross the canyon directly; you’ll find fixed ropes in places. This section requires experience and a good understanding of the terrain: stay relatively close to the GPX track whilst adapting your route to the conditions you encounter. Cross the Versoud, then rejoin a track suitable for vehicles.

(23) Follow it to the right and look out for a small cairn (10–20 stones) on the left to find the next path.

(24) Once you’ve spotted it, make your way down as best you can through the fallen trees blocking the path, and the brambles and stinging nettles that seem to thrive in this area! Join the signposted path. This marks the official end of any concerns regarding the trail.

(25) Turn left at the hairpin bend and follow the GRP® which climbs slightly before descending again and joining the Versoud via a path that is sometimes barely visible.

(26) Cross the bridge then follow the track, which is now clearly marked. Cross a meadow and come out onto a road: back to civilisation!

(27) Take the road to the left until you reach the next path on the right, between two walnut orchards.

(28) Follow the path.

(29) Then take the most direct route to reach the summit of the Coteau d’Artets (608m). There is no view from the summit.

(30) Return to the road.

(29) Continue the descent, join the D35 and arrive at Les Gailleux. Leave the D35 and turn right for a few metres to find a path on the left. Follow it to the village of Pierre Mouton.

(31) Turn left onto the Chemin des Écoliers. At the end of the cul-de-sac, between the two houses, rejoin the GRP® which leads back to the D35.

(33) Follow it to the left and carry on to Vinay station (this final stretch is rather uninteresting and exposed to traffic) (E).

⚠️ Much of the route follows unmarked paths and tracks that are barely visible, or even non-existent. Some sections also feature steep slopes, reaching up to around 50° on the descent ((22) the most demanding part of the route, with slopes equivalent to those found on the Néron with the fixed rope), as well as areas overgrown with brambles throughout the hike.

• Excellent physical fitness, a very good sense of direction and a sound ability to read the terrain are essential. This route should not be undertaken lightly.
• The route shown on the website does not always correspond exactly to the path to be followed on the ground. The main deviations and specific sections are detailed in the description.
• There are no water sources along the route, but there is a mountain hut after Charande.
• Strongly not recommended unless the weather is dry. Snow, rain and falling leaves can make it difficult to read the terrain, which is already very challenging.
• Route completed on 12/09/26, bivouac at Charande (2 hours from Engins, then 9 hours to reach Vinay the following day without any extended breaks)