Vif walks

A beautiful hike, accessible in all seasons, but it is best to avoid the heat of summer. Discover the Gresse valley and the Montagne d'Uriol with its almost Mediterranean vegetation.

This short hike will take you to the ridge overlooking the Gresse valley and the Vif plain on one side, and the village of Saint-Paul-de-Varces on the other, with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains: Belledonne, Vercors and Chartreuse.

After a few modifications, I am once again offering this enjoyable hike on the hillsides, which will allow you to discover unexpected aspects of the A51 motorway as well as interesting views of the eastern side of the Vercors. You will also discover small hamlets in the south of the Grenoble metropolitan area.

One of the most beautiful viewpoints over Grenoble, but you have to work for it – the climb is steep! Definitely avoid this route after or during rain. Walking poles are highly recommended. The difficulty of this hike is concentrated in the 300 m of elevation gain before the summit, where the slope through the undergrowth is very steep, on soft, slippery ground with only faint tracks in places. The descent is then very gradual and pleasant, which is why it’s worth taking the route in this direction.

A pleasant, wooded walk that takes hikers to several points of interest: the Roche Courbière viewpoint, offering stunning panoramic views of the lower Drac valley and the Vercors and Chartreuse mountain ranges, or the ruins of the Priory of Saint-Michel de Connexe. After passing a cave, the second part of the descent is refreshing and dominated by water, featuring a series of waterfalls, meandering streams and whirlpools!

This route allows you to discover the eastern slope of the Vercors as well as the view of the Gresse Valley and the massifs to the east (Taillefer, Belledonne). The vegetation on the eastern slope of Le Pieu is very characteristic of Mediterranean regions, even though we are in the heart of the Alps. Moderator's addition on 17/05/2021: Please note: parking problem at the start. See suggestion at the beginning of the description and the comment dated 17/05/2021

This easy circular route between the villages of Saint-Georges-de-Commiers and Notre-Dame-de-Commiers will allow you to discover the Drac valley, the old La Mure railway line and a beautiful viewpoint at the Pierre du Soleil orientation table.

This easy hike, just outside the city, will first take you to a little-known viewpoint, La Roche Courbière, which offers a surprising view of the lower Drac valley, the Grenoble metropolitan area and the surrounding mountains such as the Vercors and the Chartreuse. The route then takes you to the ruins of the Priory of Saint-Michel de Connexe, which dates back to the 11th century.

A short walk in the Isles du Drac Nature Reserve for lovers of flora and fauna. Best done early in the morning or late in the evening to spot wildlife such as roe deer, does, foxes and herons.

This route allows you to explore, in half a day, the rather wild wooded ridge of the Grand Brion, situated between Vercors and Matheysine. Fortunately, beautiful meadows offset the austere nature of this forested massif.

A short walk suitable for all seasons, offering a chance to discover the many facets of the Grenoble conurbation. The route takes you through the village of Saillant du Gua and its numerous hamlets, the Gresse Valley and a little-known waterfall, which usually flows in spring when the snow melts. Please note that this walk is easily accessible by public transport via TAG bus route 17; get off at the terminus.

A very beautiful hike offering superb views of the Grenoble region and the Vercors from the summit.

A circular route along old, little-used paths, allowing you to discover the natural wonders around the spectacular Crête des Crocs: the magnificent Arche des Crocs, the Pierre Fendue, the "Main", the Rocher de l'Ours and its unique view of the Roc Cornafion, and the Crête des Crocs and its bird's eye view of the Col de l'Arc and the Pic Saint-Michel. The main difficulty is finding the route, as the paths are very poorly marked. Please note: see practical information.

A short half-day walk that will take you through the hamlets in the commune of Le Gua and offer some views of the Gresse Valley.

A lovely walk to do in spring or autumn, taking in the Pâquier chapel, an orientation table with a 360° view of the surrounding mountains, and passing by Pâquier Castle and the alpaca farm.