Walk via the Haut-Plateaux du Vercors

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No roads, no villages. The scarcity of surface water has prevented a permanent human presence.
The main activities that you are likely to meet in the Reserve area are grazing, forestry and walking. Other activities such as scientific research, hunting, etc also take place.

The Hauts-Plateaux Natural Reserve nestles at the heart of the Vercors Park, in its highest and wildest area. With little signposting, no real refuges but unmanned shelter-cabins. These conditions may seem restrictive at first sight, but they provide the guarantee of total immersion in this rich, preserved natural environment. A luxury in today's "over equipped" society, that this variant lets you discover.

3 steps

Description

A variant to Grand Tour du Vercors, the Hauts-Plateaux crossing is a 55 kilometre trail at the heart of the Natural Reserve.
Created in 1985, the Reserve nestles at the heart of the Vercors Park. With its 17,000 hectares, it is the largest Natural Land Reserve in mainland France.
Whilst the Reserve retains a wild aspect, it requires daily management by the Vercors Park, in collaboration with local institutions (NFO, towns) and the professional users of the land. Work is regularly carried out to preserve the fauna, flora, building heritage; to facilitate the work of the breeders and farmers, tap water sources... Rangers carry out the main takes on the Reserve: scientific work, welcome, information, environmental education, nature protection...
Although it is open to all, the Reserve still needs to be protected, respected and cared for by visitors...
For Practical information: see "Recommendations".

Departure : Corrençon-en-Vercors (village)
Arrival : Châtillon-en-Diois (village)
Towns crossed : Corrençon-en-Vercors, Saint-Andéol, Saint-Agnan-en-Vercors, Gresse-en-Vercors, Chichilianne, Romeyer, Laval-d'Aix, and Châtillon-en-Diois

Forecast

Altimetric profile

Recommandations

Nature doesn't belong to anyone, and its use is shared by all.
Take part in protecting the Vercors Hauts-Plateaux by complying with the regulations:
- Camping prohibited: bivouacs are authorised from 5pm to 9am.
- Fires prohibited.
- Dogs prohibited, even on leads.
- No flower picking.
- Mountain biking is restricted to certain itineraries.
The trails do not hold any major difficulties in good weather. However, bad weather may make direction-finding very difficult.
In summer, one of the main difficulties in this crossing is managing water resources.
Sources are often dry, find out about their state before leaving on the Vercors Rando website under the Info Source heading.
Don't hesitate to ask the professionals who have perfect knowledge of the sector.
Warning, no or reduced mobile phone networks!
Ensure that the fauna is not scared by your presence. Observe it from a distance, especially in winter, when food resources are scarce and animals weak.
Also respect the work of shepherds by going around flocks: do not enter shepherd cabins, or sheep pens, and keep well away from the dogs that protect the flocks.
Use the installed passages to cross fences, close gates and barriers, stay on the marked trails.
Stay on the marked trails and respect private property.
Have a great stay in the Haut-Plateaux du Vercors!