Villard-de-Lans / Arzelier pass (stage 2)
Villard-de-Lans
2. Villard-de-Lans / Arzelier pass (stage 2)
6h
17,1km
+953m
-882m
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This stretch of the Grand Tour du Vercors for hikers sticks to the Eastern cliff trail along a narrow but well-marked path across scree and piles of fallen rocks, clinging beneath the imposing cliffs of the eastern barrier of the Vercors (including the Playnet rocks). The view along this cliff path is never less than splendid, although some sections can be difficult since the trail is particularly exposed to the vagaries of the weather. At the crossroads known as Tours du Playnet, descend towards Saint-Andéol to reach the village.
4 points of interest
Athlete training
The Fauge valley is regularly used for training by Vercors athletes. "We often have long training sessions during the long, hot summer days, when biathletes do most of their annual training volume. The aim is not to look for performance but to get your body working for a long time at low intensity to develop your capillary network and multiply your mitochondria, etc... To combine these training days with shooting, I sometimes ask a coach to take my equipment to the shooting range in Corrençon, and meet him there after a training run". Marie Dorin-Habert
Abri de la Fauge - PNRV Shelter of the Fauge
The Fauge Shelter is a large, unguarded hut. With a fireplace, it can accommodate 20 people. It is named after the valley of the Fauge.
A la descente du Col vert - S.M Booth Col Vert
Between the Roc Cornafion (2049 m) to the north and the Gerbier ridges (2019 m) in the south, the Col Vert is a breach at 1766 m of altitude allowing to join the Trièves. Formerly, this passage was taken by the Trièvois who would buy in the spring and autumn their cows of the city race at the fairs of Quatre Montagnes, while Du Trièves, Claix and Varces rose from the brandy and wine for the inhabitants of the Vercors. The ruin resting on the rock of the Vert Pass testifies to a place of arrest for these exchanges.
Arêtes du Gerbier - m_rocheblave Arêtes du Gerbier
The Arêtes du Gerbier culminate at 2109 m, and form impressive 400 m high cliffs. It is a popular place for mountaineering. It is here that the famous mountaineer Lionel Terray made a fatal fall with his friend Marc Martinetti, on September 19, 1965.
Description
- From the Cochettes car park in Villard de Lans, head towards the Pont de l'Amour and the Fauge waterfall. Continue south through the Fauge valley towards the Collet des Clots and then the Fauge sheepfold.
- From here, head north towards Clos du Four and then up to Col Vert pass.
- From the pass, descend to the other side via the Pas de l'Âne pass, then walk along the foot of the cliffs to the Pierre de deux Heures.
- Continue along the path at the foot of the cliffs to Pré Achard, dominated by Grande Moucherolle.
- From here, start the descent towards the Arzelier pass.
- Departure : Les Cochettes (car park) - Villard-de-Lans
- Arrival : Arzelier pass
- Towns crossed : Villard-de-Lans, Saint-Paul-de-Varces, Le Gua, and Château-Bernard
Forecast
Altimetric profile
Sensitive areas
Along your trek, you will go through sensitive areas related to the presence of a specific species or environment. In these areas, an appropriate behaviour allows to contribute to their preservation. For detailed information, specific forms are accessible for each area.
Allières-La Fauge summer pasture
Alpine pasture without guard dogs
- Impacted practices:
- ,
- Sensitivity periods:
- JunJulAugSep
- Contact:
Cornafion summer pasture
Alpine pasture protected from the end of June to the end of September
- Impacted practices:
- , ,
- Sensitivity periods:
- JunJulAugSep
- Contact:
Recommandations
Be careful in winter: the route is impassable; in spring it is very tricky due to snow slides.
From the directional sign Pré Achard, you can—and must in winter—take an easier route through the villages so you can continue your journey towards Gresse-en-Vercors.
Use the installed passages to cross fences, close gates and barriers.
Stay on the marked trails and respect private property.
The trails can be slippery in rainy conditions!
Do not cross hay meadows or cultivated fields.
Ensure that the fauna is not scared by your presence.
Respect sheep farms, refuges and cabin shelters.
Collect your waste, think nature.
You are in summer pastures, and may meet herd protection and guard dogs (patous). Always ensure that you go a long way round the animals, calmly so that the dog can identify you, do not pat or threaten them.
From the directional sign Pré Achard, you can—and must in winter—take an easier route through the villages so you can continue your journey towards Gresse-en-Vercors.
Use the installed passages to cross fences, close gates and barriers.
Stay on the marked trails and respect private property.
The trails can be slippery in rainy conditions!
Do not cross hay meadows or cultivated fields.
Ensure that the fauna is not scared by your presence.
Respect sheep farms, refuges and cabin shelters.
Collect your waste, think nature.
You are in summer pastures, and may meet herd protection and guard dogs (patous). Always ensure that you go a long way round the animals, calmly so that the dog can identify you, do not pat or threaten them.
Herd protection dogs
In the mountain pastures, the guard dogs are there to protect the herds from predators.
When I hike, I adapt my behaviour by going around the herd and pausing so that the dog can identify me.
Click here to see the video : c'est quoi au juste un chien de protection ?
Information desks
101 place Mure-Ravaud, 38250 Villard-de-Lans
43, route du Grand-Veymont, 38650 Gresse-en-Vercors
Transport
By train : Grenoble train station
The OùRA multimodal route planner provides information about all the connections between regional trains, urban transport and departmental bus lines : https://www.oura.com/
By bus : With Regional coaches T65 or T64 for Lans-en-Vercors to Villard de Lans.
By hitch hiking : You can get there / get back by hitching a lift with the Rezo Pouce network from Autrans-Méaudre, Lans-en-Vercors, Grenoble and Royans-Vercors (you can find all the stops in the Vercors on www.rezopouce.fr).
Carpooling :
Offer your services or book your carpooling on the regional Mov'Ici platform.
The OùRA multimodal route planner provides information about all the connections between regional trains, urban transport and departmental bus lines : https://www.oura.com/
By bus : With Regional coaches T65 or T64 for Lans-en-Vercors to Villard de Lans.
By hitch hiking : You can get there / get back by hitching a lift with the Rezo Pouce network from Autrans-Méaudre, Lans-en-Vercors, Grenoble and Royans-Vercors (you can find all the stops in the Vercors on www.rezopouce.fr).
Carpooling :
Offer your services or book your carpooling on the regional Mov'Ici platform.
Access and parking
After the Voreppe motorway toll, take the Villard-de-Lans exit (RN 532); before the village of Sassenage, turn right towards the Vercors.
At Lans-en-Vercors, follow the D 531 towards Villard-de-Lans.
From the south, after the Baume d'Hostun motorway toll, follow signs for Saint-Nazaire-en-Royans, then take the RD 531 towards Villard-de-Lans.
At Lans-en-Vercors, follow the D 531 towards Villard-de-Lans.
From the south, after the Baume d'Hostun motorway toll, follow signs for Saint-Nazaire-en-Royans, then take the RD 531 towards Villard-de-Lans.
Parking :
Les Cochettes
Report a problem or an error
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