The Massif de la Chartreuse is a mountain area
northern to Grenoble (railway station, youth hostel).
It is better known because of its distiller and the monastery.
The rocks are made of limestone, the water has dug large caves in the rocks.
In the south and east, it has a steep slope. The most of the mountain area
belong to the Parc naturel régional de Chartreuse,
at the east part exist the Réserve Naturelle des Hauts de
Chartreuse. There are some huts in the proteced area, bivouacing is
allowed from 7 pm to 9 am. At the plateau, drinking water is rare, so you have
to fill up your bottles at every source.
Grenoble-Abri Pleynon
The trail starts at the bank of the Isère-river
in Grenoble. There is a cable railway to the
Bastille at the other side. The waymark red-white
(GR9) ascends the slope, leads up the stairway and passes some defences. It
crosses a bridge and a port (which is closed during the night) and reaches
a car parking. The GR9 follows a broad and sunny dirt road in direction of
the Mont Jalla summit. Before it reaches the top, it
turns right and follows a rocky foot path. After reaching la
Bergerie, the GR9 leads on a dirt road to the Col de
Vence. Here you can fill up your bottles, water is rare at the
limestone mountains. A small path ascends at the other side of the road. It
leads to the Fort St. Eynard. It was builded to protect
Grenoble. It is situated 1000m above the city
and is a nice viewpoint to the alps. The GR9 follows the ridge, passes some
other defences and descends to Sappey. In the village,
the GR9 turns right before the town hall. First, the GR9 follows a forest
road, then it ascends in zig-zag in direction of
Chamchaude. The GR9 passese the Habert
de Chamchaude. It is a small hut, a possible overnight accommodation.
The GR9 turns right and leads northwards. It climbs down to a pass and
ascends to the alp l'Emeindra du Dessous. The path
lead through pastures and forest to the Col de la
Faila. The next overnight accommodation is the Abri
Pleynon. It is situated near the road to the Col du
Coq. You have to take water from a stream downside the road (Don't
forget your water filter).
Abri Pleynon-Abri l'Alpette
The ascend to the Col du Coq is effected on the road.
The pass is closed during wintertime, the surrounding area is used for skiing.
The GR9 turns left, leads through forest and pastures. It passes a source
and reaches the Col du Ayes. A small path
ascends the slope in zig-zag and passes a cave. Now the path gets rocky,
it crosses a small bridge, climbs up some rocks and leads through small
rock crevices. It reaches the north side of Dent des
Crolles, here you can walk to the summit. The GR9 leads in direction
of the Cabane de Bellefont. During summertime, it is
occupated by the sheperd. The GR9 ascends to the Col de
Bellefont(1906m). It is the highest pass in the Massif
de la Chartreuse. After the GR9 traverses the pass, it leads through
pastures, passes another hut of a sheperd and leads in a forest. At
Alpettaz, it follows a rocky path, passes the
Alpette de la Dame (sheperd hut) and descends to the
Vallon de Pratce. It climbs up to the
Pas de l'Echelle and crosses a plateaux. Afterwards,
it passes a source and leads in a forest. It reaches the Abri
l'Alpette. The hut is a old barn, there are some benchs and a water
tap (sic). It is feeded by a source near the hut.
Abri l'Alpette-Château
The next morning, we left the GR9 at the Col de
l'Alpette. A small path leads in direction of Pas de
Barres. The path ascends the slope, there are some rocky steps, later
you have to use a latter and some iron steps. At the plateaux, the path leads in
direction of the summit. Approx. 1km before you reach the
Mont Granier, another path turns left. It follows the
ridge westwards, you have a nice view down to the valley. Later the path
descends in zag-zag and downwards leads through forest . In la
Plange you join the GR9 again. The GR9 leads to
Épernay, here is a small supermarekt, you can buy
bread and other food. A PR follows alongside the road,
at a bridge, it turns right and afterwards, it leads alongside the stream.
The is a rest point at the bank of the stream. Down in the valley, the
PR joins the road again. It leads to
le Pont du Lac, here it turns left, crosses the stream
and leads to St-Pierre d'Entremont. Here is another
supermarket, a post office and tourist office. The stream divides the village,
the left part belongs to the Departement Savoie, the
right part to the Departement Isère.
The PR crosses the stream at the Eglise
St-Alexis. It follows the tarred road into the valley. At the power
station, it crosses another stream and ascends the slope. Because there are
not Gîte or huts until the Col de
Boviant, you have to use a tent or a bivouac sack.
Château-St-Pierre de Chartreuse
The forest road leads in direction of Château.
In the village, a tarred road leads to the car park
Parking de la Combe des Eparres. A rocky path ascends
the small valley, after approx. 1h it reaches pastures. It ascends to the
Col de Boviant. Here is a simple shelter and a source.
The Tour de Chartreuse turns right and descends the
slope. It traverses the slope, there a few viewpoints, you will see the
monastery. At the beginning of the valley, the Tour de
Chartreuse turns left and leads on the road to the
Porte de l'Enclos. It crosses the river and ascends
the slope and leads to La Diat. Here is the
Gîte Les 4 Chemins. In St-Pierre
de Chartreuse exists a supermarket and a baker (10min to walk).
St-Pierre de Chartreuse-Grenoble
The trail leads alongside the road D512 in direction of the Col de Porte. Behind St-Hugues de Chartreuse, it turns right, follows a dirt road to le Pendu and descends. It crosses the road und leads to a saw mill. At le Fontail, it turns right and ascends the slope. Afterwards, a broad forest road leads alongside the road to the Col de Porte. The surrounding area is used for skiing during wintertime, there are some ugly overnight lodgings and cableways. The Traversée de Chartreuse leads to Sappey. Here, the GR9 leads back to Grenoble.