Le Pas de la Balme

The original meaning of the word Pas is Passage. Here the Pas de la Balme is one of many passages linking the valley to the Vercors plateau.
Departure: From the "Parking de Mauret" at the Col de l'Arzelier in the commune of Château Bernard. There is a large parking lot where you can leave your car. You'll see the "Mauret" sign. Follow the signs for the "refuge de la Soldanelle". There's a steep climb up to the refuge. You'll pass a succession of small bends in the forest. Once you've reached the refuge, you'll see the "Refuge de la Soldanelle" sign (1500m).

1) From "Le refuge de la Soldanelle" head for "Pré Achard", for which you'll need to turn left to climb quickly under the Deux Soeurs. This long route takes you up to Pré Achard, where you'll find a panoramic picnic area.

2) From "Pré Achard" take the path towards "Les Poules". This path runs under the Vercors cliffs. It's very pleasant, with a magnificent view of Mont Aiguille in the background. This long path gradually descends over many kilometers. You'll come to the "Les Poules" sign.

3) From the "les Poules" sign, follow the signs for "Mulet du Curé". There's a steep climb up to the Pas de la Balme cliff. Keep your eyes peeled for ibex! You'll soon come to the "Mulet du Curé" sign.

4) From the "Mulet du Curé", head in the direction of the Pas de la Balme, taking the path that climbs to your right. This is the most complex part of your outing. There is a steep climb with vertiginous passages. The path skirts the cliffs and takes you up a considerable 1 km of ascent. The rest of the way is relatively flat and follows the rock face. You'll soon reach the top of your exit, where you'll find the "Pas de la Balme" sign.

5) Once you've enjoyed the view, you can extend your outing by making a round trip to the Tête des Chaudières, a summit not far from the Pas de la Balme that gives you a view of the whole Vercors. If you don't want to continue, you can turn back via the Pas de La Balme. You'll need to follow the signs for the "Mulet du Curé" and then the "Les Poules" signpost. Take care on the descent, as there may be a risk of falling on the rocks.

6) At the "Les Poules" signpost, follow the signs for "Font Bessou", continuing downhill through a beautiful forest. You'll also find a small spring in the forest near the path. This path takes you to the "Font Bessou" sign. From "Font Bessou" continue along the path towards "Font du mas", continuing through the fir forest, which then turns into a deciduous forest. Follow a wide forest track to the next signpost "Font du Mas". From "Font du Mas" follow the signs for "Mauret", 1.9km from your position. Follow the track back to your starting point.