Forests and lakes in the Belledonne balconies

Go on this great loop on the foothills of Belledonne, between majestic forests and discovery of the first French National Nature Reserve at Lake Luitel.

From the parking, go up the road for 200 m until the post "Montchaffrey". Turn left on the Oeilly path which goes up in the forest and joins a wide track. Shortly after the post "Fontaine du Mulet", turn on a path that goes down and continue on a small road that leads to the site of the old chartreuse de Prémol [Ruins and forest house, place of relaxation and picnic]. Continue until you reach the road to Chamrousse (D111). Go along it for 80m and take on the left (caution) a path that rises above the road, intersects it higher [caution] and leads to the post "l'Exutoire". [It is possible to walk around the Luitel lake on a discovery trail passing by the park house 400m to the south. Respect the regulations of the Nature Reserve and the indications on the site]. From then on, the itinerary follows the GR®738 Haute Traversée de Belledonne for more than 5 km on a wide forest trail. Shortly after the baraque Pagnot, turn right on a downhill path. Turn left under the high tension line. The path is quite steep and leaves the forest to reach the Madeleine pass [orientation table for the panorama extending from Taillefer to Vercors]. Continue to the right on the track between the meadows until the post "la Croisée" where you leave the GR®738 by turning to the right in direction of Montchaffrey. At the post "Chenevier", take on the right a very stony path, pass the millstone, vestige of the mill of Chenevier and go up to arrive on a beautiful path lined with big stones in sight of Montchaffrey. Join the parking lot.