Cols & panoramas de Chartreuse

This route offers a visit through a monumental an preserved nature: emerald green forests, raging torrents and sharp cliffs. It abounds with sporting, natural and cultural treasures: col des Mille martyrs and du Cucheron (2nd category), Cirque de Saint-Même, Grande Chartreuse museum… Check your equipment and be sure you are in a good physical condition before starting this journey. Lights and a windcheater will be useful for some parts.

(1) In Saint-Étienne-de-Crossey, take the road D49 towards Saint-Nicolas-de-Macherin, leaving the football field on your left. 1 km after St-Nicolas-de-Macherin, take right on the road D49c, towards Saint-Sixte. The road ascent slowly in the middle of pastures.
(2) After Saint-Sixte, stay on the road D49c, towards Merlas. Then, take the road D28 towards Miribel-les-Échelles. The ascent continues until the col des Mille Martyrs (884 m). After the col, start the descent to Miribel-les-Échelles.
(3) Coming out of Miribel-les-Échelles, take left on the road D49, towards Entre-deux-Guiers.
(4) In Entre-deux-Guiers, at the traffic light, take the facing street (rue Basse). At the end of the street, take right and then left on the road D520c, towards Saint-Christophe-sur-Guiers. Stay on the road D520c, cross the village of St-Christophe-sur-Guiers and follow the direction of St-Pierre-d’Entremont. After Berland, the way up to St-Pierre-d’Entremont begins. Without major difficulty, the road goes along the Guiers Vif river on several kilometers. The Pas du Frou, a rather impressive corbel arch passage, offers a beautiful view on the surrounding mountains and the valley shaped by the river.
(5) In St-Pierre-d’Entremont, in front of the tourist office, turn right towards St-Pierre-de-Chartreuse. Coming out of St-Pierre-d’Entremont, make sure you follow the road D102b, on your right, which goes up to Préversin. There begins the ascent of the col du Cucheron, the most difficult part of the itinerary: 8.5 km with a 8.3% ascending slope (up to 10%).
(6) At the col, before starting the way down to St-Pierre-de-Chartreuse, a backward glance is worthy! In St-Pierre-de-Chartreuse, ride down to St-Laurent-du-Pont on the road D512. The road goes along the gorges of the Guiers Mort river and through several tunnels where lights are useful.
(7) At St-Laurent-du-Pont, at the traffic light, take left. 150 m further, take right on the D28 towards Miribel-les-Échelles. Stay on the D28 for one of the last ascents, until the junction with the D49.
(8) There, take left on the D49, towards St-Étienne-de-Crossey and go back to your starting point via St-Roch and Ture. At La Rossetière, at the roundabout, be careful to take the chemin de la Burletière to avoid the main road. At the end of the path, go right on the D49 until the next junction. Take the chemin des prairies on your right to reach your starting point.