Crête de la Ferrière

Departure: Meet at Col de L'Arzelier in the commune of Château Bernard. There are several parking lots in the resort. Look for the "Col de l'Arzelier" sign (1155m) and follow the signs for "Pré du Playnet". A wide path leads you to the "Les Anémones" sign.


1) From "Les Anémones", take the right-hand path into a thick fir forest. A gradual climb through the forest quickly takes you up to the top of the mountain and the "Pré du Playnet" sign. Once here, you can take a rest at the picnic table or choose to walk a little further to the viewpoint. To do this, turn right at the signpost and walk for a hundred metres or so to find the view of Mont Aiguille and the Trièves (be careful, you're on the edge of a cliff, so don't get too close to the edge). Turn around to find the "Pré du Playnet" sign.

2) From "Pré du Playnet" head for "Combe Ravier", taking the path heading north, which takes you past the cliffs, where the view is magnificent. On your right, a view of the Trièves; on your left, a view of the Vercors and Les Deux Soeurs. Continue along the path into the forest, where a gradual descent takes place. Then comes a steeper descent, ending in a succession of small bends until you reach the "Combe Ravier" sign.

3) From "Combe Ravier", a track descends on your right, leave it to continue straight downhill. A wide forest track descends into the forest. Follow it all the way down (caution: the forest track is used by maintenance vehicles and can be very damaged.) Once you've reached the main asphalt road, cross it to return to the forest. This path climbs back up and avoids the road. Further on, you'll come to an intersection with the road: go down to the left, then immediately take the forest track which bends to the right.

4) From combe ravier, continue straight ahead on the downhill track. A large forest track leads down to the bottom. Be careful, there's a marked path on the right which will help you avoid a hole in the track. When you reach the tarmac road, cross the stream and go straight ahead. A path leads off into the forest, follow it until you find a few houses and then the road again. At the intersection with the road, turn left to find a small path on the right at the next bend. Follow the signs to the "Les Anémones" sign you passed earlier.

5) From "Les Anémones", follow the signs for "Col de l'Arzelier" for a further hundred metres, until you reach the parking lot where you left your car.