Les Crêtes de la Molière from Autrans

A diverse hike: forests, ridges, vast panoramic views...

Technical sheet

4098420
A Autrans walk posted on 28/01/16 by Tamtraductions. Last update : 07/04/16
  • Snowshoeing
    Activity: Snowshoeing
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.97 km
  • ◔
    Author’s time: 6 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 626 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 632 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,704 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,076 m
View from the ridge

Description

Start from Le Truc hamlet, from the sqaure with a wash house.

(S/F) With the wash house to your right, go straight up the road opposite heading north-east and following "route du Guinchet".

(1) After roughly 400 m, take a path to the right heading uphill opposite the slope. At the first junction, take a left onto the GRP "Sentier des Quatre Montagnes" for about 150 m.

(2) Leave the GRP and head right up a steady slope.

(3) At the place called Obereaux (high point 1508), cross a forest trail and continue uphill on the other side through undergrowth. Go past a right turn, a hairpin turn on the left and, after 400 m you'll reach Pas de l'Ours. The ridge with view over "plateau de la Molière" takes shape.

(4) Head left following the ridge, pass by Sous Charande (5) and keep going along the ridge reaching Charande.

(6) Head north along the ridge to reach "Pas du Tracollet".

(7) Turn right onto a trail heading down towards "plateau de la Molière". The trail smoothly heads uphill (north-north-east) reaching Molière car park (inaccessible by cars in the winter).

(8) Opposite the viewpoint indicator, take a flat trail on the left-hand side leading to Plénouze. Ignore the trails heading off to the right.

(9) At the junction, climb up to "plateau de Plénouze" (10). Backtrack.

(9) Leave the trail you took to get here, and head down to the right.

(11) Cross a forest trail in Font Chaude et continue on the trail on the other side. At the junction with the trail that heads up to Plénouze, take a hairpin turn left and keep heading downhill due south-west. You'll reach the road on the right-hand side that leads to Ronins hamlet.

(12) Take a left and follow a flat path suitable for vehicles.

(13) At Villeneuve hamlet crossing, keep going straight ahead along a tarmac road.

(14) Go past a holiday centre on the left and keep going straight returning to your starting point Le Truc hamlet (S/F).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,101 m
  2. 1 : km 0.55 - alt. 1,138 m - Take path to the right
  3. 2 : km 0.82 - alt. 1,202 m - Leave the GRP, head right, uphill
  4. 3 : km 2.97 - alt. 1,526 m - Cross the forest trail
  5. 4 : km 4.06 - alt. 1,653 m - Pas de l'Ours
  6. 5 : km 4.51 - alt. 1,676 m - Sous Charande
  7. 6 : km 4.99 - alt. 1,700 m - Charande
  8. 7 : km 5.64 - alt. 1,641 m - Pas du Tracollet
  9. 8 : km 6.42 - alt. 1,633 m - Table d'orientation de La Molière
  10. 9 : km 8.03 - alt. 1,628 m - Junction leading to Plénouze
  11. 10 : km 8.1 - alt. 1,633 m - Plénouze
  12. 11 : km 8.64 - alt. 1,552 m - Cross the forest trail
  13. 12 : km 10.56 - alt. 1,130 m - Head left
  14. 13 : km 11.48 - alt. 1,113 m - Villeneuve, keep going straight
  15. 14 : km 12.79 - alt. 1,078 m - Holiday centre, straight on
  16. S/E : km 13.97 - alt. 1,100 m

Useful Information

The hike was performed with snow shoes but can be achieved by foot when there's no snow.

Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

During the walk or to do/see around

A detour can be made to gïte de la Molière (beneath Pas de l'Ours (4)) for a bite to eat or a sleep over. However be careful, the slope is steep and not recommended if the ground is covered with snow or ice. In any case, book in advance.

(8) Picnic tables and a view point over the entire northern Alps mountain range with viewpoint indicator.
From crête de La Molière (ridge), you can watch marmots, pelegrine falcons and incidentally, chamois.

Attractive spring flora throughout the plateau.

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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.

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