This easily accessed summit is located on a ridge between the "Vallée de la Gresse" and the Vercors plateau. It offers a breathtaking view on Belledonne, Les Rousses and a bit further Les Ecrins.
Description
(S) (Start point) Park your vehicle at the "Parking des Barnets", on the road to the "Stade de Neige" of Lans en Vercors. Take the large trail in front which leads to the "Refuge des Allières".
(1). Continue straight ahead until you reach a trail crossroad. Follow the trail waymarked with red and white stripes (trail GR91). You reach a second crossroad.
Turn left. (2) A sign indicates "Col de l'Arc". Follow the path waymarked in yellow;after about 10 minutes you head out of the forest and start climbing;after a hairpin bend, you reach the alpine pasture. You then walk almost horizontally up to the "Col de l'Arc".
(3). At the "Col de l'Arc" pass, a sign indicates the different directions. For the "Pic Saint Michel" follow the path on the left, along but at some distance from the ridge. It is waymarked in yellow and with cairns from place to place, and reaches the "Pic Saint Michel" summit without difficulty.
(4) To go down, continue on the trail, still waymarked in yellow. You head North and reach "Combe Oursière".
(5) The path then makes a 90-degree left turn and heads West, goes through the mountain pasture and after a series of switchbacks, heads back to the "Refuge des Allières".
(1). You then take the path back to the parking.
Waypoints
- S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,292 m
- 1 : km 1.34 - alt. 1,433 m - Refuge des Alliéres
- 2 : km 2.63 - alt. 1,525 m - Crossroad trail "Col de l'Arc"
- 3 : km 3.59 - alt. 1,727 m - Col de l'Arc - Col de l'Arc
- 4 : km 4.63 - alt. 1,919 m - Pic Saint Michel
- 5 : km 6.43 - alt. 1,610 m - Combe Oursière
- S/E : km 8.68 - alt. 1,291 m
Useful Information
The Vercors massif has a few watering places. One of them is located on this trail, under the crossroad between the GR91 and the "Col de l'Arc" trail. The water is fresh.
The "Refuge des Allières" offers a pleasant stop, especially when the weather is hot, but it is also open most of the year and welcomes tourists and hikers in a splendid house typical of Vercors.
Please note that the cliffs on the "Vallée de la Gresse" side, namely the East side, are very abrupt, with a steep precipice. If you hike with your children, keep an eye on them and prevent them from venturing close to the cliff's edge. This is also true at the summit of the "Pic Saint Michel".
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
Visit the Vercors plateau and its landmarks, its towns and villages such as Villard de Lans, Saint Nizier du Moucherotte and Autrans, famous for the 1968 Olympics Games.
