N°8 Romanche – Grand tour du canton La Grave Villar-d'Arène
Typical XC, this beautiful loop takes you through all the hamlets of the canton of La Grave. On a balcony on the southern slopes of La Grave, you have a front row seat to admire La Meije and its glaciers.
Itinerary of the “MTB in Oisans” guide (Oisans Tourisme)
Departure/arrival (loop): La Grave 1450 m
Duration: 3 hour
Distance: 30 km
Highest point: 2069 m
Lowest point: 1438 m
Positive elevation: 1109 m
Vertical drop: -1109 m
Technique: 3/4
Endurance: 3/4
Map: IGN Top 25 Valloire 3435 ET and Meije Pelvoux 3436 ET.
ROUTE
> This route from La Grave, from Chazelet or Villar d'Arène is marked FFC (n°8 – The grand tour of the canton).
> From the Guides Office of La Grave, take the main road on the right until you leave the village. Go down the small road towards the arboretum. Cross the bridge and take the path on the left that runs alongside the river towards Villar d'Arène.
> We enter Villar d’Arène. From the church square, aim for the uphill street on the right (in the prohibited direction), which becomes a path a few hundred meters further on. We then arrive on the small road which leads to Pied du Col.
> Arriving at the hamlet, you can take a detour via the Pas de l'Âne and the bottom of the gravel pit. Back at Pied du Col, take the path which goes up towards Les Cours.
> At Les Cours, turn right onto the path which goes up towards Lac du Pontet (path for 1 km, road for 2,5 km, then steep path to the lake). Go around the lake to the left to take a new steep climb which continues with a magnificent single track joining the Aiguillon (2060 m). We then begin a beautiful descent towards Entraigues / Valfroide.
> Cross the bridge, then follow the track and finally the road to Valfroide, Les Hières, then Ventelon.
> Arriving in Ventelon, go up to the right towards the hamlet of Clots. To shorten the route, you can reach Les Terrasses by continuing straight on the road.
> In the hamlet of Clots, turn left onto a magnificent single track which crosses through the slate quarries (be careful, exposed passage). Continue the crossing to the Chazelet ski slopes then gradually descend again
to the station snack bar. Go back 50 m to the start of the ski lift and reach the village via the track which starts on the right.
> Cross the Chazelet, then go back down to La Grave via Les Terrasses following the GR 54.
Departure/arrival (loop): La Grave 1450 m
Duration: 3 hour
Distance: 30 km
Highest point: 2069 m
Lowest point: 1438 m
Positive elevation: 1109 m
Vertical drop: -1109 m
Technique: 3/4
Endurance: 3/4
Map: IGN Top 25 Valloire 3435 ET and Meije Pelvoux 3436 ET.
ROUTE
> This route from La Grave, from Chazelet or Villar d'Arène is marked FFC (n°8 – The grand tour of the canton).
> From the Guides Office of La Grave, take the main road on the right until you leave the village. Go down the small road towards the arboretum. Cross the bridge and take the path on the left that runs alongside the river towards Villar d'Arène.
> We enter Villar d’Arène. From the church square, aim for the uphill street on the right (in the prohibited direction), which becomes a path a few hundred meters further on. We then arrive on the small road which leads to Pied du Col.
> Arriving at the hamlet, you can take a detour via the Pas de l'Âne and the bottom of the gravel pit. Back at Pied du Col, take the path which goes up towards Les Cours.
> At Les Cours, turn right onto the path which goes up towards Lac du Pontet (path for 1 km, road for 2,5 km, then steep path to the lake). Go around the lake to the left to take a new steep climb which continues with a magnificent single track joining the Aiguillon (2060 m). We then begin a beautiful descent towards Entraigues / Valfroide.
> Cross the bridge, then follow the track and finally the road to Valfroide, Les Hières, then Ventelon.
> Arriving in Ventelon, go up to the right towards the hamlet of Clots. To shorten the route, you can reach Les Terrasses by continuing straight on the road.
> In the hamlet of Clots, turn left onto a magnificent single track which crosses through the slate quarries (be careful, exposed passage). Continue the crossing to the Chazelet ski slopes then gradually descend again
to the station snack bar. Go back 50 m to the start of the ski lift and reach the village via the track which starts on the right.
> Cross the Chazelet, then go back down to La Grave via Les Terrasses following the GR 54.
