The Vallons du Guiers is one of the most walkable corners of the Chartreuse mountains, and one of the least crowded. The valley is formed where two rivers — the Guiers Vif and the Guiers Mort — meet around Entre-deux-Guiers, between the villages of Les Échelles and Saint-Laurent-du-Pont. Within a short drive of each other you can walk a shaded riverside path, follow a 17th-century road carved through a gorge, stand beneath waterfalls in a limestone cirque, or climb to a viewpoint over the whole valley.
This is Chartreuse hiking for beginners as much as for experienced walkers. The valley floor is gentle, the waymarking is generally good — look for the yellow paint marks used on local paths and the red-and-white marks of the long-distance GR routes — and almost every walk below starts from a village you can drive to and park in. The mountains above are a different matter: they are steep, rocky limestone, and they deserve respect, proper boots and an early start.
This guide organises the best hikes in Vallons du Guiers by difficulty, so you can pick honestly according to your fitness and your group. Distances, elevation gains and durations given here come from published trail listings (AllTrails, Komoot, Visorando and the Chartreuse tourist office); where a figure could not be verified, that is flagged rather than guessed.
Easy Walks in Vallons du Guiers for Beginners and Families
Cirque de Saint-Même waterfall walk: the valley’s classic easy outing
If you only do one walk in the valley, make it this one. The Cirque de Saint-Même is a vast limestone amphitheatre at the head of the Guiers Vif valley, near Saint-Pierre-d’Entremont, a short drive north-east of Entre-deux-Guiers. It is the source of the Guiers Vif, and its cliffs feed a series of waterfalls — the Grande Cascade, the Cascade des Sources, the Cascade Isolée and the Pisse du Guiers.
The tourist-office route listed on Cirkwi is graded Easy: 3 km in about 1 hour 30 minutes, starting from Pont Drugey at Saint-Pierre-d’Entremont. The path climbs through forest to a lookout over the Pisse du Guiers, then descends — steeply and over tree roots in places — to the Grande Cascade and its wooden footbridge, before returning across the flat, grassy floor of the cirque beside the river. AllTrails lists a closely related waterfalls circuit of 2.9 km with 191 m of elevation gain, taking 1 to 1.5 hours and rated moderately challenging, which reflects that short, steep, rooty descent rather than the overall distance. Whichever listing you follow, this is a short walk, not a mountain expedition — but it is not a pushchair path, and the paths are often wet.
Practical notes, verified: the trailhead is at the Cirque de Saint-Même itself, where paid parking is typically in effect in high season, from May to September, and it pays to arrive early at weekends. The tourist-office listing gives the open period for the route as 1 April to 31 October, subject to favourable weather. Dogs are tolerated on a lead on the trails at the bottom of the cirque and on the flat area, under an exemption from the usual ban in the Hauts de Chartreuse Nature Reserve — but the reserve itself begins here, so keep dogs on a lead and stay on marked paths. Bivouacs and fires are forbidden in the cirque.
Entre-deux-Guiers to Chapelle Béatrice de Savoie loop: a gentle riverside stroll
For a first, confidence-building walk straight from a valley village, Komoot lists the Entre-deux-Guiers to Chapelle Béatrice de Savoie loop as an easy, family-friendly route of 4.0 km taking about 1 hour 11 minutes. It follows the Guiers river and woodland paths around Entre-deux-Guiers, the village at the meeting of the two Guiers rivers, and makes a good introduction to the valley’s gentler terrain before you attempt anything steeper.
Sur les pas de Béatrice de Savoie, Les Échelles: history on a village walk
This waymarked trail, published by Chartreuse Tourisme, starts at the Rivier’Alp leisure centre in Les Échelles — head towards the ecological swimming area, then take the path on the left and follow the canal. It climbs through meadow to the Croix des Carriers, joins the GR9 into the Menuet forest, climbs to the Col de la Voute and the Madeleine Chapel, where there are views over the valley and the Chartreuse peaks, then returns by a yellow-marked path along a stream to the first houses of Les Échelles. It is a lovely way to combine a village walk with a viewpoint, and the GR9 and yellow waymarking make navigation straightforward.
Moderate Walks in Vallons du Guiers for Regular Walkers
Entre-deux-Guiers to Old Saint-Martin Bridge loop: the valley’s best all-rounder
This is the most popular walking route around Entre-deux-Guiers on Komoot, and it is easy to see why. The Entre-deux-Guiers to Old Saint-Martin Bridge loop is a moderate 8.0 km trail taking about 2 hours 11 minutes, following the Guiers river and passing historical landmarks including the old Saint-Martin bridge itself, which crosses the Gorges du Guiers Vif. It is a proper half-day walk — long enough to feel like an achievement, gentle enough for any regular walker — and it starts and finishes in Entre-deux-Guiers, so you can end it with lunch in the village. This is the walk to choose if you want one moderate route that shows off rivers, forest and valley history together.
Gorges du Guiers Mort trail: short, dramatic and not to be underestimated
The Gorges du Guiers Mort, near Saint-Laurent-du-Pont, is a narrow gorge where the Guiers Mort river has cut between high limestone cliffs. AllTrails lists the circular trail as 2.9 km with 109 m of elevation gain, taking 30 minutes to 1 hour, and rates it moderately challenging. Do not let the short distance fool you: the listing warns that the terrain can become very slippery in wet weather, that some sections require the use of hands to progress, and that it suits hikers with good stability and children used to walking on demanding trails. This is a gorge walk, not a riverside stroll — wear boots with grip, skip it after heavy rain, and keep children close. In return you get one of the most dramatic short walks in the valley: cliffs, clear water and a sense of being deep inside the Chartreuse, all within an hour.
Cirque de Saint-Même main loop: waterfalls and viewpoints in one circuit
Walkers who enjoyed the easy waterfall walk and want more can extend to the main Cirque de Saint-Même loop. Komoot rates this loop as moderate, at approximately 10.2 km with about 467 m of elevation gain, taking between 3 hours 31 minutes and 4 hours. It takes in the four waterfalls, passes the Saint-Même Cirque Chalet, and opens out to views of the Grand Som range and the Pic de Chamechaude. Komoot also notes shorter options on the same site for less confident walkers: a 30-minute Fond du Cirque route (blue) and a 1.5-hour Cascade Trail (green). The terrain on the full loop is mixed — winding forest trails, steep and rocky descents, wet sections and tree roots, with some stretches close to cliff edges — so it needs sure-footedness and good footwear even though it is graded moderate rather than difficult. Note that a separate, longer AllTrails listing for the cirque (8.4 km, 803 m of gain, rated challenging) includes the Pas de la Mort, a narrow, steep cliffside path that is no longer maintained and is described as very dangerous in wet weather. Do not attempt the Pas de la Mort section; the waterfall loop described here is the safe, waymarked alternative.
Foot of Mont Outheran and Pointe de la Cochette: a viewpoint walk above the valley
For views without a full summit day, Visorando lists the Foot of Mont Outheran and Pointe de la Cochette walk as a moderate circular route of 4.18 miles (about 6.7 km) taking 3 hours 20 minutes, with 1,611 ft (about 491 m) of ascent and descent. It runs at the foot of Mont Outheran towards the Pointe de la Cochette, the viewpoint ridge above the valley, and is a good step up from the valley-floor walks: a sustained climb, but on a defined trail rather than a scramble. Komoot likewise describes the La Cochette Cross as a family-suitable viewpoint summit in the northern Chartreuse, accessible from Côte Barrier or Saint-Jean-de-Couz, with panoramic views over the Chartreuse heartland, the plain of Saint-Laurent-du-Pont and, on a clear day, Mont Blanc in the distance.
Challenging Walks in Vallons du Guiers for Experienced Hikers
The Sardinian Road (Voie Sarde) from Entre-deux-Guiers: history under your boots
The Voie Sarde — the Sardinian Road — is the valley’s great historic walk. Built in the 17th century as the main route between Lyon and Turin, when this was the border between France and the Duchy of Savoy, it climbs through the gorge between Saint-Christophe-sur-Guiers and Saint-Christophe-la-Grotte, past the monument to Charles Emmanuel II, Duke of Savoy. Travellers from Jean-Jacques Rousseau to Pope Pius VII used this road, and walking it still feels like stepping between two countries.
There are several versions, so choose by distance. The most complete is the Old Saint-Martin Bridge to the Sarde Road loop from Entre-deux-Guiers, listed by Komoot as difficult: 14.5 km, taking around 5 hours, following sections of the historic road over varied terrain with significant elevation gain. A shorter variant, the Sarde Road to Old Saint-Martin Bridge loop from Entre-deux-Guiers, is 10.0 km and takes about 3 hours 5 minutes. For the classic gorge section itself, Visorando publishes a circular prehistoric route via the Sardinian Way starting from the chapel car park at Saint-Christophe-la-Grotte, where there are plenty of parking spaces and a picnic area: from the far end of the car park, take the path towards the Sardinian Way monument, continue along the road to the junction with the prehistoric trail, climb the metal steps to the Sentier des Chèvres, continue to the Gerbaix viewpoint on a yellow-marked path, then return via Échaillon and Pont Saint-Martin. Note that the prehistoric-trail section of that route is closed in winter, according to Visorando’s practical information.
This is a full-day or long half-day walk with real climbing, and the gorge sections are shaded and can be slippery. It is the best challenging walk in the valley for walkers who want history as well as scenery — but save it for a dry day, start early, and carry the route on your phone or a map, as signage from the car park has been reported as patchy.
Mount Outheran Plateau: a hard summit circuit
Mont Outheran (1,686 m) is the imposing rocky spur that dominates the skyline above the valley, and its plateau circuit is the valley’s most rewarding hard walk. AllTrails lists the Mount Outheran Plateau trail as a hard, circular route of 9.2 km with 542 m of elevation gain, taking about 3.5 to 4 hours, with March to October the most popular season. Komoot warns that the summit itself is very difficult to access, involving semi-climbing, with dizzying views over the northern Chartreuse peaks, Mont Blanc, Lake Bourget and Belledonne as the reward. Treat the plateau circuit and any summit attempt as different undertakings: the circuit is a strenuous but non-technical walk for fit, experienced hikers, while the final summit spur is only for confident walkers comfortable with exposed, rocky ground. Do not attempt it in wet or icy conditions, and turn back if the weather closes in — the Chartreuse limestone is unforgiving when wet.
When to Hike in Vallons du Guiers
The best months for hiking in Vallons du Guiers are April to October, when trails are generally clear of snow and the weather is at its most stable. May to October is the window most often given for the gorge and waterfall trails, and April to August is the most popular period for the Cirque de Saint-Même waterfalls, when the water is at its fullest. Spring brings wildflowers and full rivers; summer brings shade in the gorges — the Gorges du Guiers Mort and the Voie Sarde gorge stay noticeably cool even on hot days — but also afternoon thunderstorms, so start early and watch the sky. Autumn is often the finest walking season of all: clear light, autumn colour in the forests, and far fewer people.
Winter is a different proposition. Snow and ice can linger on shaded, north-facing and high paths well after the valley floor has cleared, and gorge and cliff-edge paths become genuinely dangerous when icy. The prehistoric-trail section of the Voie Sarde route is closed in winter, and the Cirque de Saint-Même tourist-office route is listed only from April to October, subject to favourable weather. As a general rule, stick to low valley-floor walks in winter, check the forecast before you go, and do not rely on a summer route description in January. No trail closure dates beyond those noted here are stated, because they change with conditions — check locally before setting out.
What to Bring on a Vallons du Guiers Hike
You do not need specialist mountaineering kit for the valley walks, but the Chartreuse punishes casual footwear. Pack walking boots with good grip (essential in the Gorges du Guiers Mort and on the wet, rooty paths of the Cirque de Saint-Même), a waterproof jacket whatever the forecast, water and snacks, sun protection, and a charged phone with your route downloaded for offline use — mobile signal is patchy in the gorges. In summer, add a hat and extra water; the climbs are exposed once you leave the forest. In spring and autumn, add a warm layer: the temperature at a viewpoint can be several degrees lower than in the village, and the wind on the ridges is often strong. A basic first-aid kit, a map (IGN 3333OT covers this area) and a headtorch if there is any chance of a late finish are sensible for the longer loops. Mountain rescue in France is reached on 112, and the weather forecast is available from Météo France.
Hiking with Children in Vallons du Guiers
The valley is genuinely good for family walks, provided you match the route to your children rather than to your ambitions. The best first walks are the Cirque de Saint-Même waterfall walk (3 km, with waterfalls to keep younger children interested and a flat picnic area at the bottom of the cirque) and the Entre-deux-Guiers to Chapelle Béatrice de Savoie loop (4.0 km, about 1 hour 11 minutes, on gentle riverside and woodland paths). The short Fond du Cirque route at Saint-Même (about 30 minutes) and the 1.5-hour Cascade Trail are good options for younger children or for a first taste of the cirque.
Be honest about the gorge walks. The Gorges du Guiers Mort is short but requires hands in places and is slippery when wet — it suits older children who are used to demanding trails, not toddlers or first-time walkers. The same applies to the longer Cirque loop and the Voie Sarde, which are full-day efforts best saved for teenagers or very keen older children. In general, choose routes with a clear reward early on — a waterfall, a bridge, a viewpoint — carry more water and snacks than you think you need, and build in a picnic stop: the flat floor of the Cirque de Saint-Même and the picnic area at the Saint-Christophe-la-Grotte chapel car park are both ideal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best hike in Vallons du Guiers for a first-time visitor?
The Cirque de Saint-Même waterfall walk. It is short (about 3 km), it delivers waterfalls, cliffs and a beautiful valley floor in a single outing, and it starts from a single, well-signed trailhead. If you want something even gentler, the Entre-deux-Guiers to Chapelle Béatrice de Savoie loop (4.0 km) is the best easy alternative.
Is Chartreuse hiking suitable for beginners?
Yes — on the valley floor. The walks around Entre-deux-Guiers, Les Échelles and the Cirque de Saint-Même include several easy and moderate routes that need no more than reasonable fitness and good boots. The summits above the valley, such as Mont Outheran, are a different grade and should be left until you have experience on steep, rocky ground.
How do I get to the trailheads from the valley villages?
By car. The valley villages are small and rural, and the trailheads described here — the Cirque de Saint-Même, the chapel car park at Saint-Christophe-la-Grotte for the Voie Sarde, Rivier’Alp at Les Échelles and Entre-deux-Guiers itself — are all reached by driving from your base village. Allow time to find parking in high season, especially at the Cirque de Saint-Même, where paid parking applies from May to September and early arrival is advised at weekends.
Are the trails waymarked?
Yes, in general. Local paths use yellow paint marks and the GR routes use red-and-white marks; the Béatrice de Savoie trail and the Voie Sarde route both follow yellow-marked paths for at least part of their length. That said, signage at the Voie Sarde car park has been reported as patchy, and gorge paths can be hard to follow in poor light — always carry your route offline.
Can I walk the Gorges du Guiers Mort with children?
Older children who are used to demanding trails, yes; younger children, no. The trail is only 2.9 km, but it is rated moderately challenging, has sections where hands are needed, and is very slippery in wet weather. The Cirque de Saint-Même waterfall walk is the better family gorge-and-waterfall experience.
What is the Sardinian Road walk near Entre-deux-Guiers?
The Voie Sarde is a 17th-century road through the gorge between Saint-Christophe-sur-Guiers and Saint-Christophe-la-Grotte, once the main route between Lyon and Turin. The full loop from Entre-deux-Guiers is a difficult 14.5 km walk of about 5 hours; a shorter 10.0 km variant takes about 3 hours 5 minutes, and the classic gorge section can be walked as a circular route from the chapel car park at Saint-Christophe-la-Grotte.