Starting from the charming village of St Pierre d'Entremont, you can take full advantage of the beauty of the Cirque de St Même. This way, you avoid the tolls and the site's sometimes crowded car park.
The first warm-up is a beautiful climb towards the hamlet of Bandets. The climb is well rewarded! From the hamlet, the view opens up and you can see the whole Grand Som range and even the Pic de Chamechaude, the highest peak in the Chartreuse massif, in the background. The path then takes you through the 2 hamlets of St Même, between typical houses and ponds.
Arriving at the Cirque, you're in for a beautiful climb through the forest, with the path winding through the trees and a lookout point giving you a glimpse of the Pisse du Guiers, the last of the waterfalls. After a good half-hour climb, it's a steep, rocky descent to the majestic Grande Cascade and its vertical cliffs. The view from the wooden footbridge is still splendid. On the way down, be careful, the tree roots are trying to trip you up! More water? A short round trip reveals the more discreet Cascade Isolée. Then it's back to the plain of the Cirque for a well-deserved rest to the sound of the river. The return journey is a mere formality.
Throughout the hike, take care as the paths are wet and steep and sometimes on the edge of a cliff.
The forests we cross are private, so please keep to the marked paths.
PLEASE NOTE: Bivouacs and fires are FORBIDDEN in the Cirque de St Même.
De St Pierre d'Entremont à la cascade du Cirque de St Même
About
1/ From the Tourist Office car park, take the road signposted ‘Grenoble - St Pierre de Chartreuse’. After a few metres, take the first turning on the left and cross the bridge over the Guiers Vif. Towards the Tour d'Infernet, follow signs for Les Bandets along a yellow signposted path that climbs through the woods and intersects the road in two places. The path joins the road leading to the hamlet of Les Bandets. 2/ At the hamlet, take the first road on the right (yellow markings). The route then descends along a track to St Même d'en Bas. 3/ Follow the red and yellow markings on a narrow road down to a crossroads. Follow the road straight up and after a few metres, take a track on the left towards St Même d'en Haut. Follow the road down to the right as far as the hairpin bend. Take the track that rises to the left (yellow markings). After a 15-minute walk, at the crossroads, take the path down to the left and join the Cirque meadow. 4/ From the Drugey bridge, follow the signs for the Cascades path, which makes a loop (1hr 30mins). Alternatively, follow the signs for the Fond du Cirque, also a loop (30 mins). To return, head towards the car park. Continue along the road to St Même d'en Haut (yellow signs). Take the same route as the outward journey as far as St Même d'en Bas. Go up the small dead-end road, passing between the last houses. 3/ At the signpost, take the left-hand path towards St Pierre d'Entremont, marked in red and yellow. The path descends gently through the woods and along the edge. It rejoins the main road as far as the village of St Pierre d'Entremont. The last 800 m are on the road.
Reception
- Pets welcome
Contacts
Access
