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A stripe of red, a stripe of white; these are the easily recognizable marks of the GR or Grande Randonnée network of well-maintained hiking paths around France.
Rambling from guesthouse to guesthouse, crossing the Réserve des Hauts Plateaux nature reserve, from the high peak of the Grand Veymont in the north to Valdrome in the south, from the plateau of Font d’Urle in the west to Lus la Croix Haute in the east. You can see it all, following the GR 91, the GR 93 and the GR 95 – as well as the “Grandes Traversées du Vercors” (GTV).







   
GR 91 - from St Nizier to Moucherotte à Brantes  


 

This trail crosses the northern part of the Vercors, along the pastoral plateau of Lans and Villard de Lans. In the central part of the traverse, you pass through a desert zone of the high plateau, which is unique in France, and you will climb the massive Grand Veymont mountain. The southern part of this trail crosses Glandasse and the Diois to Baronnies.

In the part of this route that traverses the Diois, you will come across: Pré Peyret, Cabanes de Châtillon, Châtillon -en-Diois, Les Gallands, Miscon, Lesches-en-Diois, Beaurières, Col de Cabre and Valdrôme.

NB : In the Réserve des Hauts Plateaux, the only route markings allowed are the red and white stripes of the GR routes, and they are only allowed on the ground.

This means that in winter, following the routes with snowshoes or on skis, the markings will be covered with snow and you must take a compass and map with you in order to find
your way.
   
GR 93 – Across the Vercors to Dévoluy  
   

Starting in the Rhone Valley at village of Peyrus, 20 km from Valence, this trail crosses the Touet pass to reach the village of Léoncel. From there, the trail heads into the heart of the Vercors. It descends from the Vercors plateau via the magnificent Cirque d'Archiane, from there following the more gentle mountains of Bellemotte and Jocou, to finish up at Lus la Croix Haute, at the base of Dévoluy.

In the part of this route that traverses the Diois, you will come across: Col de Rousset, Pas des Econdus, Pré Peyret, Archiane, Bénevise, Les Nonières, Col de Jiboui, Jocou (on an alternative route), Col de Grimone and Lus la Croix Haute.

 
   
GR 95 – From Miroflée to Vaunières  
   


This mountain hike covers elevations from 1,000 to 1,400 meters in the most wooded part of the Vercors. It crosses the Mandement Forest of St Nazaire en Royans from north to south, and the national forest of Lente, dominated by beech and fir trees. It passes through the large forested area of Vassieux, which is one of the most beautiful fir plantations of the Vercors, before coming down from the southernmost edge of the plateau into the woodland pine and pubescent oak forests around Marignac and Die. And here, in the Drome valley, are the sunny lavender fields and vineyards. You can extend your hike by taking an extra variant from Die up to Valcroissant Abbey.

In the part of this route that traverses the Diois, you will come across: Col de Vassieux, Pas de la Roche de Marignac, Ferme de Baise, Die, Pas de Bret, Pas de la Roche de Valcroissant, Col de l'Abbaye, Col des Caux, Châtillon, Ravel, Boulc, les Tatins, Vaunières and Lus la Croix Haute.
Further information can be found in the guide published by the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre (FFRP)

“Tours et Traversées dans le Vercors, Diois et Baronnies” (Tours and Traverses in the Vercors, Diois and Baronnies – GR 9 and alternatives.)
   
The “Grandes Traversées du Vercors” (GTV)  
   



There are three options on this route : the GTV for hikers, the GTV for equestrians and mountain-bikers, and the GTV for Nordic skiers.

(Mountain bikes are called "vélo tout terrain in French". The abbreviation is “VTT”, which is what you should look for on signs and route maps.)

There are two options on the GTV for hikers :

  • The principal route is the 350 kilometer-long "Tour du Vercors", or Tour of the Vercors, which takes in a large number of the villages and sites of the Vercors.
  • The alternative route is the 60 kilometer-long "Traversée du Vercors", or Crossing of the Vercors, which traverses the Vercors Plateau.

You can find detailed maps with all the GTV routes at the tourist office in Die.

Useful Information
on the Internet
http://www.vercors-gtv.com
(in french)
   
A note for walkers hikers and animal watchers  
   

If your route takes you into the Réserve des Hauts Plateaux, the nature sanctuary within the Vercors Regional Natural Park, do not be tempted to take your dog with you (even on a lead), to disturb any wildlife you come across, or to collect wildflowers.

Other rules forbid fires, littering and mountain bikes on all except one trail. The park rangers are vigilant and they carry binoculars, so even if you don’t see them, they may well see you.
They are friendly and helpful, but they are also very serious about preventing the wildlife from being disturbed,
and breaking the rules can result in hefty fines.


For further details about the Reserve, click on the link to Hiking in the Nature Reserve on this site, or visit
the site of the Vercors Regional National Park