August 2025
Hiking in the Vercors
For the long weekend of August 15th, we headed to the Vercors, stopping in the charming village of Autrans. Three days of fresh air and magnificent landscapes awaited us, between forests, ridges, and breathtaking panoramas. On the agenda: hikes, including a first for Vaïka over long distances with elevation gain. She bravely took on the challenge and kept up the pace! We're taking you with us to discover this unspoiled corner of France, perfect for getting away from it all and recharging your batteries.
Summary
A dog friendly
destination?
Cargo biking
with a puppy
Accommodation and
logistics
Cargo biking
with a puppy
Cargo biking
with a puppy
Cargo biking
with a puppy
Autrans-Méaudre in Vercors: a dog-friendly destination?
Autrans-Méaudre-en-Vercors is the perfect example of a mountain village where you instantly feel at home. Nestled in an exceptional natural setting, it combines authenticity, friendliness, and dynamism. From the moment you arrive, you have the pleasant feeling of being welcomed “just like at home,” without ever feeling the heaviness of overly touristy resorts.
The atmosphere is positive, simple, and warm. The village has everything you need on site: food shops for gourmets, lively terraces where it's nice to linger, a swimming pool, and even a cinema with a varied program – a real luxury for a mountain village! As for local produce, the surrounding area is full of farms where you can buy local products directly, especially the famous Bleu du Vercors-Sassenage, a must for cheese lovers.
At the tourist office, the welcome reflects the village: friendly and helpful. There, you'll find carefully prepared hiking trails, as well as brochures detailing the sights to discover in the surrounding area. In the summer, Autrans is particularly dynamic: summer tobogganing for thrill-seekers, easy rental of electric mountain bikes to explore the Via Vercors, and cultural and festive events that punctuate village life. All this without ever losing its authenticity.
And of course, for those traveling with their dog, Autrans is a true paradise. The hikes are accessible and suitable, the terraces welcome four-legged friends, the shelters spontaneously offer a bowl of water... and dogs can enjoy a rare freedom on the trails, always under supervision.
Add to this the serenity of the landscapes and the diversity of activities, and you get a destination that combines nature, comfort and pleasure, both for humans and their faithful companions.
Logistics and itinerary
Comme à notre habitude, nous avons privilégié le train pour ce séjour – une évidence pour éviter la cohue du week-end du 15 août, réputé comme l’un des plus chargés sur les routes en France.
Sans trafic, Google Maps annonçait déjà 6h de route depuis Paris… autant dire que ce n’était pas une option envisageable ! Nous avons donc hésité entre un trajet en train jusqu’à Lyon puis une voiture de location (avec le risque des bouchons autour de l’agglomération lyonnaise), ou bien un train direct jusqu’à Grenoble.
C’est finalement cette deuxième option que nous avons choisie : 3 heures de TGV depuis Paris, puis 45 minutes de voiture pour rejoindre Autrans. Une combinaison simple, fluide et sans stress !
Les agences de location se trouvent juste à la sortie de la gare – pratique –, et nous avions opté pour Sixt. Petit conseil : prenez le temps de comparer les loueurs, cela peut vraiment faire la différence.
Même si nous connaissons déjà assez bien les environs grâce à de précédents séjours, c’était la première fois que nous découvrions le Vercors avec Vaïka. Pour choisir nos randonnées, nous avons pris en compte plusieurs critères bien précis : l’ombre, indispensable en plein mois d’août avec 35 °C au compteur ; la beauté des paysages, bien sûr ; une distance raisonnable pour ne pas surestimer l’endurance de Vaïka ; la proximité, à moins de 30 minutes de notre logement ; et enfin, la cerise sur le gâteau, la présence d’un point d’eau. Rien de tel qu’une cascade pour allier fraîcheur et motivation !
Notre itinéraire :
JOUR 1 : Train Paris - Grenoble (15:14-18:13). Récupération de la voiture de location, courses sur le chemin. Arrivée à Autrans en soirée.
JOUR 2 : Randonnée "Circuit des crêtes et de l'alpage de la Molière"
JOUR 3 : Randonnée "Le Bec de l'Orient et le pas de la Clé depuis Gève"
JOUR 4 : Randonnée "Cascade de la Fauge depuis les Glovettes" puis montée en télécabine à côte 2000. Train Grenoble - Paris (18:45-21:46)
Circuit of the ridges and the Molière mountain pasture
Some figures about hiking:
Distance: 14.98 km
Elevation gain: + 703 m
Negative elevation: - 694 m
High point: 1,701 m
Low point: 1,095 m
For this first day, we chose a hike that combines ridges, mountain pastures, and magnificent panoramas. It's a hike we'd already done, but it had left a lasting impression on us, and we enjoyed repeating it.From the trail, you can enjoy superb views of the Chartreuse, Belledonne, and part of the Vercors, both along the ridges and crossing the mountain pastures.
The start is from the hamlet of Truc, where you can park your vehicle (the car park fills up quickly, so arrive early). We had planned to follow the GPS track... but true to form, we took the wrong path and started up a steep climb! An intense effort, but amply rewarded by the beauty of the landscapes throughout the ascent. The shaded path made the climb more pleasant.
Arriving at the ridges, we walked through the woods, enjoying spectacular views. Then the hike continued for a few kilometers on flat ground, in full sun, among the cows grazing peacefully. Vaika was very well-behaved in the middle of the imposing herd of cows. She was not feeling very confident: a greyhound is clearly not a sheepdog!
It was finally the moment chosen by Vaïka to express all her joy: rolling in the grass, zooming and running wildly... clearly, the climb hadn't tired her out! But the enthusiasm was short-lived: in the heat, she quickly showed signs of fatigue. Fortunately, we had her cooling coat ready, a precious accessory that we highly recommend for summer hikes with your dog. We recommend the Sofadogwear brand, from whom we had already ordered the full suit for Finland. Their clothes are of high quality and fit perfectly.
Our lunch break at the Molière refuge was a real treat: superb setting, generous and tasty homemade cuisine, and even vegetarian options. A great way to recharge your batteries before the descent. Please note that reservations are strongly recommended !
The return to Autrans is a quiet journey through the forest, sheltered from the sun, perfect for a gentle finish.
This hike is definitely a must-do if you're staying in Autrans. Note for those who want to shorten the walk: it's possible to access the Molière plateau directly via a shuttle bus in the summer. We recommend hiking in the direction suggested by Visorando. Note that we encountered few people on the trail, even on the weekend of August 15th. Most people seem to arrive directly at the plateau by shuttle and walk around (or simply have lunch at the refuge). So there are more people on the ridges.
The Bec de l'Orient and the Pas de la Clé from Gève
Some figures about hiking:
Distance: 10.49 km
Elevation gain: + 432 m
Negative elevation: - 434 m
High point: 1,552 m
Low point: 1,286 m
Our second hike was another gem, this time starting from the Gève plateau, known in winter for its Nordic ski slopes. We began the climb along a wide forest trail, not particularly charming at first, but very pleasant for progressing in the shade of the trees in the intense heat. The further we went, the more captivating the scenery became.
The first notable stop was the monument commemorating the plane crash of February 2, 1944. Reading the inscription, we were particularly moved: most of the victims were barely in their twenties. A moving memorial that serves as a stark reminder of the impact of World War II on the region.
We then continued to the Cartaux camp, a former resistance fighter hideout, a discreet but powerful testament to the history of the Vercors. It's a good place to take a break. There's now a shelter with fire pits and cooking utensils.
Then the trail led us to a striking precipice: at cliff level, the view unfolds beneath us, magnificent but impressive. This is a passage where it is essential to keep your dog on a leash – which we did with Vaïka. The rest of the route runs along the ridges, offering spectacular panoramas but requiring the same vigilance.
Finally, we reached the Pas de la Clé crossroads, where the descent begins. This brought us back to the plateau, where we concluded the hike with a well-deserved break at the Gève refuge . The welcome was warm and the home-cooked food plentiful and tasty. Special mention for the excellent blueberry tarts: a real treat after the effort! Note that they do not take reservations.
In terms of attendance, we encountered almost no one on the way up, and then a few people at points of interest. However, there were a lot of people when we arrived at the Gève plateau, and we were lucky to have a place for lunch at the refuge. Indeed, there are many hiking trails starting from the plateau, as well as activities such as pony trekking for children.
Walk to the Fauge waterfall
Some figures about hiking:
Distance: 5.23 km
Elevation gain: + 171 m
For our last day in the Vercors, we were looking for a quick and easy hike , since a return train to Paris was waiting for us in the evening. We opted for a fairly popular walk leading to the Fauge waterfall, a natural site very popular with families. The trail, accessible to all, runs alongside a stream and winds through the undergrowth almost the entire length, making it a perfect outing on hot summer days.
As she approached the waterfall, Vaika was intrigued by the sound and freshness of the water: she approached timidly, before leaving immediately, impressed by the roar of the waterfall! A funny scene that will remain in our memories.
The only downside to this hike is that the beginning and end are on a paved road, which is a bit monotonous compared to the rest of the hike. But that doesn't detract from the charm of this easy and refreshing walk, ideal for ending a stay in style. The Fauge waterfall, with its green and soothing setting, offers a lovely refreshing break before hitting the road again.
Cable car and lunch at Côte 2000
Having finished our walk to the Fauge waterfall relatively early, we decided to extend the day by taking the Côte 2000 cable car.
For Vaïka, it was a first! Having already taken the train, plane, subway, car, van, and even seaplane, the only thing missing from her collection of experiences was the gondola lift. Unsurprisingly, she appeared perfectly at ease, as if nothing had happened. The height of luxury: we had the cabin just for the three of us.
The climb is pleasant and the price remains reasonable (€10 return per person), with a real bonus: dogs are not only allowed, but free. Another good point is that holiday vouchers are accepted. Once at the summit, several options are available to visitors: hiking to Lake Moucherotte (an idea we're keeping carefully for a future visit), mountain biking, mountain karting, paragliding, etc.
There were a lot of people, but the atmosphere remained very relaxed, without ever being oppressive.
We enjoyed lunch on the large terrace of the mountain restaurant. While the atmosphere was friendly, with other dogs present and made to feel welcome, we found the wait a bit long and the food okay but nothing compared to the delicious meals we had enjoyed in the refuges in the previous days. A pleasant break nonetheless, which gently concluded this last day at the summit.
