The Coche tour

D/ Car park at the socio-cultural center

1/ Turn left onto the "chemin pré-martin" road.
At the end, turn left (hamlet of Musselin). A little further on, turn right onto "chemin des sources" and follow "Croix de la Coche" (yellow markings).

2/ Take the narrow path alongside a dry stream. At the end of this path, after a few wooden steps, turn right onto the road for about ten metres, then left towards Mont Charvais.
Follow the red and white GR signs.

3/ The path climbs through undergrowth, but at times offers a lovely view of the heights of St Baldoph and the Bauges on the right. At the end of the path, and again after a few wooden steps, you reach the road.
Immediately turn left, "chemin des Miguets", then right onto the path through the undergrowth (wooden sign: footpath), follow the GR markings.

4/ At the end of the path, turn right after the imposing old house. Follow the asphalt road "chemin du château".
After the bus stop on the right, cross the road and take the path on the left towards La Croix de la Coche (GR signposting). Follow the path up through the undergrowth.

5/ At the end of the path, turn left towards Mont Charvais (5 minutes away) and take advantage of the viewpoint indicator to admire the view of the Chartreuse on the right, the Belledonnes, the Lauzière massif (in the background) and the start of the Bauges with the pointe de la Galoppaz.
Retrace your steps and follow the path towards the Croix de la Coche.

6/ Just before the road, turn right onto the downhill path which, a little further on, runs alongside the sheep park on the right. At the end of the path, cross the tarmac road and climb the path marked "sentier de la Coche" (yellow markings).

7/ Cross the road again and follow the path uphill. Pay close attention to the yellow and GR markings.
At the intersection, turn right onto the steep path that climbs to the stone cross (Alt 618 m).

>>The word coche or cochette used to mean "passage" or "pass". It served as a link between the villages of Saint Baldoph, Barberaz and Montagnole.

Go back down and follow the widest left-hand path towards the "bec du corbeau". The path then climbs and turns slightly right.

8/ At the fork in the road, turn right towards the "bec du corbeau". Approach the lookout to enjoy the view of Barberaz, Lac du Bourget, the quarries and the foothills of the Chartreuse.

Retrace your steps. Take the path to the right towards pointe de la Gorgeat and grande montagne.
This is a pleasant path, shaded in summer.

9/ Follow the track and you'll arrive at "la grande montagne".
This is a crossroads for several trails. Follow the GR96 "pointe de la Gorgeat" on your right. The trail climbs.
5 minutes after leaving "la grande montagne", you'll come to a fork in the road, keep to the left.

10/ You come to a road.
Here you'll discover a magnificent, unobstructed view of La Galoppaz, Le Nivolet and the Belledonne mountains.
Continue along this road to the right. After 5 minutes, leave it to enter a path on the right (keep your eyes peeled, it's not very visible).
You'll find yourself on a rocky slab-like path overlooking the road.

>>This rock is original, it was there long before us and will be there again. The proof is in the magnificent ammonite fossil visible on the path >>.

11/ Continue your ascent by taking the path to the right (this time, don't follow the GR signs).
Your ascent continues for another 20 m to reach the last viewpoint, where you can enjoy a picnic break surrounded by the Chartreuse and the majestic Belledonnes.

12/ To return, take the path in the opposite direction, keeping to the left as you descend.
After the fork in the road about 10 minutes further on, keep to the right, following the signs until you reach the Grande Montagne crossroads.
Look out for the yellow signs, and follow them in the direction of St Baldolph. Go downhill to the right, following the yellow signs.

13/ At the arrow, follow it to the left.
Be careful, the path you take is on slabs of rock, and therefore slippery.
At the end of the path, join the road and follow it to the left for 100 metres.

14/ Once you've found the signs, take the path down to the right.
The path descends through the forest for 10 to 15 minutes before reaching a tarmac road in a housing estate.
Continue through the houses until you reach the "Chartreuse" bus stop and the starting path.

15/ Turn right onto chemin du château and follow the signposted path past the large building on the left, continuing along the path taken from the driveway in the opposite direction until you reach the small rue Pré-martin and the parking lot.

Hiking shoes recommended. Narrow path along the ridge.

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