The Reisses (or Bacheux) valley   [General Map] [Local Map] [Remarques]

As in most of the Villards valleys, the approach here is fairly long, but rewarded by the magnificent landscapes of the northern parts of the Belledonne massif. The starting points are rather low (1000m in Le Premier Villard), but approaches can be shortened by taking one of the numerous forest trails. Traversing the cols towards Allevard or the other coombs to the south is fairly easy (Vallon du Merlet) , but traversing north is a very different proposition (see Col du Gollachon).

The Bacheux chalets (1950m, 3h, yellow marks)

From le Premier Villard

Take the Col du Glandon road from St Etienne de Cuines and turn right 5 kms further up. Drive up to Le Premier Villard. Park your car in the hairpin bend near the end of the village (1003m). The ONF signpost marks the start of the route (Le Monthion/Combe des Reisses). Take a grassy path that soon joins a wide forest road. 100m farther, turn right on to the Monthion trail and walk to the Reisses Bridge (1153m, 30 minutes). Continue walking towards Monthion. 200m farther on, turn left on to a grassy track that has fallen into neglect. This point can be reached by car.

Go up the trail until it stops, near a gate. Continue on a path (yellow marks) just below the last trees. At the Barmes ruins (1650m) where the path seems to disappear, follow the yellow marks carefully. The view suddenly opens on the upper part of the Bacheux valley near 1900m, when the path borders the Bacheux cacades, very visible from the distance. There is no difficulty between the gate and the upper valley, but the route can be extremely wet in Spring, when the snow melts. The Bacheux chalets are all closed and private property. Several routes can be done starting from this point.

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From Cuchet

This superb site can be reached from Cuchet. Under the summit of Croix du Cuchet, a path with yellow marks traverses left. It crosses the Barillet ridge, passes near Plan des Granges and goes down into the Bacheux valley to join the previous route at the chalets.

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From the Nant forest

It is the shortest and finest approach, but some of the way back will be uphill. Reach the end of the long Bois du Nant forest trail (1710m). Walk up the steep track that follows. In a leftward hairpin a short distance farther up, take a well-marked path. After some very pleasant forest walk, the path reaches the Croix de Triandou, a small cross that is easy to miss if you don't happen to look left at the right moment. After a level part on a slowly widening ridge, turn right on to a path that traverses down through patches of green alders. Reach the Bacheux chalets (1h30).

Pointe de la Lavoire (2471m)

Do not draw right after the Croix de Triandou, but stay left on the vast ridge that follows. The steep final grassy slopes of Pointe de la Lavoire are visible in the distance. The scenery is magnificent and there is a fine feeling of isolation. Up very steep grass and scree slopes, draw right to reach the north-west ridge, where some easy scrambling will take you very near the summit. The final ridge is definitely not for the walker (rope). A short, but splendid route. (750m, 2h).

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Col du Gollachon (2167m, 45 minutes)

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