Lake and Col de la Croix

From the Col du Glandon, take on the lake and the Col de la Croix: an alpine hike that combines effort and reward, with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains.

Marie

I'm passionate about the Villards valley, so here's one of my favourite walks, starting from the Col du Glandon.

Heading for the Glandon pass

At 8am, I begin this hike to the Col du Glandon, still wrapped in the morning freshness. The car park is almost empty, and I can already feel that it’s going to be a beautiful day. I’m in the Belledonne massif, a wild, mineral playground that I love, and the day’s objective is clear: to reach Lac de la Croix, perched at an altitude of 2415 metres, and then, why not, push on to the Col de la Croix at 2529 metres.

I set off along the balcony path and followed the sign for “Lac de la Croix, Lac de la Combe et Cime du Sambuis”. The view soon catches my eye: the valley stretches as far as the eye can see and, in the distance, the Col de la Madeleine appears in the light.

A gradual climb between stream and scree

The first part is gentle, almost tranquil. The path leads easily to the first stream, whose crystalline sound accompanies my footsteps. I crossed it easily, then continued on the same path, following the signs to Lac de la Croix and the summit of Sambuis.

This is where things get a bit tricky. The path becomes steeper and more mineral. I cross a scree where every step requires attention – clearly, good shoes are essential here. All around me, the silence is occasionally broken by the whistling of marmots, invisible but very present.

After about twenty minutes of effort, I reach the first plateau. I take a break by a small mountain stream on my right. The path then continues, winding between the rocks. I continue in the direction of Lac de la Croix, deliberately leaving out the sign for the summit of Sambuis.

Little by little, the landscape opens up

To my left, the majestic Aiguille de l’Argentière catches my eye. I walk through a large valley for almost an hour, carried away by this wild yet soothing atmosphere.

What follows is more challenging: a fairly steep climb up a gorge strewn with large rocks. It’s hard work, but well worth it. I finally reach a small plateau, like a natural circus, almost hidden away.

All that’s left is a final, sustained but relatively short climb of around twenty minutes. Suddenly, Lac de la Croix appears at an altitude of 2415 metres. Calm, almost motionless, it gives the impression of having always been there, far away from everything.

A gourmet break? Chalet du Col du Glandon

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From the lake to the Col de la Croix

I continue up to the Col de la Croix, another twenty minutes or so above us, culminating at 2529 metres. The view from up there is incredible. Taking the time to observe, I even spot chamois, some accompanied by their young, moving with disconcerting ease up the steep slopes.

With a difference in altitude of around 600 metres, this hike remains accessible to regular walkers, while offering a good dose of challenge and, above all, total immersion in the raw beauty of the Belledonne massif.

The descent is via the same route, and all I can think about is having a good meal of typical Savoyard fare at the Chalet du Glandon.