Chamechaude
2,082 m
France
Also known as ЧамечаудеAlso known as
Чамечауде
- Elevation
- 2,082 m
- Prominence
- 1,771 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- Jun–Sep
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1The classic of the Chartreuse: about 760 m of ascent from Col de Porte (1,326 m) through forest and pasture to the Cabane des Bachassons, past the Folatière rock and up the broad west slopes to the summit ridge, finishing with a short cabled rock step to the cross. About 2–2½ hours up; very busy.
Elevation Profile
- Distance
- 3.3 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +763 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 2,082 m
- Time Up
- 2h 58m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 1h 57m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From Col de Porte on the D512 between Le Sappey and Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse, cross the foot of the ski slope and take the forest track into the woods on the left. Follow signs for the Cabane des Bachassons (about 1,620 m), ignoring the path left to Cherlieu and Saint-Hugues and the path right to the Habert de Chamechaude (the Tour de Chamechaude). Above the cabin the path crosses open pasture and limestone pavement north-east towards the cliffs, passing La Folatière (1,743 m), a large mushroom-shaped boulder. After a wide loop south the path zigzags up the summit meadows to the ridge near the Brèche Arnaud and follows it north. Two short, easy rock steps lead onto the summit plateau; the second, about 5–10 m high, has cut steps, a few rungs and a fixed cable. It is straightforward for most walkers in the dry but feels more awkward in descent, with a cliff close by; some parties with young children stop below it. The cross on the summit (2,082 m) is the highest point of the Chartreuse and has a 360° view from the Vercors and Belledonne to Mont Blanc. Descend the same way, or along the jagged south ridge past the top of the Brèche Arnaud and back west to the ascent path. Do not descend the Brèche Arnaud itself towards the Habert de Chamechaude: it is a long, near-vertical cabled passage for confident scramblers only. Allow about 3½–4 hours round trip. In winter the west face is a very popular ski-touring and snowshoe route, but hard snow on the upper slopes and the cabled step make it serious, and avalanches regularly run down to the Folatière.
Start
Col de Porte1,324 m
- M réso line N62 from Grenoble via Le Sappey-en-Chartreuse serves Col de Porte at weekends and during school holidays; check the current timetable.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Col de Porte → Chamechaude | 3.3 | 763 | 6 | 2h 58m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Col de Porte1,324 m
- Feature: Cabane des Bachassons1,637 m
- Col: Brèche Arnaud1,944 m
The path reaches the ridge near the top of the Brèche Arnaud; do not descend the cabled gully
- Summit: Chamechaude2,082 m
Key Passages
- La Folatière
- Summit meadows and ridge near the Brèche Arnaud
- Short cabled rock step below the summit plateau
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 85%Overview
The highest summit of the Chartreuse (2,082 m), a limestone block with sheer eastern cliffs and a broad, tilted west face. A popular half-day walk from Col de Porte ends with a short cabled rock step and a view from the Vercors to Mont Blanc.
Chamechaude stands just north of Grenoble, between Le Sappey-en-Chartreuse, Col de Porte and Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse, in the Chartreuse Regional Natural Park. Its east face is a line of pale limestone cliffs, several hundred metres high, above the pastures of the Habert de Chamechaude; the west side is a long, tilted slope of forest, meadow and limestone pavement that gives the easy way up. With 1,771 m of prominence it is one of the most prominent summits in France.
The normal route from Col de Porte is the most frequented summit walk in the Grenoble area, summer and winter. It is short — about 760 m of ascent — but not trivial: the path is rocky higher up, and a short cabled rock step guards the summit plateau. Expect crowds and queues at the cable on fine weekends.
The mountain also has serious climbing: multi-pitch rock routes of 4c to 7c on the east cliffs, winter gullies and icefalls, and a cabled gully at the Brèche Arnaud that links the summit ridge with the Habert de Chamechaude. In winter the west face is a busy ski-touring and snowshoe objective with real avalanche risk.
Climbing Notes
Fit walkers manage the normal route in 3½–4 hours round trip. You need sure-footedness on rocky ground and a little confidence for the short cabled step; it is harder going down than up, and some parties with young children stop just below it. The summit is windy and cold out of season, so bring warm layers. Do not use the Brèche Arnaud cables as a descent unless you are a competent scrambler; a helmet and rope are advised there.
In winter and spring, the upper slopes are often hard snow, and an uncontrolled slip above the rock bands can be serious: carry crampons and an ice axe and know how to use them. Slabs form quickly below the summit cable in north winds, and avalanches regularly run down to the Folatière, so carry avalanche kit and check the Isère bulletin. Avoid the signposted black grouse wintering zones.
Season
Best Jun–Sep- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Good
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Good
- November: Possible
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Ski-touring and snowshoeing; avalanche kit and winter skills needed
- Feb
- Ski-touring and snowshoeing; avalanche kit and winter skills needed
- Mar
- Hard snow on the upper slopes; crampons
- Apr
- Snow lingers late on this face; crampons and ice axe often needed
- May
- Snow patches possible near the top early in the month
- Jun
- Dogs banned from alpine pastures from 10 June
- Jul
- Busy; afternoon thunderstorms
- Aug
- Busy; afternoon thunderstorms
- Oct
- Early snow possible; short days
- Nov
- First snow; cable step may be icy
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Rules
- Chartreuse Regional Natural Park: dogs are not allowed on the alpine pastures from 10 June to 15 October
- Black grouse wintering zones on the mountain are signposted by the park; avoid them in winter
- When the Col de Porte ski area is open, follow the signposted uphill route and keep clear of winch-groomed slopes
- Getting There
Grenoble; Le Sappey-en-Chartreuse and Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse
Grenoble Alpes-Isère Airport (GNB); Lyon-Saint-Exupéry (LYS)
- Car: D512 from Grenoble via Corenc and Le Sappey to Col de Porte (about 30–40 minutes); park near the cross-country ski centre behind the Hôtel du Col
- Bus: M réso line N62 from Grenoble to Le Sappey and Col de Porte (Col de Porte served at weekends and in school holidays)
Hazards
- Exposure
- Avalanche
- Weather
- Rockfall