Mountain biking spot: 5 must-see trails in Vercors-Drome
Content
Between the Alps and Provence, a few cables from the Rhone Valley, the Vercors Dromois area is the southern part of the Vercors massif, which consists of the historic center of Vercors and the Royan foothills. It is a cultural, economic and impressive amalgamation of these spaces, rich in their natural diversity and heritage.
Wild high plateaus with several vulnerable natural areas and the largest nature reserve in the metropolis, with the green softness of the foothills. You travel on daring roads carved into the rocks, passing through natural spaces in XXL size, where you can discover exceptional environments and panoramas. An area with 2000 years of history, endowed with an exceptional heritage with underground mysteries of caves, the Cistercian Abbey of Leonsel, museums of the Resistance and prehistoric times!
Local produce has also been included, and no good cyclist can escape the delight of a good ravioli casserole! Enjoy, breathe, switch off: the sky is big here!
Exceptional mountain biking area with over twenty routes, two major mountain biking routes with Chemins du Soleil and Grande Traversée du Vercors, many mountain biking packages are sold by the tourist office or local agencies, including luggage transportation. accompanied or free!
Helpful Sources:
- Wikipedia
- Lonely planet
- Traveler
- Via Michelin
Our selection of the most beautiful mountain biking trails in the area. Be careful to make sure they are appropriate for your level.
Devil's Gate
Leaving the village of Saint-Julien-en-Vercors, you find yourself on a pleasant path that runs smoothly along the pastures towards the village of La Martelier. The path continues through the undergrowth dotted with glades to the Porte du Diable. There you can leave your mountain bike for a few minutes and walk under this beautiful rocky arch on a short but dizzying descent.
The rest of the varied route allows you to discover the Allier forest, often traveling along fascinating and sometimes technical trails. The trail follows the Bournillon cliffs and away from the trail, exploring a bit, we can discover the polished stone artwork of Jerome Aussibal, The Well-Wisher of Bournillon. The singles series takes you back to Sendron, we cut the road to Briac before a beautiful climb in the middle of the beeches, to then descend the single-track road in the undergrowth to the farm of Domarier, the producer of blue from Vercors. -Sassenage. Travel to Albert before returning to the village along an artistic and delicate trail that we will try not to degrade!
A special feature of this course is its composition with a series of loops, which will allow it to be adapted to the capabilities of the practitioners. The first loop at Porte du Diable, for example, is well suited for beginner mountain bikers to learn about the first technical difficulties of a mountain biking course, with less physical difficulty!
Claveyrons Tour
The route crosses a wide variety of terrain: box and pine groves, beech and spruce forests, valleys and meadows. A pleasant walk to experience the atmosphere of the Vercors Drome. Mountain biking must not fall behind the second part of the track, which gives pride of place to singles.
The first part of the route allows you to ascend above the village, then the trails take you through the heart of the Vernezon Valley to the village of Saint-Añan-en-Vercors, and then a steady and steep climb to Fouletier, a vast open meadow. beautiful view of the Vasier plateau. You will then head towards Pierre Blanc to join pleasant paths in the thicket of Serre-Charbonniere. A new descent into our toposes, sometimes technical, leads to an atypical Combe Libouse.
The end of the chain crosses the Chapelle-en-Vercors plain, the Cim du Mas, its meadows and herds of cows that make it possible to produce the blue Vercors-Sassenage cheese. A foray into the undergrowth with Mediterranean flavors and spices.
South Vercors ridges
An excellent route, varied both in the landscapes traversed and in the difficulties encountered.
If the first part is relatively simple, we gradually return to the south of the huge Vasje plateau, where a very steep forest path (pushing) leads to the Chau pass and the southern Vercors ridges. You can discover a magnificent view of the Dioua Mountains, then you follow the grassy trail along the ridge line to the Vassi Pass, magical!
Back on the trail, you will quickly climb the Chironne Pass and its vast mountain pasture. Without forgetting to enjoy the view carved into the rock, the old pastoral trail descends to the Rousse Pass. We follow the path to pass a natural pass with an important contour on the talus. After descending to Col de Rousset station, you will reach Col de St Alexis via a trail in the thicket.
The route then follows a very technical individual profile descending to the village of Rousse. A steady climb will lead you to a rocky belvedere, and then you will begin your descent to Saint-Anyan along the technical trail. A short respite on a small road and a path leading to the village of Saint-Anan before starting the ascent that will take you to Le Fultier to resume the singles spin up to Combe Liboise and Vasier to discover its past!
Umbel Plateau
From the Auberge du Grand Echaillon in the city of Leonsel, this trail offers many landscapes and difficulties with a spectacular climb (small pass) to the Saut de la Truite from Bouvant-le-Eau to access the 'Ambel plateau. The loop on the Ambel plateau has a unique atmosphere before reaching the Col de la Bataille. Various trails and single-lane trails will delight lovers of beautiful sports recreation.
The Ambel Plateau is classified as a sensitive departmental natural area, mountain biking is regulated here, be sure to follow the directions and the route.
Forest tour Lente
It is a varied and complete route, both along the profile, alternating with nervous ascents and rapid descents, as well as in the large landscapes typical of Vercors: large forest, in-forest lawn and high plateaus. The trail climbs to the Col de l'Echarasson, and then to Pelandre, a quick descent along trails and trails, leads to the ski resort of Font d'Urles Chaux-Clapier, leading to the plateau and mountain pastures of Gager, a sensitive natural space departmental, mountain biking is regulated there, be sure to follow the instructions and the route.
The passage to the Chau Pass opens up a beautiful view of Vasieu-en-Vercors and the Upper Plateau. We walk between lawns and woods to descend a single track through the undergrowth at Curry Pass. We continue our tour to Mount Sacha, majestic for its paths and views. The route continues towards the Bournillon cross, Fourno's lawn and its wild side. Then we move on to more technical tracks in the direction of Lenta.
Several places worth visiting if you have time. 3 Features not to be missed.
Staying at the Vercors Drome means opening the brackets for healing. Here we enjoy the mountains at our own pace, whether in explorer and adventurer mode, or just to contemplate and recharge our batteries. Enjoy spaces with rich ecosystems where moderate human activity and untouched nature meet. The Vercors Drome is a mountain to discover and experience with family, friends or alone.
Roads Vercors - Combe Laval
From Saint-Jean-en-Royans to Vassieux-en-Vercors - D76 -32 km, opened in 1898 - 50 years of construction. The spectacular Vercors-Drôme roads, carved into the cliff face, were built in the mid-19th century at the cost of decades of effort to gain access to the massif. They have gained great fame and provide an opportunity to admire the magnificent panoramas of the region. The road to Combes Laval, famous for its route carved into the rock, passes through a grandiose circus. Its XNUMX km deep titanic excavation makes it the largest refuge in Europe. We can no longer count the rock-cutting tunnels, cliffs, lookouts and dizzying gazebos.
Aqueduct Saint-Nazar-en-Rouen
This giant 17-arch structure houses an irrigation canal. This wild Born River flows there, and it also rests quietly at the foot of the aqueduct. An open panoramic lift takes you to an over-water walkway with a wonderful view of the Vercors. The admission ticket gives you access to the museography of the Vercors Regional Natural Park, videos, historical commentary on the roads of Vercors, the Abbey of Leoncel, the Rochechinar castle, the Saint-Nazaire-en-Royan aqueduct, and the fauna and flora of Vercors.
Caves
In Vercors, the beauty of the landscape is visible underground. Drop by drop, the water seeped into the smallest limestone crack formed a magical world consisting of caves, abysses and underground rivers. In Vercors-Drome, 3 furnished caves offer 1-hour guided tours: Louir Cave, Dray Blanche Cave and Thais Cave.
Unsweetened or sweet - everyone will find something to their liking!
Most important to any self-respecting good mountain biker: Raviole! It consists of a dough made from soft wheat flour, eggs and water, which surrounds a filling of Conte or Emmental, cow's milk curd and parsley, in a platter without additives, with cream. Or as a casserole ... it can be consumed in many ways!
We are in the Alps, obviously this territory has its own cheese: Bleu du Vercors! This is an AOC mold cheese made from cow's milk, it is one of the rare cheeses entirely produced in the regional nature park. It can be eaten neat or as a fondue in verculin with custard, in a sauce with meat or in cubes as an aperitif.
Sweet local products are often made from walnuts here, because we are within the competence of Noix de Grenoble AOC. We can't resist the delicately crunchy pie, garnished with caramel nuts, as delicious as it is nutritious, so we can start our afternoon walk better!
In moderation, several mini-breweries are developing on the Royans-Vercors mountain bike base, we like the beer from Brasserie du Slalom at La Chapelle en Vercors with Valentin and Martin who are also big fans of cycling!
Here are some local and original recipes:
- Verculin
- Spiral of Vercors trout marinated in wild herbs
- Pumpkin toast with blue Vercors and walnuts
