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MTB and Cycling in Oisans |
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MTB Trails
in Oisans :
- » Cross country
- » Freeride
- » DownHill
- » Raid
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Season's events
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MTB and Cycling in Oisans |
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Season's events
Cross country
Leave your car next to the Chambon dam in the tourist office car park. This is a circular route that will bring you back to your car.
This is a long, hard ride up through magnificent scenery to the Refuge des Mouterres mountain hut, rewarded by a lovely descent down to La Grave. The greatest pleasure of this route lies in the view of the Meije on the one side and the Ferrand valley on the other.
The Emparis Plateau is reached via the village of Mizoën. Starting at the Chambon dam, ride up to Mizoën on the D25 (1.5 km and already a 140m height gain) and then follow the hamlet of Singuigneret on a wide, shale path. Down below, you can see the reflection of the imposing Mont-de-Lans glacier in the dazzling blue of the lake. After the Refuge des Chatons hut at1825m and at the 7.5km point, you can see the remains of cables that were used to take down bales the hay. A little further on, the Cascade de la Pisse waterfall gushes out from the rock. No one really knows where this water comes from, but it appears to be from a system of siphons and pipes from the glaciers opposite … To the north, the deep, mysterious Ferrand valley can be seen, dominated by the Grandes Rousses massif. You can just make out the Col des Prés Nouveaux, the historic passage through to Savoy for the protestants persecuted in the aftermath of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Between 1685 and 1688, thousands of people fled along this route to reach Germany or Switzerland.
You arrive at the Refuge des Mouterres chalet (2258m), located on the right about a hundred metres from the track. You can have lunch here or just enjoy a drink, before riding along the vehicle track for about 500 m. Take the GR 54 – GR 50 towards Le Chazelet – La Grave on a path that goes steeply up through pastures to the high point of the route, the Col du Souchet at a height of 2365 m. You are now on the Emparis Plateau, whose crystalline soil, peat bogs and grassy pastures make a pleasant contrast to the harsh, rocky surroundings. You could almost be in Patagonia – on pampas that have strayed into our mountains…
The Col du Souchet (17km) offers an outstanding view of the Meije, the Rateau, the Doigt de Dieu and the Girose glacier – surely one of the most incredible in Oisans. From the crossroads, you may wish to explore Lac Lérié and Lac Noir (follow the signs), the two eyes of the Emparis Plateau watching the Meije. If not, you can start the downhill ride on stony switchbacks to Le Chazelet. The little village, clinging to the mountainside, stretches out its arms to welcome you. This is a great downhill stretch - quite technical, with switchbacks on terrain that can be brittle or unstable, due to loose stones. Cross the bridge over the Gâ and ride up the steep main street through the centre of Le Chazelet to reach the GR path which passes next to a wooden orthodox cross next to the road. Descend to La Grave, from which you can return to the Chambon car park on the left-hand side of the Romanche. However, high water levels sometimes make this path impassable. Then take the N91, which will take you back to the dam in under 8km.
The panoramic view over the Meije from the Col du Souchet
