Glandage: GR®93, L’Aupillon and the Gorges des Gâts

Glandage offers two distinct hiking experiences: Stage 7 of the GR®93 crosses the commune, while the L’Aupillon circular hike starts and ends there. The first is a traverse from Grimone to Lus-la-Croix-Haute; the second is a loop back to Glandage. The natural setting of the Gorges des Gâts and the history of the Church of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul add further topics to consider when planning your trip.

A natural setting of streams, forests and cliffs

The 2024 natural inventory includes the ZNIEFF site Gorges des Gâts et Forêt du Sapet. It also covers Glandage and spans 1,607.4 hectares. A fast-flowing mountain stream runs through the Gorges des Gâts, its banks lined with stands of white alder. The cliffs of the Gorges des Gâts provide refuge for peregrine falcons, eagle-owls and golden eagles.

The L’Aupillon circular hike also passes through landscapes with varied features. The northern ascent runs through a beech and fir forest; the southern slopes are influenced by sub-Mediterranean and Mediterranean-montane climates. The green-and-yellow trail markings of the Vercors Regional Natural Park are another distinctive feature of this route.

Comparing the two hikes

A route description updated on August 14, 2026, gives L’Aupillon as a 7.69-kilometer circular hike with a walking time of 2 hours and 45 minutes and 480 meters of ascent. The start and finish are in Glandage. The loop therefore connects the route directly with the place where it begins.

Stage 7 of the GR®93 runs from Grimone to Lus-la-Croix-Haute, passing through the communes of Glandage and Lus-la-Croix-Haute. It is a moderately difficult 7.9-kilometer traverse. The route is listed as taking 2 hours and 30 minutes, with 321 meters of ascent and 396 meters of descent.

The two routes are almost the same length; their listed walking times differ by 15 minutes. The key difference for planning is the route format: L’Aupillon returns to Glandage, while the GR®93 stage runs between Grimone and Lus-la-Croix-Haute. The GR®93 route also lists ascent and descent separately.

Return travel and history

Stage 7 is accessible by public transport. Return travel options include the SNCF station in Lus-la-Croix-Haute, regional express bus line 31 between Grenoble and Marseille, and an on-demand transport service. Check the timetables before your trip if you plan to include this return journey in your stage itinerary.

The Church of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul in Glandage is a historical landmark. It first belonged to a priory dependent on Guignaise Abbey; from 1242, it was assigned to a priory dependent on Aurillac Abbey.

Grimone is the starting point for Stage 7. The Chapelle Saint Jean-Baptiste stands there at an elevation of 1,130 meters, on the southern edge of the Vercors Massif. The chapel was first mentioned in 1702 and briefly served as a parish church in 1731. These dates mark two distinct moments in its history: its first mention and its brief period as a parish church.

Discover more destinations: Le Poët-Célard, Margès, Beaufort-Sur-Gervanne, Peyrins, Manas, Mirabel-Aux-Baronnies, Saint-Bardoux, Montchenu

For the regional travel overview: Drôme.