Sarcenas: Hiking Trails and Col de Porte

There are several specific starting points for a trip to Sarcenas: hikes from Pont du Croz, the Sentier des géants, activities at Col de Porte and Sarcenas Church. The hiking options are particularly easy to distinguish by route type, duration and elevation gain.

Col de Porte: location and activities

Col de Porte lies at an altitude of 1,326 m in the heart of the Chartreuse Regional Natural Park and within the municipality of Sarcenas. This small, renowned family resort connects Le Sappey with Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse.

The alpine ski area at Col de Porte in Sarcenas has six runs, four drag lifts, a magic carpet and a snow park. Facilities may vary seasonally. The Nordic ski area includes a 1.3 km ski-roller track for year-round biathlon training. Summer activities at Col de Porte include mountain bike rentals and guided activities.

Hiking routes by trail profile

From Pont du Croz, routes lead to the summit of La Pinéa, Chamechaude and Ecoutoux. The hike to La Pinéa is listed as taking 3 to 4 hours, with 720 m of elevation gain. The route to Chamechaude takes 4 to 5 hours and has 1,000 m of elevation gain. The hike to Ecoutoux is an easy three-hour walk with 500 m of elevation gain. These three destinations can therefore be distinguished by the stated times and elevation gains.

The summit of La Pinéa is a rocky spur offering 360-degree views of the Chartreuse Massif, Belledonne, the Vercors and the Grenoble Valley. The hike is therefore defined not only by its elevation gain, but also by this wide panoramic view.

The Sentier des géants is a different kind of walk. It starts in Sarcenas and is listed as a 1.7 km loop with 57 m of elevation gain. The hike is considered easy and suitable for families, and passes through the exceptional forest of the Grande Chartreuse. Unlike the routes from Pont du Croz, it is described as a loop with its own stated distance.

The village loop is also an easy family walk. It runs mostly along paved roads with little traffic. Its route type and trail surface distinguish it from the hikes to the summits mentioned above.

Getting to the Sentier des géants and visiting the church

From Grenoble, you can reach the Sentier des géants without a car by taking bus N62 towards Col de Porte and getting off at the Col de Porte “Prairie” stop. Bus details may change, so check the current service before travelling.

The bell tower of Saint Barthelemy Church in Sarcenas houses two bells dating from 1660 and 1858. Sarcenas Church is open on Saturdays from 9 to 11 am. During the week, access is possible if you first collect the keys from the town hall secretariat. Visiting arrangements therefore differ depending on the day of the week.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Just-Chaleyssin, La Frette, Auris, Saint-Hilaire-du-Rosier, Oz, Valjouffrey, Panossas, Theys.

For the broader travel overview: Isere.