Vercors, Chartreuse, Écrins, Vanoise, a paradise for hikers

Where are these four natural parks in the Alps and what to do ?

The Chartreuse
Between Isère and Savoie, here is one of the great and beautiful parks of the Alps. You can practice hiking, canyoning, caving and skiing.

The Ecrins
Straddling the Hautes-Alpes and the Isère, this superb natural site has many high peaks and glaciers. It shelters populations of chamois, ibex and occasionally wolves. Logically, we practice skiing, mountaineering and hiking.

The Vanoise
Bordering Italy, this national park offers beautiful mountain scenery, hiking opportunities and several ski resorts.

The Vercors
On the Drôme and the Isère, the Vercors massif is a high place of tourism appreciated for its landscapes, its alpine flora and fauna, and especially the multiple sport-nature activities which one can practise there like the excursion, the ski of bottom, the speleo, the climbing or the canyoning.

A landscape of the Vercors

Hikes in the heart of nature

Chartreuse Regional Nature Park

The Chartreuse is 1,300 kilometers of marked trails for good opportunities for day hikes as well as itinerant walks. For long distance hikes, the “Traversée de la Chartreuse” between Grenoble and Chambéry is the must-do which takes 3 to 7 days. Like many, the park offers paper or digital guides dedicated to possible hikes.
Beyond the “classic” hike, the park allows (or organizes) other types of hiking such as “hiking with your dog”, “horseback”, “donkey”, “survival and wilderness immersion”, “geocaching”, “hiking-photography” plus “Nordic walking” and “trail-running”.
> More info: www.chartreuse-tourisme.com

Ecrins National Park

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Hiking is the main activity in this park and an excellent way to discover the area. In all, there are 700 kilometers of marked routes (and refuges) accessible to the greatest number of people, including in winter.
Of all the “Grand Tour des Écrins” on the GR54 is the most complete (about 180 km) and renowned because it goes around the massif and passes in the heart of the site. As often, some hikes are also feasible on horseback, with a donkey or by mountain bike. Also, the park has its own mobile application.
> More info: www.ecrins-parcnational.fr

Vanoise National Park

With 400 kilometers of marked trails (with mobile app) and refuges, the Vanoise park offers good opportunities for day hikes as well as itinerant hikes, including mountain biking.
Among the routes, the Via Alpina and the GR5 remain the most complete, crossing the massif on its length and allowing to discover the different natural environments.
More info: www.vanoise-parcnational.fr

Vercors Regional Natural Park

The Vercors Massif offers a choice of “classic” hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding or donkey riding, itinerant hiking (including the famous “Grande Traversée du Vercors” and its 150 km), or in winter, Nordic hiking or dog sledding. In all, there are more than 3,000 kilometers of marked and developed trails. The park offers several paper or digital guides dedicated to possible hikes.
More info: www.parc-du-vercors.fr

Vanoise
Vanoise National Park

Weather and climatic conditions, the best periods to visit

These parks are mostly in high altitude areas, so the weather and climatic conditions to enjoy the places will be optimal during the summer months. The period June-September is a good time to walk there.

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Have a good hike!