Description

A magnificent walk in the prestigious forest of the Lente mountain, at the gateway to the Hauts du Vercors nature reserve.

This hike invites you to discover the Lente forest, one of the largest forest massifs in the Drôme Vercors. Between beech groves, fir forests and high-altitude clearings, the route immerses you in a preserved forest atmosphere where tall trees, cool undergrowth and vast natural spaces alternate.

One of the highlights of the route is the encounter with the Bronze Fir, a true emblem of the Lente forest. This remarkable tree, known for over a century, stands out for its impressive size amidst the majestic beeches and sycamore maples. Conserved and protected by foresters, it has become one of the most famous trees in the Drôme Vercors region.

The Lente forest also bears the marks of a long human history. From the Middle Ages onwards, Carthusian monks managed and administered part of these forests, contributing to the lasting shaping of the Lente forest landscape. Later, the forest played an important role in the local economy through timber harvesting, before serving as a refuge for resistance fighters during the Second World War.

Today, this vast territory of more than 3,000 hectares is home to a particularly rich fauna. Chamois, deer, roe deer, mouflon and wild boar frequent these woods, making the Lente forest one of the great wild spaces of the Vercors.

Updated on 13/09/2026 - Report a change: info@vercorsdrome.com

Step-by-step itinerary

1

Enter the fenced park (close the gate behind you) and walk through it towards a lone tree near the edge of the forest. Behind it, go through a second gate (also close it behind you). Go up into the woods, taking the left fork at the first junction. After a bend, you will reach the Scialet Félix crossroads (1100m altitude).

2

Turn right onto the track, then, before the end of the track, turn left into the woods. At the Mandement crossroads (alt. 1090m) , turn right then immediately left. Walk through light undergrowth near the meadow to reach the Foire aux Fayards crossroads (alt. 1117m).

3

Turn left onto a path between two conifer plantations. Further up, the path bends to the right. At the junction with a small road (old tarmac), cross it and continue along the track opposite. Always following the yellow-green markers, reach the Carrefour du Pot de la Muette (1195m altitude).

4

Turn left. Follow this small paved road through the undergrowth until you reach the Combe Noire crossroads (alt. 1128m).

5

Continue straight ahead. Further on, ignore the track on the left towards the Fontaine de la Lauze (1130m altitude) . A 5-minute round trip is possible to discover this small pool carved into the rock . Continue on the paved road, reaching the Pra Courrier crossroads (1070m altitude).

6

Continue along the road to reach the departmental road.

7

Then turn left, join Lente (alt. 1071m) and continue straight ahead to return to the starting point.

What comes next?