The Chartreuse range, between Grenoble and Chambéry, offers some of the most complete gravel terrain in the French Alps: wide forest tracks, ridge paths and a mix of dense forest and open alpine clearings, without the crowds of neighbouring ranges.
A route between forests and ridgelines
From Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse, the route dives into the range’s forests before reaching more open ridge paths at altitude. Expect around 45 km and 900 m of cumulative climbing for a full loop, on terrain alternating wide, rolling forest tracks with more technical ridge sections.
Getting the ride right
A wide gravel tyre (40-45mm) is recommended to absorb the rougher high-altitude track sections. The range’s waymarking, dense but not always consistent across the different circuits, deserves some preparation with a GPX track beforehand.
When to go
May to October, with spring and autumn preferred when the forest shows its best colours. The range’s abundant shade also makes a full-summer outing viable, unlike more exposed gravel routes elsewhere.
Good to know
Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse offers a decent choice of accommodation for a mountain village, with convenient access to Grenoble and Chambéry to extend the trip in the Alps.
