Via ferrata
Nature & hiking
Half an hour from Le Cosy Lodge, this via ferrata climbs alongside the great Cascade de la Fare above the village of Vaujany, with the Eau d'Olle valley and Lac du Verney as a backdrop. Two routes to choose from: the “Cascade” route (D+), vertical and airy right beside the water, or the easier “Passerelles” route (D), with two long suspension bridges. Access is free for equipped climbers, and instructors offer guided outings for first-timers.
- Summer
- Open access daily from mid-May to late autumn, snow permitting (in 2026, from 11 May to 12 November).
- Winter
- Closed in winter · reopens in May
- Prices
- Free access. Half-day guided outing (1st section): €70 per adult in 2026 with Alpe Sports Loisirs, both sections priced on request. Via ferrata kits (helmet, harness, lanyards) for hire from sports shops in Vaujany or Le Bourg-d'Oisans.
- Duration
- About 4.5 hours in total: a 40-min approach from the La Villette car park, 2 to 2.5 hours on the via ferrata, 1.5 hours back on foot (about 300 m of ascent, finishing at around 1,715 m)
No booking for independent, equipped climbers (open access, via ferrata kits for hire from Atou' Sport in Vaujany). Guided outings: Alpe Sports Loisirs on +33 6 22 66 27 71 or [email protected] (by phone or email from May to September, online shop at alpessportsloisirs.addock.co, and in July-August in person at the Espace Montagne in the Bourg-d'Oisans tourist office); another option is the Bureau des guides de l'Oisans on +33 4 76 80 42 55.
La Villette car park, hamlet of La Villette, 38114 Vaujany (start of the marked “Via Ferrata” trail, GPS 45.1636, 6.0895)
Park at the La Villette car park at the very top of Vaujany and set off early with a windproof jacket (north-west facing wall, spray from the waterfall); for a first time or with teenagers, take the Passerelles route or a guided outing (the via ferrata is recommended for beginners from age 14, or from 10-11 with an instructor; not for anyone afraid of heights).