Réserve naturelle des Hauts de Chartreuse

Created in 1997, the Hauts de Chartreuse national nature reserve covers nearly 4,450 hectares at the top of the Chartreuse massif, between the Isère and the Savoie. It includes the highest ridges of the massif, such as the Grand Som and the Dent de Crolles, in a landscape of karst plateaus, limestone pavements and high forests.

This limestone relief shaped by erosion contains an impressive network of caves and chasms, making the Chartreuse a favourite area for caving. On the surface, the pastures host herds and wildlife, with chamois and ibex returning over the decades thanks to the site's protection.

The ridges are crossed by demanding hiking trails, often from Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse or the Col du Coq, best between June and September because of the long-lasting winter snow on these heights.

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