A gentle half-hour hike, a challenging circular route and a nine-hour point-to-point trail: routes associated with Châtelus vary considerably in duration and difficulty. They also include the Cascade de Moulin Marquis, the Grotte de Bournillon and historic trails in the Vercors. This makes it easy to choose a hike to suit the time you have available—and accommodation to suit your planned stay.
Waterfall and Cave Area
The out-and-back trail to the Cascade de Moulin Marquis is rated easy, is 1.8 kilometres long and is listed as taking 30 minutes. The Cascade itself has a drop of almost 400 metres and is described as one of the largest waterfalls in France. Check local access conditions before setting out.
The Grotte de Bournillon is considered a significant area in the Vercors, with the largest rock arch, the largest waterfall and the largest underground hydrological system. The area has been protected by a prefectural biotope protection order since 2008. Caving there is governed by an agreement with established rules; check the current rules before any underground activities.
Choose Hikes by Duration and Difficulty
The Le Pas de l’Allier et le Pas des Voûtes route passes through Châtelus and follows former mule tracks. These once connected the Vercors plateau with the lower Bourne Valley. As viewed on 22 August 2026, Vercors Rando lists the circular route as 7.3 kilometres and three hours long; it is rated difficult. By comparison, the trail to the Cascade is shorter, rated easier and described as an out-and-back route.
Au fil de la Bourne is a much longer route: the figures listed on Vercors Rando on 22 August 2026 are 32.6 kilometres and nine hours. The trail passes through Choranche, Châtelus, Rencurel, Auberives-en-Royans, Pont-en-Royans, Saint-Just-de-Claix, Sainte-Eulalie-en-Royans and Saint-Nazaire-en-Royans. Following the Bourne, a tributary of the Isère, the route connects the foothills along the banks of the Isère with the heart of the Vercors.
At the Bournillon power station, Au fil de la Bourne is closed from 15 November to 1 May under a municipal order. Check for exceptional changes before travelling. Another regional hike to explore from Châtelus, if you stay there, is the 24-kilometre route through the Gorges de la Bourne.
Stay Overnight and Enjoy a Farm Experience
The Ferme du Clos is a 19th-century stone farmhouse that offers guest rooms. Check the guest-room options before booking. This lets you choose accommodation to suit your planned hike without combining the different routes into a single hiking itinerary.
During a farm experience at the Ferme du Clos, visitors can sample organic products made on site as part of a meal. Ask about reservation details in advance, as they may change.
Discover more destinations: Auberives-en-Royans, La Balme-les-Grottes, Nivolas-Vermelle, Le Péage-De-Roussillon, Saint-Egrève, Le Freney-Dʼoisans, Dionay, Saint-Appolinard.
Return to the main travel overview: Isere.
