The best traffic-free bike rides around Lac De Notre-Dame De Commiers

There are three dedicated traffic-free gravel bike trails featured in this guide, all offering a challenging and rewarding experience through the region's diverse landscapes.

The routes highlighted in this guide are generally considered difficult, featuring significant elevation changes. For example, the Collet of Sinard, 900 m – View of the Vercors Mountains loop from Sinard includes over 500 meters of ascent. While traffic-free, beginners should be prepared for a demanding ride.

You'll experience a rich variety of landscapes, from deep-blue waters of the lake to steep, forested mountains. Trails often alternate between wooded corridors and open balconies, providing diverse visual experiences and breathtaking panoramas of the Vercors Mountains and the Drac River valley. The View of the Vercors – View of the Drac River loop from La Motte-d'Aveillans is a great example of this scenic diversity.

Yes, all the routes in this guide are designed as circular loops, allowing you to start and finish at the same point. For instance, the Collet of Sinard, 900 m – Lac de Monteynard loop from Treffort offers a full circuit through varied terrain.

The region is beautiful in spring, summer, and autumn. Spring and autumn offer milder temperatures and vibrant foliage, while summer provides warm weather for enjoying the lake. Winter gravel biking is possible but may require checking trail conditions for snow or ice, especially at higher elevations.

While the routes themselves offer continuous scenic beauty, you'll find splendid views of Lac de Notre-Dame de Commiers, the Drac River, and the surrounding mountainous terrain, including the Vercors Mountains. The region is also home to the charming 12th-century Church of St. George, a listed Historic Monument, which can be explored nearby.

The komoot community highly rates these routes, with an average score of 5.0 stars. Reviewers often praise the challenging ascents, the stunning panoramic views, and the peaceful, traffic-free nature of the trails, allowing for an immersive outdoor experience.

While the trails themselves are remote and traffic-free, the nearby towns like Saint-Georges-de-Commiers and Vif offer options for cafes, restaurants, and accommodation such as gites and B&Bs. It's advisable to plan your stops in advance.

The routes vary in length, generally ranging from approximately 18 km to 29 km. For example, the Collet of Sinard, 900 m – View of the Vercors Mountains loop from Sinard is about 18.5 km, while the View of the Vercors – View of the Drac River loop from La Motte-d'Aveillans extends to nearly 29.5 km. Durations can range from 1.5 to over 2 hours of riding time, depending on your pace and stops.

The region around Lac de Notre-Dame de Commiers is primarily accessed by car. While some local bus services might connect to nearby villages like Saint-Georges-de-Commiers or Vif, direct public transport links to the specific trailheads are limited. Planning for car access or a combination of transport is recommended.

Parking is typically available in or near the villages that serve as starting points for these routes, such as Sinard, La Motte-d'Aveillans, or Treffort. Specific parking details can often be found on the individual tour pages on komoot.