Lower Claï from the Vens car park

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A little-known viewpoint above the Lakes of Vens and Babarottes. A 360° panorama stretching from Mont Ténibre to Mont Mounier, as well as the Tête de l’Enchastraye and the Cime de Pal...

Details

n°2514620
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.16 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 3,540 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 3,540 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 8,488 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5,069 ft
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Description of the walk

The route starts at marker 20, at the Vens car park, on the Route de la Bonette.

(S/E) Head towards Claï via the Piste de l’Eau (south-south-east then east). Reach the first valley floor and cross the torrent via a footbridge.

(1) Immediately afterwards, pass marker 21 and continue along the track, heading south-west.

(2) Pass the 1650 mark, ignoring a path coming from the right. Continue southwards, gradually climbing.

(3) At a junction (elevation 1799), continue uphill along the track on the left.

(4) At marker 115 (see an alternative starting point in the practical information), continue uphill (north-east) to marker 114.

(5) Leave the track and take the path leading uphill to the left (north-east).

(6) Shortly afterwards, cross the Riou de Claï and continue towards the Clot des Nières. Climb the winding path, heading generally north-north-east. Pass the Clot des Nières and continue north-east.

(7) About a hundred metres above the Clot des Nières, the route changes direction: follow an ascending traverse heading north-north-west to reach marker 113, which leads to the Chemin de l’Énergie.

(8) Follow the Chemin de l’Énergie to the left (north-west). Climb the winding path to reach the junction of the Crête des Babarottes and the Crête de Chanier.

(9) On the ridge (with a direct view of Lac des Babarottes), turn left (due east). Continue as best you can in this direction to reach the summit of Claï Inférieur.

(10) The return journey follows the same route in the opposite direction, back to the Vens car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 5,069 ft - Marker 20 – Vens car park. On the edge of the - Tinée (rivière)
  2. 1 : mi 0.66 - alt. 5,249 ft - Marker 21
  3. 2 : mi 1.06 - alt. 5,433 ft - Junction – Côte 1650
  4. 3 : mi 2.09 - alt. 5,925 ft - Junction – Elevation 1799
  5. 4 : mi 2.8 - alt. 6,152 ft - Marker 115
  6. 5 : mi 3.01 - alt. 6,273 ft - Marker 114 – Claï Haute
  7. 6 : mi 3.13 - alt. 6,398 ft - Riou de Claï valley
  8. 7 : mi 3.81 - alt. 7,260 ft - Change of direction along the route
  9. 8 : mi 4.13 - alt. 7,690 ft - Marker 113 – Chemin de l’Énergie
  10. 9 : mi 4.48 - alt. 8,235 ft - Crête de Chanier x Crête des Babarottes
  11. 10 : mi 4.6 - alt. 8,488 ft - Claï Inférieur
  12. S/E : mi 9.16 - alt. 5,069 ft - Marker 20 – Vens car park

Notes

An alternative route can start from Pont Haut, on the M2205 road – marker 118 – to join the water trail at marker 115 (see above). However, I do not recommend this route because, in addition to the extra 230 m of elevation gain, the path – which is very rarely used – is difficult to see in places and easy to lose your way on in the terraced fields of Clai Blachière, particularly on the descent. Furthermore, a fallen tree blocking the path in a fairly steep section requires a bit of a balancing act to get past it.

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Reviews and comments

5 / 5
Based on 3 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
sybille.delfly
sybille.delfly

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A brilliant walk from the Vens car park.
I took the track to reach marker 114; the climb begins at this marker.
Once you reach marker 113, you can also head towards Lake Rabuon.
The landscape is much more rocky, and it was very windy that day.
On reaching the Charnier ridge, recognisable by its two cairns, it takes a little extra effort to reach the lower Claï; without climbing all the way to the top, you can see Lake Barbarottes and the two Vens lakes.

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jl1309m
jl1309m

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The climb along the track to marker 114 is a good option. It’s a gentle climb with lovely views.
The lower section of Le Claï presents no difficulty and, above all, offers a superb panorama.
The suggested detour towards Lake Babarottes and the Vens lakes is a really good idea. Finally, the descent from the Pas des Pêcheurs is long but follows a good path.

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balou06
balou06

Hello, and thank you for your comments. It is indeed a lovely circular path, but it’s really best suited to experienced walkers, as the descent below the Pas des Pêcheurs is quite tricky before you rejoin the ‘main’ path.

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Randocaz
Randocaz

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, which we altered on the way back.
Instead of returning by the same route, we descended via Lac des Babarottes to the Lacs de Vens.
You can then reach the car park via the Pas du Pêcheur (marker 27) or along the Vens torrent (marker 26). The route along the torrent is shorter, shaded and very picturesque, but it does require a great deal of care.
But it makes for a lovely circular route that doesn’t change either the elevation gain or the duration of the walk.

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Other walks in the area

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Visorando Member
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