Country:
City:
Travel to Orcières via the D944, then head up to the Orcières Merlette resort via the D76. At the entrance to the resort, take Rue des Soleils, which climbs to the left (Les Hauts de Merlette). Park at the very end of the street, just below the Cro Magnon restaurant, in the car park.
Note: a free bus service runs in July and August between the leisure centre, the village and the resort. The regular coach service between Gap and Orcières Merlette 1850 operates all year round.
(S/E) Walk up to the top of the resort via the Impasse du Serre des Boucs (numerous wooden steps), keeping the Le Cro Magnon restaurant on your right. At the end of the cul-de-sac, take the footpath, walk past a house and head north (wooden sign) into the forest. Ignore the small paths to the right and left. Leave the forest and join the track.
(1) Turn left onto it and follow the winding track uphill until you reach a hairpin bend.
(2) Continue along the track to the left until you reach the Clot du Serre junction. Near the ‘La Chaup’ sign (2,040 m) is the launch site for many paragliders.
(3) Turn onto the path on the left; you’ll soon come to another crossroads.
(4) Take the path on the right. Pass the Marches ski lift. Continue on to reach the Lauzières chairlift.
(5) Continue along a path running along the hillside until you reach a Y-junction.
(6) Take the path on the right. Pass beneath the Cross of Saint-Jean and carry on to the Col d’Alibrandes, skirting the summit.
(7) Turn right to reach the Roc d’Alibrandes and the cross at the summit.
(8) Turn back to return to the junction.
(7) Turn right onto the path and follow the ridge. You’ll reach another Y-shaped junction.
(9) Turn right and continue the climb, via a series of gentle hairpin bends, until you reach the Pointe de Méollion, near the top station of the ski lifts.
(10) Head down the slope to the right to reach the top station of the Lauzières chairlift. Note: the path branching off to the right is an alternative route that also leads to the slope.
(11) Continue along the track, veering slightly to the right, passing under the chairlift three times before reaching the top station of the Montagnou chairlift.
(12) Walk past the Marches ski lift station, then take the piste that descends to the right and continue down the ridge until you reach the Clot de Serre junction, which you passed earlier on the way up.
(3) Turn left and retrace your steps along the route you took on the way there to return to the car park on Rue des Soleils (S/E).
Visorando Member
Difficult 
Easy 
