Aiguille d’Orcières from Les Audiberts

Take the D944 to the village of Orcières. Follow signs for Les Audiberts/Archinard via the D475. Descend to the valley floor and cross the Drac Noir before climbing back up to the hamlet of Les Audiberts.
Park at the main car park in Les Audiberts – a large car park on the bend – or just past the starting point at the small car park by the town hall.

(S/E) Walk up the road and, after the first bend, 200 m further on, you’ll come to a small forest track on the left. Take this grassy path lined with raspberry bushes and continue to a crossroads of footpaths.

(1) At the junction, turn right onto the path which climbs through the forest to the junction on the banks of the Ruisseau de la Combe Noire.

(2) Take the path climbing up to the right, heading west, and reach the Ravin de la Croze.

(3) Turn right as you pass the electric fence (livestock enclosure). Leave the enclosure after the drinking troughs, then continue uphill to reach a hairpin bend at a place called Serre Lunel.

(4) Turn left at the hairpin bend, using the markings on a large rock as a guide, to reach the grassy ridge. Continue up a steeper slope to reach the Croix de Crest.

(5) Head south along the path, following the faint tracks as you climb towards the Aiguille. At the scree slope, follow the cairns to reach the summit of the Aiguille.
On the scree slopes, follow the path using the cairns as guideposts. The closer you get to the summit, the more difficult the climb becomes.

(6) Return along the same route to the Audiberts car park (S/E).

Just before the Croix de Crest, there is a sign indicating that the path becomes difficult. But don’t be put off, because although the slopes are steep, the path is largely passable and presents no technical difficulties. You do, however, need to be careful as it is less well marked (cairns).

(5) Shorter alternative: stop at the Croix de Crest and turn back (elevation gain 700 m, total time 4 hours).

(S/E) Information on the Chapelle Saint-Maurice in Les Audiberts-Bas: rebuilt around 1870 on the foundations of an older chapel, its nave is lined with barrel-vaulted panelling. The north choir has a semi-circular vault, as does the south façade.
(6) L’Aiguille: at the summit, admire the whole of the Orcières valley and the surrounding Écrins peaks.

History: The Bonnabel brothers (Joseph and Maurice) left Les Audiberts in 1953 to seek their fortune in Montana (USA). They returned home in 1961 and played an active role in the development of the Orcières-Merlette resort (buildings, shops, local council roles, etc.).