Aiguilles de Chabrières from Saint-Apollinaire

From the pretty little lake of Saint-Apollinaire, towards the Aiguilles de Chabrières. The route offers magnificent 360° views of Lake Serre-Ponçon, the Embrunais and the Ecrins.
This hike is one of the routes leading to the Aiguilles de Chabrières (I’ve described another one starting from the Réallon resort). For me, this is the most difficult one because the climb is steep right from the start and doesn’t let up until the Pic de Chabrières.

Details

n°67319

Creation:
28 Jun 2014

Last update:
07 Sep 2025

Last review:
07 Sep 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 10.10 km
Average duration: 5h 50
Difficulty: Difficult
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 1,027 m
Descent: - 1,019 m
Highest point: 2,311 m
Lowest point: 1,458 m

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Dauphiné
District: Saint-Apollinaire (05160)
Start/End: N 44.562422° / E 6.346562°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3438ET, 3438ETR
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Description of the walk

Park your car in the car park at Lac de Saint-Apollinaire.

(S/E) From the car park, walk along the lake towards the beach.

(1) Head due north towards the forest. Take the small path that climbs behind the fountain or the path slightly further to the right.
The path climbs steeply up to the forest road (^GR®50-RouteForestière de Joubelle).

(2) From there, take the small path leading uphill opposite, behind the signpost, at elevation 1620.

(3) A hundred metres further on, you’ll come to the Joubelle Forest House, where there’s a fountain with very cold water (be careful, it’s glacier water and can cause stomach ache).
Continue to the left of the house; a sign indicates “Joubelle-Aiguilles de Chabrières Trail at 3 o’clock”. This is the route you’ll need to take to reach the top. The path winds through the forest and emerges at a cairn on the path coming from Réallon.

(4) From the path, continue to the left (Blue Circle, if it’s still there), still climbing, then follow the ridge to the chalet where the Réallon chairlift arrives.

(5) After stopping near the chalet for a quick snack, go to the left of the chalet, towards the viewing platform and then towards the orientation table.

(6) Please note: after the orientation table, the path is very steep and entirely over rocky terrain. You will need to use your hands to help you along.
After giving your legs and hands a good workout, you will reach the Pic de Chabrières.

(7) From the peak, look down to see the Oucane in front of you and the Aiguilles a little higher up.

(8) From the Aiguilles, you can return via the Oucane, but you will find yourself on the other side of the mountain at the Réallon station. In this case, it would be best to have parked another vehicle there to reach Saint-Apollinaire or, if you’re feeling brave, head back up through the forest via the Joubelle forest road to go round the massif and find yourself at the 1620m mark mentioned above.

(2) The return route described will therefore follow the same path as the ascent to Lac de Saint-Apollinaire (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,459 m - Saint-Apollinaire Lake car park
1 : km 0.05 - alt. 1,458 m - Lac de Saint-Apollinaire
2 : km 0.96 - alt. 1,639 m - Path leading up opposite, behind the sign
3 : km 1.03 - alt. 1,659 m - Cabanne de Joubelle (1640m)
4 : km 2.21 - alt. 1,872 m - Continue to the left
5 : km 3.53 - alt. 2,110 m - Arrival at the Réallon chairlift
6 : km 3.95 - alt. 2,141 m - Orientation board – Beautiful view of the - Lac de Serre-Ponçon
7 : km 4.62 - alt. 2,281 m - Pic de Chabrières
8 : km 5.19 - alt. 2,207 m - Very close to the route, the - Aiguilles de Chabrières
S/E : km 10.09 - alt. 1,459 m - Saint-Apollinaire Lake car park

Notes

The route provided is a GPS track.
I have classified this hike as difficult because the ascent is tough. The final section, after the ski resort chalet, is best classified as very difficult because the climb is over rocky terrain where you will need to use your hands in places when you are in the Chabrières Gorge. You will need to take great care, especially on the return descent.
There is water at the starting point, as well as a refreshment point and a fountain at the Maison Forestière de Joubelle.
For the descent, you may wish to follow the alternative route I have described here

Worth a visit

(S/E) Lake Saint-Appolinaire: If the weather is fine, a dip in the lake is a must upon arrival.
A multitude of hikes in the Écrins and Queyras massifs.
Lake Serre-Ponçon.
The Réallon Valley and Les Gourniers.
The little sheepfold on the right as you head up towards the Réallon resort, where you’ll find some lovely goat’s cheese.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5

Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5

Route interest
5 / 5

sylviane henner

07 Sep 2025 at 08:37 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike with magnificent views of Lake Serre Ponçon, among other things... Part of it is through the forest at the beginning. The part where you climb up into the breach is a bit dizzying but it's fine. I couldn't find the skylight. I threw it a long time ago..

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lobet

21 Aug 2018 at 07:47 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely walk

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Arragainp

01 Aug 2017 at 17:38 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely walk with stunning views

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gazok54

25 Jun 2017 at 19:07 7200

Thanks for choosing and enjoying this hike. Luckily, the storms raged last night and left us in peace during the day.
It’s a shame your wife made you stop at the information board because the end of the route was well worth it. Try setting off from the Réalon resort next time; it’ll be less difficult and you’ll be able to reach the summit.
Enjoy your walks in the Hautes-Alpes.

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pode

25 Jun 2017 at 18:55 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 25, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A magnificent hike... breathtaking views / glorious weather (the forecast had predicted thunderstorms...!?!)
Well... it’s a bit of a climb... We stopped at point 6 (the information board)... a shame, but the lady had already put in a lot of effort, without complaining...! So...
I highly recommend it!

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gazok54

17 Jan 2015 at 18:49 3600

Oops , I misread it, so I misunderstood.
Thanks for the info.
Have a nice day too.

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Thrigan

17 Jan 2015 at 10:05 3600

Hello.
Didn’t you read my post properly? I’m not asking where the Lucarne is, because I went past it on my way up to the summit at 2403m. It’s very narrow; I’ve got a photo but unfortunately it’s too small, from back when I bought my PC in 2006 (an HP that cost €1398) with 74.3 GB of memory!!!) Now, for half the price or less, you can get a PC with 1000 GB!! So it was always full!!!
Anyway, to get up there you have to go round the east side, as shown on the route map, and then climb up from the north. No particular difficulty, you just need to use your hands a bit and take off your rucksack. No equipment needed.
I did this in 2007 and there were no markings back then.
I can still send you the photo (postage stamp size! LOL)
You can also check out my photo albums on my group (open)> https://www.facebook.com/unsupportedbrow...
Have a nice day

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gazok54

17 Jan 2015 at 09:31 3600

Hello Thrigan,
Unfortunately, I can’t answer your question about the peak at 2,294m. As for the window, I won’t mention it because I don’t know where it is (though I know it exists). I’ll have to go back there again to find it.
Perhaps a hiker will be able to provide us with some information. Let’s wait and see.

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Thrigan

16 Jan 2015 at 19:32 3600

Hello.

I’ve read your description of the Aiguilles de Chabrières, which I did as a round trip from the lake a few years ago now...
My question is, I can’t find the 2294m peak on map 3834ET
There is an altitude of 2370m. I climbed to the summit via the Bne route at 2403m
where you have to go through a gap – you don’t mention this at all in your guidebook??

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Author

gazok54
57 Walks

Visorando member

District: Saint-Bresson (70280)

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