Circular Mont-Dauphin starting from Simoust

This pleasant circular walk, starting from Le Simoust on the heights of Guillestre, is organised by the CDRP 05 as part of the 2024 Walking Festival. Alternating between descents and ascents, it takes in some interesting sights: the citadel of Mont-Dauphin and the spectacular Rue des Masques.

Details

n°49936063
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.04 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,302 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,296 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 3,461 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,927 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the Simoust car park, accessible via Chemin des Barnières.

(S/E) Return to the path and turn left onto the footpath. After a short descent, you’ll reach the crossroads, where you’ll see the ‘Rue des Masques’ sign.

(1) Ignore this sign and turn right onto the descending footpath. Continue until you reach a tarmac road; follow it to the left for about fifty metres, then turn right back onto the footpath. You will reach the Pont du Simoust.

(2) Cross the bridge and turn left onto the road. Then leave the wide path on the left bank of the Guil to your left. Next, turn left onto the path marked in dark orange. Here, begin a gentle climb leading to a road at the entrance to the village of Eygliers.

(3) Walk through the village, passing the church, then turn left onto the road marked with theGR®®653Dtrail, signposted in white and red with a seashell symbol. You will then reach a junction of roads and footpaths.

(4) Turn left onto the path running along the edge of the cliff – but keep a safe distance from the edge – and pass through the car parks to reach the entrance to the Mont-Dauphin citadel.

(5) Turn right, then follow the street, passing close to the powder magazine and the church. Continue on to reach the Porte d’Embrun.

(6) Head down the road, following the long hairpin bends to reach the Chapelle Saint-Guillaume.

(7) Continue along the Route de Saint-Guillaume to reach the large footbridge over the Guil.

(8) Turn right onto the footbridge and head for the junction of the paths leading to Guillestre. Take the left-hand path, signposted towards Rue des Masques. Follow a path that alternates between short ascents and descents, skirting the left bank of the Guil. Cross the footbridge over the spillway of the Canal de la Chalp. A few steps further on, you’ll find the start of the climb up Rue des Masques.

(9) Begin a fairly steep climb here, pass by the base of the climbing area and return to the original junction.

(1) Turn right and follow the route you took on the way there in the opposite direction to return to the Simoust car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,455 ft - Simoust car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.14 - alt. 3,402 ft - Crossroads of the circular loop - La Rue des Masques
  3. 2 : mi 0.55 - alt. 3,012 ft - Simoust Bridge
  4. 3 : mi 1.17 - alt. 3,369 ft - Eygliers
  5. 4 : mi 1.53 - alt. 3,369 ft - Trail junction
  6. 5 : mi 2.01 - alt. 3,442 ft - Montdauphin Citadel
  7. 6 : mi 2.36 - alt. 3,343 ft - Embrun Gate
  8. 7 : mi 3.19 - alt. 2,927 ft - Saint-Guillaume Chapel
  9. 8 : mi 3.63 - alt. 3,009 ft - Footbridge at the - Guil (rivière)
  10. 9 : mi 4.25 - alt. 3,009 ft - Start of the final climb
  11. S/E : mi 5.04 - alt. 3,455 ft - Simoust car park

Notes

(3) Water point at the Eygliers wash house.
Between (5) and (6) Play areas in Mont-Dauphin for children and adults.

Worth a visit

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
bernardino
bernardino ★

Hello, and thank you for your comment.
We often make corrections to elevation gain and distances on the website; the data we provide is all taken from the route we have mapped out and is calculated using IGN maps. As this is the case for this circular route, we will therefore stick with a distance of 8 km.
Have a lovely day

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bibi69
bibi69

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The 8km route turned out to be over 10km in the end; we completed it in 3 hours

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monal
monal

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 31, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A few rather steep sections for legs of a certain age, particularly a shortcut after Mont Dauphin and before the Saint-Guillaume chapel to reach the Guil. Best avoided.
There were lots of rock climbers out that day. The picnic table was already completely full when we passed by. Not everyone replied to our ‘hellos’, even when we spoke in Italian or English.

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Max903
Max903

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 04, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It was perfect. The weather was on our side. The last few hundred metres were a bit tricky.

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Roche 07
Roche 07

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Made with good weather, visited Mount Dauphin, very interesting.
There weren't many climbers on this beautiful September day.
We especially enjoyed the last few kilometres.

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User 22961969

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike done in reverse, starting from Eygliers.
The climb between markers No. 2 and No. 1 is quite steep but not difficult.
The street lined with houses between markers 1 and 9 is nice but spoiled by the presence of climbing clubs along the rock faces. What a shame to have to weave in and out of people in such a place!
The rest of the hike is fairly quiet, we only came across a few other hikers.
The views of Eygliers, Mont Dauphin and the Guil are nice all along the route between markers No. 1 and No. 8.
The climb to Mont Dauphin is a bit steep but can be done without difficulty, even in the heat.
You can cool off on the terrace at Mont-Dauphin!

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User 4124547

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A great little hike to do with the family, with a visit to Mont-Dauphin in the middle.
Magnificent views in the first part, then ending up in woods sheltered from the heat.
We came across lots of climbers, it's incredible to see them scaling the rock faces. Contrary to what we had read in the reviews, they were friendly and welcoming when we passed by and said hello!
We'll definitely be back with the family👌
Thanks to Visio Rando
Antony

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bernardino
bernardino ★

Hello
Having redone this route at the end of July, I also noticed this excessive occupation of the trail by climbers at the climbing site. And while a minority showed consideration, this was not the case for the vast majority.
This brings to the fore the difficult coexistence on the trails between hikers and, at random, mountain bikers, hunters, sheepdogs, etc.
However, as a general rule, hikers behave appropriately.

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tremblotain
tremblotain

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route with the added bonus of discovering Mont Dauphin, a quiet little town that is definitely worth visiting for its VAUBAN fortifications, which give the place a historic character. The return journey through the gorges is sheltered by trees, which is particularly welcome in summer, and passes behind the waterfall. The only downside is the final section among the rock climbers, some of whom had great difficulty moving out of the way to let the hikers pass.

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Grandsart
Grandsart

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant circular combining hiking, culture and nature!
The only downside is the presence of several climbing spots at the end of the route, right in the middle of the hiking trail, which means lots of climbers with their equipment on the path...
Otherwise, a beautiful hike with sun and shade around Mont Dauphin.

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matthiasavignon
matthiasavignon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for sharing, a very beautiful hike that combines historical sites with beautiful trails!

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JP B
JP B

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike.
Visiting the fortified village of Mont Dauphin is a bonus, and the view of the Guil Gorges is magnificent.
Thank you for sharing.

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PATRICE31800
PATRICE31800

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello, everyone.
We went hiking in beautiful weather. It was a very nice, varied hike, and a visit to the citadel of Mont Dauphin is a must. The beautiful Vauban fortress is currently being renovated (Rochambeau barracks). Larue des Masques is quite spectacular and impressive. Thank you for sharing.

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