Circular route of Notre-Dame des Neiges via the village of Les Combes

A short, moderately difficult route culminating at the beautiful Notre-Dame des Neiges chapel (a superb vantage point overlooking Briançon and the Val Durance). This little-known route follows the valley of the Partias nature reserve, then climbs the southern slope of Côte Belle to reach the Chapelle viewpoint.
The ascent is gentle and gradual, but the descent will test your sense of direction. Part of it is off-trail and requires a bit of route-finding.

Details

268470
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.82 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,047 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,044 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 7,664 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5,643 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Access to the car park: from Puy Chalvin, drive up the “Combes” track for 1 km. Leave your car in the small car park (elevation 1727m, wayside cross).

(S/E) From the car park, ignore the path leading down to the left and take the main track which climbs up the valley to reach the hamlet of Les Combes.
Walk through the hamlet and continue to the entrance gate of the Partias Nature Reserve.

(1) Turn right onto the wide path which climbs gradually through the forest on the southern slope, emerging into the mountain pastures at an altitude of 2000. Pass the start of the Rocher Blanc chairlift (altitude 2083).

(2) Climb more directly up the southern slopes (wide path) to the Chauvet plateau (start of a ski lift).
Climb the gentle slopes of the mountain pastures to the east and reach the ridge at an altitude of 2300.

(3) Descend to the right to the Chapel of Notre-Dame des Neiges, nestled slightly below the ridge at an altitude of 2292m.

(4) From the chapel’s platform, begin the descent via the Puy-Saint-Pierre path on the north-eastern slope (caution: the descent can be tricky early in the season if there is heavy snow).

The well-marked path winds its way down a steep scree slope. At the final hairpin bend (2,150 m), leave the path.
Cross to the right, heading south, off the beaten track, descending gradually to join a ski run at an altitude of 2050m (blue run ‘Le chemin’, marked by boundary posts).
Follow this run to the right for about 300 metres until you reach signpost no. 32.

(5) Head down to the left, due south, through the mountain pastures towards the forest. Keep the Charvet stream on your right and stay on the ridge running alongside it.

(6) At the edge of the forest, join a fairly well-marked path that descends directly down the slope to cross the Cime irrigation canal (1,850 m).

(7) Take the wide path and continue down to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 5,666 ft - Car park
  2. 1 : mi 1.58 - alt. 6,227 ft - Entrance to the Partias Park
  3. 2 : mi 2.85 - alt. 6,975 ft - Le Rocher Blanc chairlift
  4. 3 : mi 3.7 - alt. 7,664 ft - Ridge, elevation 2300
  5. 4 : mi 4.02 - alt. 7,520 ft - Notre-Dame des Neiges Chapel
  6. 5 : mi 4.98 - alt. 6,663 ft - “Le Chemin” ski run; sign no. 32
  7. 6 : mi 5.28 - alt. 6,365 ft - Edge of the forest
  8. 7 : mi 5.5 - alt. 6,033 ft - Canal de la Cime
  9. S/E : mi 5.82 - alt. 5,643 ft - Car park

Notes

A lovely picnic spot below the car park at the start. Table, drinking fountain and barbecue grill.
Navigation equipment for the descent as described (map, altimeter, compass).

Worth a visit

The Chapel of Notre-Dame des Neiges is a place of pilgrimage in the Briançon region (two pilgrimages a year, in July and August). It was built on a pagan site dedicated to the worship of lakes and springs. A beautiful viewpoint overlooking Briançon and the confluence of the three valleys: the Guisane, the Durance and the Cerveyrette.
The Cime Canal forms part of the irrigation network that once supplied the vegetable gardens of Le Prorel.
Goat farm (selling cheese) in the village of Puy Chalvin.

Reviews and comments

3.9 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.6 / 5
Route interest
3.8 / 5
User 18361767

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,

We took inventory and at the start of the hike we took the left path, which is nicer alongside the river than joining the hiking trail. On the way back, the trail is not well marked as it does not join a hiking trail, so my advice is to return the same way you came. The visit is superb. We also saw marmots and, to our great surprise, there is a mass at the church. Find out the days and times of the mass. There is also a terrace where you can barbecue, so bring your sausages.
Enjoy your hike!

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LaurentLenoble
LaurentLenoble

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

In our opinion, the only thing worth doing on this walk is the view from Notre-Dame des Neiges.
The climb up the Serre-Chevalier ski slopes is neither interesting nor pleasant.
Thank you for suggesting this route; it gave us the chance to discover Puy-Saint-André.

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vignalsi
vignalsi

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk offering views of Les Combes and Les Tenailles de Montbrison at the start, then, on reaching Le Prorel, of the Ecrins massif and Pont Cervières below the Chapel of Notre-Dame des Neiges.
As I was walking in the rain, I lost the trail of the ‘chemin des douaniers’ below Notre-Dame-des-Neiges (tall grass after heavy rain) – do take care.
One option is to head back down to Puy-Saint-Pierre, turning left just below the chapel.

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Marcserre
Marcserre

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Far too much walking along tracks for my liking.

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jploust
jploust

Hello,
We’re familiar with the little canal you’re asking about. I think it’s called the Canal de la Cîme. It’s a walk we often do in winter, on snowshoes, starting from Puy Chalvin. It’s great fun and safe, even after heavy snowfall.
It’s true that the return journey off the beaten track does require a bit of a sense of direction, but it’s good practice for map-reading and navigation!

Thank you for your feedback on this walk. Have a lovely day

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fifi51
fifi51

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

We didn’t reach the village of Les Combes as planned. To start with, we headed up to point 7 and then took the path on the left that runs alongside a small water channel (more pleasant than the main track).
The return journey, heading in all directions, isn’t always easy.
On the plus side: plenty of marmots along the route.
Cheers… Enjoy the walk.

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