Vallon d'Âne and Vallon Froid loop

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An 8-shaped loop that will take you through the Bois Rond before exploring two valleys and approaching the Pic de Bure rock face. You will have completed the Crête d'Âne loop.

Details

n°1304414
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.81 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 577 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 575 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,008 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,491 m
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Photos

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The hut from the Vallon d'Âne

Description of the walk

Unless you are starting from Superdévoluy, park near the lower station of the Pic de Bure cable car.

(S/E) Take the path that climbs south-west to join theGR® de Pays and follow it south.

(1) After passing under the cable car line, at the three-way junction, turn left.

(2) Pass in front of the Cabane d'Avalanche and follow theGRP® trail towards the south-east.

(3) At Cote 1619, Sous le Vallon Froid, leave theGRP® and turn right onto a forest path marked in yellow.

(4) Turn right and pass Crête d'Âne.

(5) Turn left and head towards the Refuge du Vallon d'Âne.

(6) This pastoral refuge offers the possibility of a barbecue and a break (please respect the premises!).
Continue along the path that leads into the valley. At the bottom of the valley, climb up to the left, heading due east. A few bends will take you to the small pass.

(7) Reach the highest point of the day and enter the cold, wilder valley.
Descend into the valley (the path is obvious, even if it is not marked).

(4) Return to the wide path and take it to the left to pass under the shepherd's hut again.

(5) Take the yellow trail opposite, which descends, passes near the sheepfold (go around it if there are pens), then climbs back up north.

(1) Retrace your steps to return to the lower station of the Pic de Bure cable car (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,494 m - Bure cable car station
  2. 1 : km 0.6 - alt. 1,536 m - Crossroads of the loop
  3. 2 : km 0.92 - alt. 1,533 m - Cabane d'Avalanche
  4. 3 : km 1.99 - alt. 1,611 m - Cote 1619 below Vallon Froid
  5. 4 : km 2.58 - alt. 1,673 m - New crossroads on the loop
  6. 5 : km 2.98 - alt. 1,719 m - Fork to the left
  7. 6 : km 3.41 - alt. 1,778 m - Vallon d'Âne refuge
  8. 7 : km 5.29 - alt. 2,002 m - Small pass between the valleys
  9. S/E : km 9.81 - alt. 1,493 m - Bure cable car station

Notes

No water on the route
Shelter at the Cabane du Vallon d'Ane (6) and, incidentally, at the Cabane de l'Avalanche (2)
No special equipment required, except a pair of good walking shoes!

Worth a visit

During the hike, you can take a detour via the Pas du Follet, at the foot of the Pic de Bure!
In the immediate vicinity: the Superdévoluy resort with its mountain activities and shops
A little further away: La Mère Église in Saint Disdier

 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.

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Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 16 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
katpat05
katpat05

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

hike done on 10 August, very hot that day! At the end of the descent, we also had to veer off the path we were supposed to take below the sheepfold at around 1,700 metres because of a strong smell, probably from a dead sheep in the countryside.
Maybe we'll do it again when there are no sheepdogs around!

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Esteblin
Esteblin
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A beautiful hike with breathtaking views.
Be careful! A few kilometres after the pastoral refuge, a herd accompanied by their patou dogs gave us quite a scare. We are experienced hikers and were accompanied by our faithful dog, who was on a leash. We were very far from the herd and stayed on the trail. One of the patou dogs came very close to us, looking very threatening, and even tried to grab one of our calves. I would like to point out that we did not make any sudden or threatening movements. We slowed down, but the shepherd, who was far away, was unable to call his dog back. The dog only gave up when we stopped completely.
Similarly, near the sheepfold, signs told us to turn left. I waited calmly in the shade of a tree with my dog at my feet for my hiking companions to catch up with me. Three dogs jumped over the fence, barking, and one of them tried to bite her while she was lying calmly on the ground. The shepherd came out and called them back, but I think it's important to report these incidents here: two in a single walk is a lot and quite stressful!

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jrbuecher
jrbuecher
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike that alternates between mid-mountain trails on the first loop and high-mountain trails on the second loop, where there is hardly anyone else. No particular difficulty, except for the steep climb approaching the pass (not very long). Magnificent views. The return trip after the pass is even quieter and more magical.

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quencez
quencez

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful view of the valleys, 10 km2 route on GPS with a total elevation gain of 680 m, steep climb under the pass, very little traffic, highly recommended walk

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User 12400131

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Very beautiful hike, lots of flowers, beautiful approach to the Pic de Bure cliff. There is a slight change from the guidebook: follow the GR to the pass and then turn left onto a small path leading downhill.

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djudje
djudje

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A magnificent walk. Against all odds, there were still blueberries at this time of year! The walk took 25% less time than indicated (I am 45 years old and a good walker)

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Melpomenn
Melpomenn

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely, varied route with beautiful views of the surrounding peaks, completed in 3½ hours.
Crowded on the first part, no one on the second loop (but rain was threatening).
On the way back from the figure-of-eight loop, there was an enclosure with double netting and a sheepdog that made itself known by its voice.

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1950bba
1950bba

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike in magnificent surroundings + stunning views of the Crête d'Ane.
I was a little apprehensive about the descent into Vallon Froid (scree slope? rocky, uneven path?), but it's actually on a good dirt and rock path.

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annefrancoisechantalkasprzak
annefrancoisechantalkasprzak

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

the description of the hike is not always clear, especially at the start!!! As a result, we didn't take the right path at the beginning

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aymonin.jc
aymonin.jc

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2023
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, partly through vegetation and partly through stunning rocky terrain with chamois.

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nini05!
nini05!

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

very pretty, wild valleys
magnificent views

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Papounet JP
Papounet JP

you need a bit of luck... and patience; but they're there!

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marche dans le 05
marche dans le 05

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike, I don't know if this trail is very busy, perhaps in summer
The view of the Pic de Bure is magnificent.
The arrival at Haut Boiron is splendid, but we didn't see any marmots or chamois.

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tboutelier
tboutelier

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We went on a fantastic hike with our three children aged 7 to 12. The variety of landscapes we encountered and the view of the Pic de Bure are unforgettable. We didn't meet anyone except for a group of people doing the same route, but running!
We saw marmots and chamois.

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randofans
randofans

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We really enjoyed this easy hike, which offers magnificent views of the surrounding peaks. Two days earlier, we had climbed Pic de Bure, which we loved, but we enjoyed this hike just as much, as it gave us a different perspective on the landscape, especially around the Cabane du Vallon d'Ane, where the scenery is stunning. We saw marmots, one of which crossed the path right in front of us. There were blueberry fields along the way.

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