Circular from the canal to the hamlets of Prats

A simple, well-marked hike starting from Gaudissart. You follow the Pierre Dimanche canal and cross the hamlets of Prats (Hauts and Bas). Superb views of the Guil and Aigue Blanche valleys.
Mainly in the forest, on the south and west slopes (90%).
There is only one steep climb at the end, which can be made easier by returning along the road rather than cutting across the field.

Details

1101733
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.72 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 291 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 301 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,861 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,617 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the hamlet of Gaudissart, which overlooks Molines on the Col Agnel road. Park near the hotel and sports grounds.

(S/E) First, follow the Pierre Dimanche canal along a trail, which is still covered in snow at the end of April.

(1) At the first crossroads, turn left to follow the canal. Alternate between balconies and forests until you reach the hamlet of Prats Hauts.

(2) Leaving Prats Hauts, take the road on the right, which is a dead end, then turn left towards the yellow signs. You enter the forest, where the path is surprisingly marked by a series of cairns.

(3) At the crossroads, turn left to begin the descent into the forest.

(4) You will arrive at a small clearing where you briefly join the forest track. Immediately, turn left to climb slightly back into the forest.

(5) Cross the road to continue along the path. You can also cross the hamlet of Prats Bas via the road and then rejoin theGR® at the exit.

(6) Take the middle path. Once you reach the D5, you can either return to the starting point (S/E) by following the road to Gaudissart (you can walk on the grass on the left-hand side), or cut across at the hotel visible above (option shown on the map). In this case, you will climb 150 metres in one go without a break.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,850 m - Parking at the sports field.
  2. 1 : km 0.62 - alt. 1,859 m - Follow the canal.
  3. 2 : km 2.24 - alt. 1,783 m - Turn right towards the dead end.
  4. 3 : km 3.43 - alt. 1,816 m - Descend to the left.
  5. 4 : km 4.36 - alt. 1,621 m - Turn left onto the trail.
  6. 5 : km 5.38 - alt. 1,625 m - Cross the road.
  7. 6 : km 6.26 - alt. 1,635 m - Middle path
  8. S/E : km 8.72 - alt. 1,847 m - Parking at the sports field.

Notes

There are water sources along the entire route thanks to the numerous streams and three fountains.
This hike can be done on foot, snowshoes or mountain bike.

Worth a visit

Numerous marmots very close to the trail, then wild boars and deer in the forest.

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 / 5
Based on 13 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.9 / 5
Route interest
3.9 / 5
Louis Cara
Louis Cara

Overall rating : 1 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : Yes

A place of passage that is of no interest. The signposting does not correspond to the directions.

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PATRICE31800
PATRICE31800

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

Hello, everyone.
We did this hike in good weather and chose to start from La Rua to tackle most of the elevation gain at the beginning. We climbed up the road to Gaudissart because it was impossible to go through the fields (tall grass). Beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and typical Queyras villages of Prats Haut and Prats Bas. The descent from point 3, in the woods, is quite steep and muddy! In addition, the route is very popular with mountain bikers. Overall, a beautiful route.

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Zou48
Zou48

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Route taken on Thursday, 15 June 2023.
Beautiful views and the crossing of Prats Hauts is nice, with its chalets.
Beautiful photos of the Cheminée des Fées.
From Rua (on the way back), we preferred to take the D5 road to reach Molines en Queyras.
Saint-Romain Church in Molines.

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manapani51
manapani51

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike mainly through forest with beautiful views over the Molines valley.
The weak point is the climb back up to the car park, as you have to cross mown meadows that are impassable before the grass has been cut, out of respect for the owners of these meadows.
You have to follow the road, which is not very pleasant and dangerous.

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ThB
ThB

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

There is still a lot of snow on the wooded area that descends towards the heights of Prats (40 to 50 cm).
A beautiful hike.

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abeauville
abeauville

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant half-day hike. We preferred to leave the car at Rua (large car park) so that we could start with the climb through the fields, which is indeed a little steep. Beautiful views over the Molines valley, and the village of Prats Haut is charming.

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grandin
grandin ★
• Edited:

Perhaps we can consider the matter closed...

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Nalle
Nalle

Review your comments before posting: "utopian and completely made up" implies that it would not have been done, that it is unfeasible. However, it is feasible, but in this case we are talking about "cutting across fields" as an alternative to returning by road.

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adiba
adiba

This is the first time I have commented on this site, and it seems to have caused offence.
However, my comment on this hike was positive.
Like the comments of those before me, the conclusion is far-fetched (since you don't want anything utopian), even if you are satisfied with your description.
It's just an opinion, so don't feel attacked. And there's always room for improvement.

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Nalle
Nalle

Utopia: A concept or project that seems impossible to achieve.

It is neither "invented" nor "unrealistic"; it is a possible option when the field has been mowed to avoid returning by road. The description is clear on this point.

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adiba
adiba

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The ending is utopian and completely fictional.
I preferred to take the road and cross Rua and Molines.
The start along the canal is very pleasant.

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Nalle
Nalle

It was never indicated that this was a path, but it is a possibility to cut across the field when it is mowed "to avoid the road"... Reading the description more carefully will prevent "annoying" the locals with things that do not actually exist...

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bibibob3034
bibibob3034

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The hike would be fine if the route wasn't so bad in certain sections. In fact, the trail recommended by the author between the D5 and the village of Gaudissard does not exist and never has, according to the locals. You have to take the tarmac road to reach Gaudissard, which adds almost 2 km to the hike.

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dede53
dede53

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

To avoid a climb at the end of the hike, I found a spot in the hairpin bend on the road below point 5 (there's room for two cars). Avoid climbing through the fields, as they haven't all been cut this season and the vegetation is very tall and can be damaged. The descent is quite steep, so you'll need good footwear.

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caillot
caillot
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The hamlets of Prats are worth seeing – the chalets are truly beautiful and old – highly recommended.

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