Col de Rabou circular

Date of your route : Jul 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

superb hike, it's like walking on velvet.
It's magnificent, and once you reach the top, the view is simply breathtaking. Be careful at the summit, as it's windy because it's a pass, so bring a jumper.
There's a herd and a bull, so be careful, don't make any sudden movements and everything will be fine.
we took a few detours at the end because the trail is a bit monotonous, and we took one or two paths before arriving at the bottom. These paths are marked on the map.
This hike is not very busy. The start is in the shade, but then it's all in the sun.

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Date of your route : Jul 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We extended the circular route a little by starting from the tourist office in Saint-Etienne en Devoluy, making a total of 15.5 km – and did it in the opposite direction (a gentler climb). But in any case, it was a beautiful walk through the mountain pastures with the peaks of Dévoluy in the background.

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Date of your route : Jun 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

In recognition of the heat, we started this hike at 7:00 a.m. in the opposite direction and completed it in a circular fashion at 11:50 a.m., including a picnic. This allowed us to do the entire climb in the shade. However, the forest road is not interesting. We will do it differently next time, replacing this climb with the reverse of the return trail from the "Cascade de la Souloise circular from Pont du Villard" hike. The scenery is very beautiful.

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Date of your route : Aug 30, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike with varied landscapes. This morning, we couldn't see the peaks (Pic de Bure was hidden!) due to heavy cloud cover. Upon exiting the forest, we arrived in a magnificent valley just below the pass. Excellent. During the descent, we conversed with a very friendly shepherdess and petted her dogs, even the Patous! The descent by road was a bit long, but the sun was shining and we were able to admire the beautiful landscape. I think next time we'll do the hike in the other direction so we can enjoy this magnificent view on the way up and descend through the valley and forest, which will be nice in hot weather.

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Date of your route : Aug 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The return trip along the trail is very long. Next time, we'll come back the same way we came and take a detour via the avalanche hut.
What's more, there was a shepherd and his sheepdogs at the pass. I didn't appreciate him letting his sheep graze on the path, forcing us to take a detour. Everyone in their place.

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Date of your route : Jul 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Wide variety of terrain: forest, mountain pastures, unpaved road used for maintenance of the Col de Rabou antennas to descend, and lots of flowers, including gentians, willowherbs and, higher up, houseleeks... At the pass, there was very strong wind, rain and dark clouds, so we didn't stop. We encountered Patous, herd protection dogs, which are not fenced in on the mountain pastures. They barked loudly at us, but we had watched a video beforehand that explained how to talk to them and read the signs that are found everywhere. By introducing ourselves, talking to them calmly face to face and petting them, they let us pass. A guide on a heritage walk told us that in Dévoluy, there is a wolf attack about every ten days.

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Date of your route : Aug 28, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Last hike in Dévoluy. The weather forecast isn't promising. A pleasant climb through the woods. Crocuses are blooming, as are mushrooms (some beautiful saffron milk caps and delicious milk caps), signalling the end of summer.
When we reach the pass, it looks really threatening, the whole valley towards Grenoble is black and there's lightning.
We don't linger; we eat sandwiches as we walk and there's a beautiful storm over the last few kilometres (but it wasn't cold and we had brought an umbrella). Personally, I find the rain exhilarating (maybe it's the ozone).
All in all, it's a lovely little walk, but it's a shame that it's almost entirely on a track. The other side of the pass isn't great.

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

We did the circular loop in reverse, climbing up from the east in the cool morning air for a gentle warm-up. We then took the alternative route to see the Souloise waterfall described in another hike (disappointing: the word 'waterfall' was misused), but the descent through the woods was very pleasant (note: the path is shared with mountain bikes).

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