Circular route via the Col des Ourdeis via the Chalets d'Izoard

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A short walk from the Auberge Napoléon towards the Izoard chalets and the Col d’Ourdeis.

Details

n°1273758
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.85 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,283 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,283 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 7,936 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 6,952 ft
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Chalets d'Izoard

Description of the walk

Park in one of the car parks near the Refuge Napoléon.

(S/E) Head down north-west along the ravine of the Izoard stream, crossing the Col d’Izoard road at the bridge spanning it.

(1) Turn right onto the path that continues to follow the stream. Return to the road. Follow it to the left to reach the car park and the junction with the road leading to the Chalets d’Izoard.

(2) Turn right onto this road to quickly reach the Chalets d’Izoard.

(3) Leave the two well-marked paths on your right and head south-west across the pastures, keeping the easily identifiable Col d’Ourdeis in your sights. You’ll reach the pass with ease, where you can enjoy the view across both sides.

(4) Set off from the pass, heading slightly to the right, to reach the Bois de la Ravée.

(5) Continue the descent along a well-marked path through a clearing to return to the first junction.

(1) Follow the same route as on the way there to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 7,474 ft - Refuge Napoléon
  2. 1 : mi 0.47 - alt. 7,103 ft - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : mi 0.75 - alt. 6,965 ft - Start: Chemin des Chalets d’Izoard
  4. 3 : mi 1.11 - alt. 7,172 ft - Chalets d'Izoard
  5. 4 : mi 2.18 - alt. 7,936 ft - Col des Ourdeis (2421m)
  6. 5 : mi 3 - alt. 7,395 ft - Clearing in the Bois de la Ravée
  7. S/E : mi 3.85 - alt. 7,474 ft - Auberge Napoléon

Worth a visit

The Auberge Napoléon serves delicious food and pastries.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 4 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
User 2193251

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant short loop with a good climb up to the Napoleon refuge (starting point). Please note that when descending from point 4 and turning right at the fork, there is practically no marked path until point 5 (thank you Visorando for preventing us from straying too far)

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Christie23
Christie23

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A lovely, very easy walk, though the path isn’t always very well marked. That said, you can see the pass clearly from a distance and it’s not difficult to find your way there. The same goes for the descent: the path is a bit overgrown, but it’s a lovely circular route all in all.

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babebibobu
babebibobu

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The only thing we couldn’t find was the start of the route. The easiest way to describe it is to say that you set off from the Napoléon refuge. When you leave the building and turn your back on it, there’s a small, dusty path followed by a narrow track for a few metres. You cross the road and, directly opposite, there’s a track that heads downhill and takes you away from the road. Then it’s plain sailing, except that the Isoards chalets aren’t signposted. Make sure you go all the way to the right car park to take the track leading to the chalets (several of which are in ruins). After that, it’s fine. It’s a lovely little walk!

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randonnée79270
randonnée79270

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant short walk through the mountain pastures, surrounded by marmots.
We’ll be back before midday, so there’s time for lunch at the Napoléon refuge...

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