Circular route on the Emparis Plateau

This is the classic route to the Emparis plateau, extended to form a circular route with varied landscapes.

Moderator’s note: You are in a Sensitive Natural Area (Natura 2000) which is subject to specific regulations (see practical information).

30/09/2024: Route modified between sections 4 and 6 to follow the markings.

Details

n°6137514

Creation:
08 Mar 2021

Last update:
30 Sep 2024

Last review:
12 Feb 2026

Activity: Walking
Distance: 13.95 mi
Average duration: 9h 10
Difficulty: Difficult
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 3,156 ft
Descent: - 3,169 ft
Highest point: 8,058 ft
Lowest point: 5,669 ft

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Arves, Dauphiné
City: La Grave (05320)
Start/End: N 45.06047° / E 6.280848°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3335ET, 3335ETR, 3336ET, 3336ETR, 3435ET, 3435ETR, 3436ET, 3436ETR
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Description of the walk

Park in the car park after the hamlet of Le Chazelet.

(S/E) Start by heading downhill and take a wide track that follows the shared^GR® 54 and 50 trails, marked in red and white. Cross the Gâ torrent and reach the foot of the Emparis plateau ski lift, from where the track to follow begins. This track gradually winds its way up the east-facing slopes. Reach a directional mast.

(1) Continue up the slope opposite, which begins to level out. Here, begin a long traverse due west, beneath the slopes of Serre Bernard. Cross a ravine, and a final effort will take you to a signpost just before the Col de Souchet.

(2) Leave the^GR® here and turn left towards Lac Lérié. Reach the lake and skirt around it, following the edge of the plateau to reach Lac Noir.

(3) Continue north-west. Pass a few lakes and begin a rocky descent. You will eventually reach Lac Cristallin. The descent then becomes gentler, over lovely grassy slopes, leading you back to the^{GR® trails} you took earlier, near the Rif Tord chalets.

(4) Cross the ford on the Rif Blanc, and continue eastwards on the marked path towards the Col Saint-Georges. Cross the ford on the Rif Tort.

(5) Continue to the right on the signposted path, then follow the Rif Tort, keeping as level as possible, to reach the junction of several paths at a place called La Cabanote.

(6) Begin the long descent. First follow the Rachas stream, then leave it and, after a few hairpin bends, reach the Baraque de la Buffe.

(7) Ford the Torrent du Gâ and follow it along its left bank. Further on, ford the Torrent du Cognet to reach the Refuge du Mas de la Grave.

(8) Continue along the left bank of the Torrent du Gâ, cross the streams that cross the path again, and reach the Croix de Tuf at Pré Rotin via a bend.

(9) Leave the stream here and continue the descent, passing the chalets of the Rivet complex: Rivet de la Cime, Rivet du Milieu and finally Rivet du Pied. Cross the Pont de Pertus, then shortly afterwards turn left to begin the short climb leading to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : mi 0 - alt. 5,948 ft - Car park after Le Chazelet
1 : mi 1.3 - alt. 6,745 ft - Directional marker
2 : mi 3.43 - alt. 7,726 ft - Col de Souchet
3 : mi 4.72 - alt. 7,989 ft - Lac Noir (2435m)
4 : mi 5.96 - alt. 7,185 ft - Crossroads
5 : mi 6.96 - alt. 7,392 ft - Col Saint-Georges - Col Saint-Georges (2245)
6 : mi 9.04 - alt. 7,457 ft - La Cabanote
7 : mi 10.04 - alt. 6,614 ft - La Cabane de la Buffe
8 : mi 11.12 - alt. 6,293 ft - Mas de la Grave mountain hut
9 : mi 12.42 - alt. 6,234 ft - Croix de Tuf
S/E : mi 13.95 - alt. 5,945 ft - Car park after Le Chazelet

Notes

To protect the local flora and fauna, swimming is prohibited, fires are prohibited, all rubbish must be collected (including biodegradable waste) and dogs must be kept on a lead.

Markings: permanent red and white and yellow, except between the Chalets du Rif Tort and La Cabanote.
Difficulty: no particular difficulties in reaching the Emparis plateau; the walk follows a well-marked path.
On the plateau, fog can be a hazard.
Easy off-trail walking between the Chalets du Rif Tort and La Cabanote.

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5

Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5

Ease of following the route
5 / 5

Route interest
5 / 5

brodiaga

12 Feb 2026 at 16:40 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike. We did it on 28 September.
We set off at dawn (7 a.m.) from the Le Chazel car park. We welcomed the sunrise at the summit just above the village. Admittedly, the climb is a little steep, but generally doable. In any case, once you reach the summit, you will be rewarded with a breathtaking view of the glaciers and lakes. There we encountered a herd of ibex. The summit was already covered with 3 cm of snow and the temperature was -4°C. Despite this, I am really glad I did it at that time, because in the middle of summer, you are constantly exposed to the sun.
The descent to the plateau is not difficult; it is a long descent followed by a practically straight line with the landmark on the majestic Grandes Buffes ridge.
After crossing the ford, watch out for the Patou sheepdogs. One of them was standing in the middle of the path and wouldn't let us pass, so we had to jump into the (dry) river to save our trousers.
Thanks to the author.
I think we'll be back.

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thommylyon

04 Mar 2024 at 11:04 3600

@lemarcheur65
That’s right, the protected wetland is located in the section described off the trail between points 4 and 5. The signposted route, meanwhile, runs alongside the Rif Tort

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AALEX

07 Aug 2023 at 09:20 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We only completed the route as far as point 3 (Lake Lérié) and returned via the same route. The first hour of the walk from Le Chazelet is very tough. But the views, which were magnificent all along the way, were well worth the effort.

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thommylyon

29 Jul 2023 at 07:41 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful two-day route, done in the opposite direction, with a camp-out at Lac Noir.
However, the off-trail section passes through a protected wetland. An environmental officer came to see us at the end of that section to explain that it was prohibited and punishable by a fine.
It is better to stick to the marked trail, which only involves a slight detour.

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Nanine34

07 Aug 2021 at 13:50 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A lovely two-day hike at a leisurely pace, camping by the shores of Lac Noir. The scenery was absolutely stunning and we didn’t come across many people.

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