Rochimont Hut - La Salette Hut

A wild path leading to a lovely viewpoint over the lower Valgaudemar and Champsaur valleys. The return route via the Cabane de la Salette is well worth the detour.

Details

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Creation:
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.66 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 862 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 858 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,829 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 979 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start from the car park, located to the left of the D985A road, on the outskirts of Saint-Maurice-en-Valgodemar as you head up the valley.

(S/E) Return to the road and enter the village. After the town hall, turn right and begin the climb. A few more metres on and follow the street to the right, which then turns left horizontally. Take the grassy path on the right that passes behind a house and joins a road. Follow it to the right to the end via a steep climb, ignoring a path branching off to the left.

(1) Continue straight ahead along a path between two walls, running alongside the back of a house. Cross the stream via the footbridge and begin the climb through the woodland. After a few hairpin bends, you’ll reach a fork.

(2) Continue straight ahead towards the Cabane de Rochimont. This narrow path soon becomes steep and requires careful attention at times. You will reach the small Cabane de Rochimont.

(3) At the hut, turn right onto the path that continues along the mountainside through the grassy slopes. Reach the second small ridge (1,822m) and enjoy the view.

(4) Continue along the mountainside on the path, which begins a gentle descent. Cross two small streams, then, after two small hairpin bends, enter the woods. Reach the next fork.

(5) Leave the path heading towards the Six Cabanes on your left and continue down towards the Cabane de la Salette.

(6) Continue down the well-marked path. Mainly through woodland, rejoin the path taken on the way up.

(2) Continue the descent along the path taken on the way up to reach the D985A road and the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 979 m - Saint-Maurice-en-Valgodemar car park. Near the - Séveraissette (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 0.41 - alt. 1,017 m - Start of the path
  3. 2 : km 1.09 - alt. 1,164 m - Opposite, head towards the Cabane de Rochimont
  4. 3 : km 3.6 - alt. 1,784 m - Rochimont Hut
  5. 4 : km 4.32 - alt. 1,827 m - Viewpoint
  6. 5 : km 5.4 - alt. 1,704 m - Turn right towards the Cabane de la Salette
  7. 6 : km 5.68 - alt. 1,645 m - Cabane de la Salette (Ecrins)
  8. S/E : km 8.66 - alt. 979 m - Saint-Maurice-en-Valgodemar car park

Notes

The path to the Six Cabanes junction (5) is steep and requires you to use your hands for support in some places.

This hike should be avoided in wet weather.

(3) Between the Cabane de Rochimont and the entrance to the woods after the viewpoint, the narrow path winds along the mountainside through a large grassy slope. The sense of exposure can be quite pronounced.

Worth a visit

Alternative route:
(5) Option to continue left and make a round trip to Les Six Cabanes. Allow an extra hour and a half. Les Six Cabanes.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Manu Aircooled
Manu Aircooled

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with unobstructed views of the lower valley during the climb.
Be careful though, as the path is not always clearly visible, and depending on the zoom factor on the map, there are differences in the route!
Between points 4 and 5 (just before entering the woods after the two small streams), we lost the trail in the vegetation (at the two small hairpin bends) and found ourselves on a fairly slippery slope before finding the trail again a little further down!

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althe
althe

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We cut the route short 150 metres from the summit due to uncertain weather – it was the right decision. A lovely climb through the forest
up a steep and sometimes slippery slope, with dry leaves dampened by the rain. Care was needed on certain sections near the rock face. The “good” rating reflects the fact that we didn’t complete the full route, even though we’re already familiar with the Six Cabanes and the section via the Cabane de la Salette.
To be done again in good conditions.

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vida
vida

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a lovely winding climb, with orange lilies, white lilies and lots of flowers.

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fanmirando
fanmirando

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A steep climb that’s a bit tricky because of the slippery leaves.
Beautiful autumnal colours in the undergrowth

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