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Cascade de Fontcouverte walks
Lac Laramon - Lac du Serpent
Visorando Member 
5.66 mi
+2,044 ft
-2,044 ft
4h 25
Moderate
Departure from Névache (Hautes-Alpes)
A classic of the upper Clarée Valley with a magnificent panorama of the Cerces and Ecrins massifs.
Pic du Lac Blanc - Laramon, Serpent and Gardioles lakes
Visorando Member 
8.74 mi
+3,652 ft
-3,652 ft
7h 10
Difficult
Departure from Névache (Hautes-Alpes)
After admiring the beautiful lakes of Laramon and Serpent, and the Pic du Lac Blanc (2,980 m) in a mineral landscape, this circuit offers a stunning view of the Écrins and the Thabor massif. On the way back, you will discover the various small lakes of Les Gardioles.
La Clarée right bank: from Névache to the Laval car park
Visorando Member 
6.13 mi
+1,444 ft
-49 ft
4h 05
Moderate
Departure from Névache (Hautes-Alpes)
Between forest, mountain pastures and the banks of the Clarée, this walk takes you gently from Névache to the upper Clarée valley. It is also an opportunity to discover the hamlets and isolated chalets scattered throughout the valley. Don't forget to admire the pretty Fontcouverte waterfall on the way!
Please note that if you do this hike outside the shuttle bus operating period (information available from the tourist office), you will have to walk back to the starting point along the same route!
In the Clarée Valley, Fontcouverte
Visorando Member 
7.33 mi
+974 ft
-961 ft
6 hrs
Moderate
Departure from Névache (Hautes-Alpes)
Route along the right and left banks of the Clarée, to discover the hamlet of Fontcouverte, in the heart of the Cerces Massif.
Foncouverte Waterfall
Visorando Member 
0.63 mi
+79 ft
-79 ft
0h 20
Easy
Departure from Névache (Hautes-Alpes)
A family hike that allows you to discover the beautiful Fontcouverte waterfall in a short round trip.
Pamplinet - Refuge du Chardonnet
Visorando Member 8.03 mi
+2,546 ft
-135 ft
5h 55
Difficult
Departure from Névache (Hautes-Alpes)
This section corresponds to the second stage of the crossing of France, following the 45th parallel. This stage is magnificent and can be a hike in its own right. You follow the Clarée valley and discover beautiful waterfalls before climbing up to the Refuge du Chardonnet.
Walks near Cascade de Fontcouverte
The Clarée lakes route: Laramon, Serpent, Les Gardioles, Blanc
Visorando Member 
8.96 mi
+3,579 ft
-4,459 ft
7h 15
Difficult
Departure from Névache (Hautes-Alpes)
This hike is certainly long, but it will allow you to discover one of the major areas of the wonderful Clarée Valley.
Lac de la Cula via the circular trail
Visorando Member 4.95 mi
+2,001 ft
-1,463 ft
4h 00
Moderate
Departure from Névache (Hautes-Alpes)
A beautiful hike with magnificent scenery. The climb to the Ricou refuge is a little steep but not particularly difficult. Once you reach the circular path, the route is very easy, almost flat until you reach the Torrent de la Cula. The view over the entire valley is truly superb. From the lake, the trail descends to Laval.
Fontcouverte Campsite - Lac de la Ponsonnière
Visorando Member 
7.08 mi
+3,691 ft
-1,391 ft
6h 30
Difficult
Departure from Névache (Hautes-Alpes)
For this first three-day stage, the route offers magnificent views of the Écrins Massif at the Col du Chardonnet and then of the Grand Lac. We have chosen to camp at Lac de la Ponsonnière, but it is entirely possible to camp on the heights of the Grand Lac, near the pastoral house. This allows you to shorten the duration of this first day slightly and, above all, reduce the elevation gain by around 200m.
Refuge du Chardonnet - Arsine
Visorando Member 11.94 mi
+2,608 ft
-4,436 ft
7h 45
Difficult
Departure from Névache (Hautes-Alpes)
This third stage of the crossing of France, following the 45th parallel as closely as possible, is long and difficult but absolutely magnificent. You will discover or rediscover the two jewels that are the Écrins and Meije massifs. Most of the route is on the GR® 50 and GR® 57. The paths are well marked and well maintained.
This stage can be divided into four sections: 1) an ascent to the Col du Chardonnet; 2) the descent to Lauzet; 3) the ascent to the Col du Lautaret; 4) the descent to Arsine.
Chalet de Laval - Alpe du Lauzet
Visorando Member 8.12 mi
+2,785 ft
-3,793 ft
6h 10
Difficult
Departure from Névache (Hautes-Alpes)
A traverse of the Cerces massif via one of its highest passes (Béraudes) and some very beautiful lakes.And a chance to see much of the previous day’s descent route, as well as the many lakes on the other side.In early summer, the route can be made difficult by the presence of snow in the Lac des Béraudes cirque or a snow cornice on the Col des Béraudes (speaking from experience).
Laval car park - Lac des Cerces
Visorando Member 
7.23 mi
+3,537 ft
-2,254 ft
7 hrs
Very difficult
Departure from Névache (Hautes-Alpes)
First day of a 4-day circular starting from the Laval car park in the Upper Clarée Valley. As with the other parts of this circular, this route is intended for experienced hikers who are accustomed to high mountains.
Lac Lavoir - Laval car park via the Pic du Lac Blanc
Visorando Member 
8.57 mi
+2,746 ft
-3,556 ft
8 hrs
Very difficult
Departure from Névache (Hautes-Alpes)
Last day of the circular, returning to the Laval car park via the Col du Vallon and the Pic du Lac Blanc, from where you can see the route of the previous three days.
Lacs de la Madeleine - Lac Lavoir via Mont Thabor
Visorando Member 
6.38 mi
+2,283 ft
-3,448 ft
7 hrs
Very difficult
Departure from Névache (Hautes-Alpes)
Third day of the circular with ascent of Mont Thabor (highest point of the route) via the oldGR® trail along the Roche du Chardonnet ridge and the Valmeinier Glacier, which presents certain difficulties compared to the newGR® route.
As with the other days of the circular, this route is intended for very experienced hikers who are accustomed to high mountains.
Monêtier-les-Bains - Vallouise
Visorando Member 
12.62 mi
+3,307 ft
-4,285 ft
8h 40
Difficult
Departure from Le Monêtier-les-Bains (Hautes-Alpes)
E10th stage lasting 8 hours, covering 21 km, with 1,000 m of ascent and 1,200 m of descent. A very pleasant stage with no technical difficulty, offering magnificent views of the Barre des Écrins at 4,100 m and the very impressive Pelvoux at 3,900 m.
For the more adventurous, there is the option of taking a detour to climb up to Lac de l’Eychauda by leaving theGR® 54 at the Col de l’Eychauda. The stage ends in the village of Pelvoux, which, despite the fatigue, is well worth a quick visit.
Lac des Cerces - Lacs de la Madeleine via Pointe des Cerces
Visorando Member 
7.84 mi
+3,963 ft
-3,261 ft
8 hrs
Very difficult
Departure from Valloire (Savoie)
Day 2 in the Clarée Valley: ascent of Pointe des Cerces (unmarked mountain route), passage to Lac and Source de la Clarée and climb to the second bivouac at Lacs de la Madeleine (off-trail on the final section).
As with the other parts of this circular, this route is intended for experienced hikers who are accustomed to high mountains.