Route du Pic Queyrel and double arch route

This hike in the Champsaur is marked by curious geological formations in the sandstone.
It is worth taking your time and looking up.
The double arch is a little off the main route, so you have to go out of your way to find it, but it's well worth the detour.

Details

1574275
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.33 km
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 6 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Very difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 950 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 945 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,431 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,723 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking: cross the Chaillol resort and continue past the P1 car park along the track towards the P2 car park. Continue towards P3 and park before the cattle grid; a sign advises against parking in the cattle enclosure.

(S/E) Continue along the pastoral track on theGR®50. Shortly after passing under the Clot Chenu chairlift, you will reach an intersection: signposted Clos Chenu 1760m.

(1) From the sign, climb to the right, heading roughly north into the forest on a good path parallel to the chairlift. Veering to the left, it turns into a trail that you should follow until you reach the Les Cougniz 1860m sign.

(2) From the sign, turn sharply left, leaving the path to the Col de la Pisse on your right. Continue along the path for a long time until you reach the La Lozière 2035m sign.

(3) At the sign, leave theGR®50, which branches off to the left, and continue climbing along the path to the right. This path follows a large circular route with interesting views of geological features. A pretty balcony path leads to Col du Viallet (2,240 m).

(4) From the pass, head west, descend slightly into a small valley and arrive near a rocky ridge.

(5) Before crossing the rocky outcrop, continue through the valley and start climbing towards the ridge on the left. Various small, more or less continuous paths lead to the ridge line. Switch to the south side and locate a massive boulder below. Reach this boulder by following the faint tracks. When you reach the foot of the boulder, you will discover the double arch.

(6) Return to the crossroads.

(5) Cross the rocky ridge. Climb up the ridge starting on the left and, after a few more challenging sections, you will reach Pic de Queyrel (a stake planted in a cairn).

(7) Follow the almost horizontal ridge line to the second cairn, then descend the slope, following the south-east ridge more or less closely.
Note: this short distance has led to the hike being classified as "Very Difficult": the slope is steep, the paths are poorly marked, and the sloping rock slabs can be slippery.
Two-thirds of the way down, there is a small flat area where you can take a break. Then continue the descent to the Col de l'Escalier (2,167m), which is visible from the top of the ridge.

(8) From the pass, take a good path on the left for a long descent to the Merdarel crossroads (1,860m). Continue for 200m to Rocher Roux (1,840m).

(9) Here, you will rejoin theGR® 50. Follow it to the left along a series of flat sections and small climbs to the Champ Fourier signpost (1900m).

(10) At the sign, take the path that descends to the right to continue on theGR®. A beautiful balcony trail and a short climb through the forest will take you back to the crossroads at the Lozière sign.

(3) Turn right and follow the route from the start of the route to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,725 m - Car park
  2. 1 : km 0.48 - alt. 1,759 m - Clos Chenu
  3. 2 : km 1.2 - alt. 1,861 m - Les Cougniz
  4. 3 : km 2.06 - alt. 1,989 m - La Lozière
  5. 4 : km 3.83 - alt. 2,239 m - Col du Viallet
  6. 5 : km 4.34 - alt. 2,288 m - Barre Rocheuse
  7. 6 : km 4.54 - alt. 2,276 m - Double arch
  8. 7 : km 5.31 - alt. 2,430 m - Pic de Queyrel
  9. 8 : km 6.13 - alt. 2,163 m - Col de l'Escalier
  10. 9 : km 8.59 - alt. 1,832 m - Rocher Roux
  11. 10 : km 9.1 - alt. 1,899 m - Champ Fourrier
  12. S/E : km 13.33 - alt. 1,723 m - Car park

Worth a visit

(Between 6 and 7) Very difficult section on the descent to the Col de l'Escalier.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
sabinefebvre
sabinefebvre

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Done in the opposite direction. This makes the "delicate" passage more comfortable.

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medaral
medaral

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful route, but you need to have some experience of steep, unmarked terrain. The reverse route is easier, but again, you must take care not to slip. In this case, you need to set off early from Chaillol, as the route to the Col de l'Escalier is long (but very beautiful), and it is best to have a picnic after climbing the peak.

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83Isa
83Isa

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Right from the start, we reversed the route to make the passage from the Col de l'Escalier to Pic Queyrel on the way up. Fortunately, because it's very steep and you have to use your hands on the section with large rocks. Ultimately, it's not dangerous because there are no vertiginous passages. However, it's impressive and justified to have classified it as difficult. We would not have attempted it on the descent. The section in the forest is very pleasant and the section from the summit of the peak to the Col Vialet is really very pretty.
Thank you very much for this route!

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sabinefebvre
sabinefebvre

Question: Shouldn't this hike be done in the opposite direction to avoid the tedious descent between Pic Queyrel and Col de l'Escalier?

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cervelleblonde
cervelleblonde

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with a good description of the difficulties up to the summit. In terms of traffic, there were a few people up to the pass, a couple at the summit, and no one at the arch where we had a picnic and took a nap! For the latter, we relied on the itinerary of a local friend with whom we were hiking. However, her route turned out to be even more technical than the description in your itinerary (which we used to return)... But this double arch is really worth it, even if it is indeed not easy to find! A flock of vultures seemed to particularly enjoy the cliff. In short, we came away with memories to last a lifetime!

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manilla25
manilla25

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike,
The double arch lacks markings,
Descent from Pic Queyrel: no markings except for cairns, very dangerous.

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Chambefort
Chambefort

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very beautiful hike. No double arch. The descent from the summit presents some risks.

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Tedeschi
Tedeschi

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The first part of the hike is very good. Walk along the ridges with beautiful views and interesting geological features.
The second part involves descending from the peak to the pass, so take great care if it is raining or, worse still, stormy. The flat rocks are slippery even in bright sunshine.

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