Col des Aiguilles - Return circular via Le Chauvet

Most of the route follows theGRP® Tour du Dévoluy trail markedGR®94.
For the return journey, rather than going back the same way, you can vary the route by returning via Small Pass and Le Charvet. This is an off-trail route.
This alternative route must be taken in good visibility and requires the ability to use a map and compass, which is essential for off-trail hiking.
The view from Le Chauvet over Le Dévoluy is magnificent.

Details

835758
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.78 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 836 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 830 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,056 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,438 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at Col du Festre.
Preliminary remark: the route to Col des Aiguilles follows theGRP® marked trail shared by the Tour du Dévoluy and the Tour du Buech to the west and presents no danger except for the tricky passage at the Saute Aure waterfall, which can be slippery in wet weather.

(S/E) Take the wide track, markedGRP® Red and Yellow, through the Vallon de Serre Noir.

(1) At the end of the sheep park, ignore the fork to the right (north-west) which leads to the Cabane de la Rama and continue straight ahead on the path which climbs through the mountain pastures to a large shepherd's hut at a place called Le Selenq, the crossroads for the return route.

(2) Continue straight ahead on theGRP®, heading north then west to pass the Cascade de Saute Aure waterfall. Be careful, as this is a slightly tricky passage. The trail then opens out into a wide valley, follows the meandering stream and, before the Fontaine du Roy fountain, joins the crossroads of the return branch at a place called Prés du Col.

(3) Continue west on theGRP® to easily reach the Col des Aiguilles (2,009 m).

(4) Return via the same route, descending the Vallon des Aiguilles to Prés du Col.

(3) From there, the off-trail route requires good visibility and a sense of direction.
Cross the meadows towards small pass (1,942 m), which is clearly visible, heading south-east.
The climb is easy in the low vegetation and the passage to the small pass is easy to find.
From the small pass, walk along the hillside, still heading south-east, towards the Col de Darne (1933m). Reach the pass.

(5) Continue south-east to the summit of Chauvet, following the ridge, rather below, on the east side.
The climb is steady and presents no difficulty.

(6) From the summit (2062m), return by the same route, slightly below the ridge, to reach the Col de Darne.

(5) Descend to the right into the north-east facing valley. Pass by the Fontaines Froides (Cold Springs) towards the sheep pens and the shepherd's refuge. There is no path at the beginning, but from the springs onwards, you will find animal tracks that are easy to follow.
Reach the fenced enclosures, go around them on the left and rejoin the marked path you took on the way up.

(2) Turn right onto the path you took on the way up to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 1,438 m - Col du Festre
  2. 1 : km 1.21 - alt. 1,519 m - Intersection, opposite
  3. 2 : km 2.36 - alt. 1,709 m - Crossroads of the circular
  4. 3 : km 3.98 - alt. 1,819 m - Return crossroads
  5. 4 : km 5.48 - alt. 2,005 m - Col des Aiguilles (2003m)
  6. 5 : km 8.37 - alt. 1,941 m - Col de Darne (1993m)
  7. 6 : km 8.96 - alt. 2,056 m - Le Chauvet (2062m)
  8. E : km 12.78 - alt. 1,442 m - Col du Festre

Notes

Know how to use a map and compass, which is essential for off-trail hiking.

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 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
JODIDO
JODIDO

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Just to clarify: it's the Col des Aiguilles, not the Col de l'Aiguille...
A pleasant hike, but one that should be classified as "Moderate" rather than "Difficult"...
I started my hike at 7:45 a.m. and it took me 1 hour and 50 minutes to reach Col des Aiguilles, where I was alone!
There is a short rocky crossing overlooking the Cirque de Saute Aure, which can be tricky in wet, snowy or icy conditions... For experienced mountaineers, it's no big deal!
There were beautiful views from the pass, but a strong, icy wind meant I couldn't stay there very long.
I returned to the foot of the valley and climbed up to the small pass. I had no map or compass, but the passage between the two peaks (Jas des Arrés and Merlant) is impossible to miss! Once at Col de Darne, I wondered which side I would climb up to Chauvet. The question was quickly resolved after spotting a clearly visible path and cairns. The climb was easy and not at all exposed. And there, at the summit, the view is breathtaking: the Tête and Roc de Garnesier, the Grand Ferrand, the Grande Tête de l'Obiou, the Grand Rond, the Plateau de Bure, the Montagne de Faraud, Saint-Étienne en Dévoluy... With the strong, icy wind blowing again, I only stayed for fifteen minutes!
The description must not have been updated for a while, because once back at the Col de Darne, a faint trail leads to another one below, which is marked with red or blue paint.
I quickly returned to the pastures and fences surrounding the sheepfold. Since the hike wasn't really difficult, I pushed on to the Rama hut to take a break and eat at the foot of the Cirque de Saute Aure.
Return to Col du Festre at 1:45 p.m. In the end, 6 hours, 14.5 km and about 900 metres of elevation gain.

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quito84
quito84

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike, busy up to the Col des Aiguilles (which is normal, as it's the classic route) and then wild after that! Return via the Col de Darne as suggested, which was very nice, with superb views of Les Garnesier (Tête and Roc) done the day before yesterday.
The trail is perfect, no difficulties. Thank you for the suggestion.

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AndreHart
AndreHart

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route, which we made even more exceptional by walking along the Crête du Vallon, taking a small path from the Col des Aiguilles. Extraordinary panoramic views towards Dévoluy and the Barre des Ecrins.
Please note: this route is for very experienced hikers as there are some difficult sections.

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cortovaldes
cortovaldes

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Many thanks for the suggestion. We did it on Saturday 12 June and thoroughly enjoyed it. A wonderful appetiser before tackling Garnesier the next day, starting from Cluse.
Many thanks.

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Franck D
Franck D

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful view from the pass and over Chauvet

As we are drawn to the Pic de Bure, we decide to make a circular route and continue down the other side of Chauvet. Even though we are off the trail, the descent is steady but not particularly difficult
This extends the average duration by 20 minutes (6 hours 20 minutes) and distance: 13.34 km

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allasianoel
allasianoel

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A very beautiful hike that I was familiar with, but not with the return via Chauvet, which is an easy climb despite appearances.
The route is easy to follow.

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Sam Vabien
Sam Vabien

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Very nice!

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isaha
isaha

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very pleasant hike. Easy to find route in clear weather.

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