Col de l'Echelle – Aiguille Rouge circular loop

The hike from Col de l’Échelle to Aiguille Rouge is a classic route usually done as a round trip via an easy path.
The uniqueness of the route suggested here lies in the fact that it follows a little-known path for much of the ascent. Please note: as this path passes through areas prone to erosion, it is therefore reserved for experienced hikers.

Details

n°37664

Creation:
26 Jul 2013

Last update:
04 Oct 2023

Last review:
04 Mar 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 5.88 mi
Average duration: 5h 00
Difficulty: Difficult
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 2,651 ft
Descent: - 2,654 ft
Highest point: 8,317 ft
Lowest point: 5,725 ft

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Cerces, Vallée de la Clarée, Dauphiné
City: Névache (05100)
Start/End: N 45.028012° / E 6.656547°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3535OT, 3535OTR
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Description of the walk

Park your vehicles on one of the many grassy areas near the Col de l’Échelle.

(S/E) Follow the path (^GR®5B) northwards, running alongside the D1 road for about 2,500m to the Mauvais Pas bunker.

(1) Leave the^GR®, cross the road and take the path that runs alongside the ravine (the path is marked by a sign in poor condition indicating the Aiguille Rouge in Italian: "Guglia Rossa - sentero difficile").

Follow this path, which climbs steeply northwards before veering north-west, then west. At times, the going is a little difficult due to the path being damaged by erosion caused by inconsiderate walkers who have cut across it. Stick closely to the main path.

(2) The route passes beneath a small red needle. From this point, the slope is less steep and the path becomes easier.

Pass in front of some old military shelters and continue to follow the path which climbs up to a small pass and rejoins the ‘normal’ route up to the Aiguille Rouge.

(3) Follow this well-marked path to the right and reach the summit (altitude: 2545m).

(4) Descend via the same route to the small pass.

(3) Head south along the well-marked path, which descends rapidly and joins the^GR®57.

(5) Continue straight on along the^GR®57for 2,500m until you reach a fork.

(6) Leave the^GR®57, which descends towards Plampinet, and follow the^GR®5Bto the left, which soon joins the Col de l'Echelle (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : mi 0 - alt. 5,755 ft - Col de l'Échelle
1 : mi 1.24 - alt. 5,833 ft - Blockhouse
2 : mi 2.14 - alt. 7,044 ft - The path levels out
3 : mi 2.79 - alt. 7,680 ft - Junction with the standard ascent route
4 : mi 3.26 - alt. 8,317 ft - Aiguille Rouge
5 : mi 4.23 - alt. 7,274 ft - Junction with the GR57
6 : mi 5.48 - alt. 6,076 ft - Junction, left
S/E : mi 5.88 - alt. 5,751 ft - Col de l'Echelle

Notes

This hike is not recommended in damp weather or after a spell of rain, and is impassable once the first snow falls.

There are no water sources along the entire route. Please plan accordingly, especially in summer. Half of the hike is through woodland, but the other half is exposed to the sun.

You may be able to find makeshift shelter in the military ruins.

Walking poles and sturdy walking shoes are essential for this fairly challenging hike.

Worth a visit

1- On the way down the D1 road, after retrieving your car, stop for a few moments at the Notre-Dame de Bon-Rencontre Chapel, which remains open all year round and can serve as a shelter for hikers in bad weather.

2- Following the D1 after the Col de l’Échelle, you reach the Vallée Étroite, which is a French valley even though its inhabitants are all Italian...
This is the starting point for many hikes: Lago Verde, Mont Thabor...

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5

Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5

Route interest
4.8 / 5

Moth54

04 Mar 2025 at 10:09 3600

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A easy multi-activity route, but consequently very busy. Beautiful views over the Clarée Valley on the climb before the Chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Rencontre. Beautiful views over Bardonecche as you reach the tunnel (weather permitting, of course). Easy to do as a half-day hike, or even with a picnic.
A place steeped in history.

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guidez

26 Aug 2024 at 12:07 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The signposted return route is very tricky

You can do this walk as a simple round trip

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duodiscu92

26 Aug 2020 at 08:35 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Last year we followed the suggested route and I really enjoyed that hike (see my comment dated 17 August 2019).
This year we opted for the easier option, as one alternative is to do this hike as a round trip starting from the Col de l’Echelle. Accessible to all (easy) up to the plateau before the final climb. Moderate difficulty for the final climb (a 35-minute ascent from the flat section). All in all, it’s a lovely hike which, with just 745 metres of elevation gain starting from the Col de l’Echelle, offers a magnificent 360° panorama at the summit, particularly to the west with views of the Barre des Ecrins and La Meije.

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duodiscu92

17 Aug 2019 at 08:48 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

It’s a magnificent hike, with a superb view at the end that’s all the more surprising given the relatively low altitude.
The first section, from the Blockhaus to the base of the Petite Aiguille, is quite ‘challenging’: the path is uneven in places and the slope is steep. Best suited to experienced hikers with good footwear and at least one walking stick. I can confirm that you should ABSOLUTELY NOT attempt this route during or after rain, so make sure the weather is good.
I do not recommend doing this route in the opposite direction, as the descent towards the Blockhaus can prove tricky.
Once you reach the foot of the Petite Aiguille, the rest is easy: the climb to the summit and the descent via the normal route pose no problems. It’s very busy on the way to the summit as the routes from Bardonneccia and Plampinet converge there. We even saw two mountain bikers carrying their bikes all the way to the summit!

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