Col des Faïsses - Loop via the Tête de la Garde

Park at the indicated location on the D537 on the right after the Pont de la Beaume bridge, coming from Dévoluy. Otherwise, there is a large car park at Sources des Gillardes and a path leads you to the starting point described here.

(S/E) Take the path that climbs to the left of the road, heading north, then quickly southwest, towards the Sapey valley. At the beginning, the path follows the route of an old Pellafol discovery trail and climbs steadily. Join a track.

(1) Take it on the right (picnic table on the left). After a hundred metres, you will come to a crossroads.

(2) Turn left onto the Sapey Forest Road.

(3) At the end of the forest road, at the T-junction, turn right. After a few bends, you will arrive at the Maison Forestière de Peiseiriou.

(4) There is a table there. Follow the path that goes straight into the forest, continuing in the same direction. The yellow markings are on a tree, and there is a signpost a few dozen metres after the house. In this area, the IGN map (1/25000) seems to be incorrect. Follow the yellow markings

(5) When you reach a small plateau, turn right and you will see the path widen. Now follow the yellow and red GRP® markings for 200 metres.

(6) Then climb up a path on the left, almost parallel to the wide path.

(7) Open and close the gate to the pasture and continue along the well-marked and signposted path.

(8) When you leave the woods, turn right to join the wide track that leads to the Col des Faïsses.

(9) Leave the marked trail and climb up to the right, heading east, to pass above the small circular building. Reach the ridge and continue north, following the edge of the pasture to the summit of Tête de Garde (1,769 metres).

(10) Continue straight ahead, following the ridge along the edge of the pasture, then turn west to join the wide track. Descend to the right, heading north, via two hairpin bends.

(11) Shortly before the Chalet des Baumes (car park), take a path on the left that climbs up towards the Pas du Vallon.

(12) Follow the path on the left, which winds around and leads you directly to the Col des Faïsses, which you passed earlier.

(9) Turn right and follow the same route you took on the way up to return to the car park (S/E).

No water available along the route

(1) Picnic table

(4) The forest house was not closed when I passed by... it is well equipped and can therefore be used as a shelter if necessary.

When you zoom in on the IGN map, all the paths appear, which is not the case on OSM. The GPX track may be useful.

While you're in Dévoluy, you might as well push on to Le Courtil to sample a local beer from the Brasserie Interstellaire.

Via Ferratta at Le Sautet and Pont de Giers (Saint-Étienne-en-Dévoluy).

Gillardes resurgence.