Col des Portes (2962m) walks

Étape du GR®5 de La Chalp à Ceillac par le Col du Fromage dans le Queyras authentique et sauvage en passant par Chateau-Queyras.

This fourteenth stage completes the crossing of the Queyras Massif. From La Chalp, the GR® 5 climbs along the left bank of the Torrent de l’Izoard above Arvieux, then reaches the hamlet of Les Maisons. From there, it heads towards Lac de Roue before descending to Château-Queyras. The route climbs the steep slope on the opposite side, on the right bank of the Torrent de Bramousse, joins a road at a hairpin bend and leaves it at the next one. It continues through the torrent’s valley, reaches the ridge separating the Bramousse and Riou Vert valleys, and, hugging the hillside beneath the peaks of La Selle and Rasis, reaches the Col Fromage. The path descends along the right bank of the Ravin de Rasis to reach Le Villard before arriving at Ceillac, from where it follows the Torrent du Mélezet, alternating between the left and right banks, before reaching the Refuge de la Cime du Mélezet.

Instead of taking the ‘classic’ ascent via the forest road, opt for a route that climbs more steeply and features much more technical single-track sections – this will give you a good warm-up for the descent towards Les Granges de Furfande, then on to Le Queyron and finally back to Arvieux. I’ve only described the ascent route here. For the descent, use the Col de Furfande route guide , described by morgiou13, available at (2). Given the difficulty of the climb (steep sections and tight, steep hairpin bends), this route is best suited to e-MTBs.

This is the first stage of the tour and is an adaptation as the route is not on theGR®58, but it allows you to visit the castle that dominates the Guil pass. (Please note) The Montbardon stopover lodge (Le Cadran Solaire) has been closed since 2018, so the best option from Château Queyras is to go directly to Ceillac via the Col Fromage. (Important note): See this website mentioning the reopening of this lodge for summer 2023.

The Tour du Queyras, labelledGR®58, is adaptable. The route described, starting from Château Queyras and completed in a group in September 2008, will take you through this natural park, skirting and climbing some 3,000 metres. You will discover the beautiful villages of this park with their well-known names: Ceillac, Saint Véran, Abriés... What's more, in summer the weather is almost always fine. The bright blue sky the next day will quickly make you forget the storm of the previous evening.

The walk mostly follows a ridge above the Guil valley between Aiguilles and Ville-Vieille. We recommend returning via the free shuttle bus, which runs between Château-Queyras and L’Échalp.

This high-altitude route will allow you to explore the famous Chenaillet Geological Trail, as well as Lac de Chaussé and the source of the Doire. This walk is accessible via the Chalmettes Télémix and the Gondrans chairlift.

The second stage allows you to discover the observation post on the Crête des Grangettes.

This walk, starting from the Furfande refuge, will take you past the magnificent barns and chalets of Furfande and lead you along a path running along a ridge above the Queyras valley, where the River Guil winds its way through, then on to Souliers via an ascent from the hamlet of Les Moullins in the Arvieux valley.

The seventh and final stage takes you past the Malrif lakes under the ridge separating Queyras and Briançonnais.