Col du Chardonnet - Lac de la Mine

A very pleasant and varied hike in a valley that has remained fairly wild. At the pass, there is a magnificent view of the Écrins Massif, the Cerces and the Grand Galibier Massif.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.71 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 788 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 788 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,647 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,859 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The shuttle departs from the Fontcouverte chalets on the D301T road, approximately 6.5 km after Névache. Cross La Clarée and park just after, opposite the campsite.

(S/E) Enter the campsite via the main road and after about 70 metres, take the wide path on the left heading south-east (variant ofthe GR®57).

Reach the Chalets de Laraux and continue uphill via theGR® 57 variant, heading west, to reach the Raisin stream and then the Refuge du Chardonnet.

(1) Continue south-southwest through the wide valley in the mountain pastures until you reach the Raisin stream.

(2) Cross the stream and ignore a path on the left to continue westwards along the path that climbs up the valley opposite (GR®57). Pass Lac du Châtelard and join the Chardonnet stream at the foot of the Crête du Châtelard on the left and the Crête du Queyrellin on the right.

(3) Follow the Chardonnet valley westwards, on the right bank of the stream. The trail (GR®57) passes after a first ledge to the left of a Télénivomètre (telephone box) and then, after a second ledge, arrives at the Col du Chardonnet.

(4) Continue to the right in a north-northeast direction for about 200 metres, then turn right towards the east, into a small hollow to reach Lac de la Mine.

(5) Continue south to rejoin the trail (GR®57) that you took on the way up to the pass. Follow this trail downhill to the Chardonnet stream at the foot of the Crête du Châtelard and Crête du Queyrellin.

(3) Leave theGR®57and take the path on the left as you descend, which goes around the peat bog on the right, then follows the Chardonnet stream on the right bank. Just before the slope becomes steeper, cross the stream and continue on the left bank to the Chalets du Queyrellin.

(6) Follow the track that serves the hamlet until you reach the D301T road, which you will take a few metres to the right to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,859 m - Parking - Clarée (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 2.35 - alt. 2,224 m - Refuge du Chardonnet
  3. 2 : km 2.8 - alt. 2,243 m - Raisin stream
  4. 3 : km 3.31 - alt. 2,296 m - Chardonnet stream
  5. 4 : km 5.78 - alt. 2,639 m - Col du Chardonnet
  6. 5 : km 6.15 - alt. 2,635 m - Lac de la Mine
  7. 6 : km 10.61 - alt. 1,986 m - Queyrellin Chalets
  8. S/E : km 11.71 - alt. 1,859 m - Parking

Notes

Bring water with you.

No major difficulties despite the elevation.

From early July to late August, motor vehicle traffic is restricted in the upper Clarée Valley. The road is closed to traffic travelling uphill from Névache between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. (closing before 10 a.m. if the Fontcouverte and Laval car parks are full). To reach these valleys, a convenient shuttle service runs every 20 minutes from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day during the summer months

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

4.9 / 5
Based on 26 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
Randophil57
Randophil57

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike that passes by the Chardonnet refuge, closed during this season, and reaches the pass where the view of the Ecrins peaks is superb. The descent trail is very pleasant along the torrent.

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Nelson74
Nelson74

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike that is very accessible despite a nice elevation gain.
Superb panoramic views throughout the hike, especially at the pass in front of the Écrins mountain range

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13Provence
13Provence

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike on 27 August with not a cloud in the sky and no difficulties apart from the elevation gain. The view is beautiful all along the route and when you reach the pass you can admire the Serre Chevalier valley, the Lautaret and the climb up to the Galibier. I highly recommend it!

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RPodor
RPodor

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike partly in the rain and with fog at the summit. We could make out a few peaks of the Ecrins, but it was a bit frustrating... On the way back, we couldn't cross the river because there was still too much water. It's already very beautiful in the rain and clouds, so I think it must be magnificent in good weather!

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FIGEROU
FIGEROU

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant hike, very well described by the author

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migar
migar

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We attempted the climb to the pass in June 2020, but due to a snowstorm, we didn't make it to the top and vowed to return in the summer. This time, we were able to see the Barre des Ecrins with its glaciers. The whole route is magnificent and a real treat. This time, even with binoculars, we only saw a large flock of sheep in the distance, guarded by a big white dog. (Not even a marmot to eat.)
In any case, the hike is well worth it. Thank you for this discovery.

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VirginieL
VirginieL

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Quite busy, but the walk and the view from the pass were fantastic

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Tine
Tine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A beautiful autumn day, a great hike among the flaming larch trees, with a beautiful view of the mountain peaks.

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smashdc
smashdc
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

❤️ Magnificent panoramic views that change almost throughout the entire hike ;-)
🎬 These superb panoramas here 🚀 https://youtu.be/oBwIKpVuogQ
⚡️ The stunning Clarée Valley 😍

I venture into the rocky descent of the Cée Basse after Lac de la Mine :-o Not easy and quite slippery with the small stones!
And I head back to the path I took on the way there, which is more beautiful than the one leading to the chalets (point 7) and because there was less sun in the morning than in the middle of the afternoon ;-)

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Microbe123
Microbe123

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike, well marked. Amazing view from the summit. Sent a video on "Névache, the most beautiful valley in the world"
We recognised quite a few peaks.
Strong winds at the pass and also during the climb after the refuge.

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manissieux
manissieux

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did it on a cloudy and pretty cold day, especially at the pass, but the walk up to the pass was awesome even under the clouds, there were loads of marmots, the view from the pass was amazing and the walk back down was beautiful too
We had a great time despite the weather
The mountain is beautiful in all its forms

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jma01
jma01

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

very beautiful hike, I didn't enjoy the return trip via the suggested route, which was much less scenic

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valcie
valcie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful views from the Col du Chardonnet. Although the climb up to the refuge is very pleasant, the different landscape and fewer people on the descent make this a very satisfying hike.

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migar
migar

Back to the scene of the crime. When we arrived at the car park yesterday, I was unpleasantly surprised to find that I had lost my GPS.
This morning, we went back (in the opposite direction this time). I knew where I had last used it. I probably hadn't put it back properly. Bingo, I found it by the side of the road.
Today the weather was clearer and we were able to find the animals we saw yesterday. They were chamois (see photo).
It was a good day this time.

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migar
migar

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The weather is rather uncertain this morning, but we decide to go ahead anyway. The trail to the refuge is splendid. Beautiful view of the valley, pretty alpine chalets, flowers galore.
Up to Lake Chatelard, there is a cold wind and drizzle. On the climb up Chardonnet, the weather takes a turn for the worse. Snow replaces the rain and the summit is shrouded in clouds. When we reach an altitude of 2,500 metres near the snow gauge, there are lots of snowfields, so the lake is probably still frozen. We decide to turn back.
Sheltered behind a large rock, we have a snack and take a look through our binoculars at the Queyrellin peaks. A few animals are doing the same as us, chamois or ibex? Too far away and not enough visibility to tell.
We quickly descend to warm up. At Saune Longue, when we need to cross to the left bank, there is too much water and the snow is too dangerous to cross. We go back up the stream to find a way across (I take the opportunity to slip, without hurting myself, but getting my feet wet). Once we overcome this difficulty (and wring out our socks), everything goes well.
A very beautiful hike. We've been coming to Clarée in June for two years now. Last year, the weather wasn't great either. Next time, we'll come in September.
Thanks to Denis26 for this route, and see you next time, all the way to the end, to enjoy the view from the pass.

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