Col du Cheval de Bois circular via Lac de Prelles

Hello

The route is superb, unspoilt
Just one comment: from now on, I’d remove the GPS track, as it no longer reflects the actual terrain or the comments.
This will help future visitors avoid any pitfalls

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Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike that clearly gets you off the beaten track!

Completed on 24 August 2025 in the opposite direction (starting from the Pré de la Chaumette refuge). No problems until the Col du Cheval de Bois, where the path is clearly marked. However, from the pass, the descent to Lake Prelles is quite tricky if you don't know the valley.
I agree with the previous comment that there is indeed a herd at the bottom of the valley and that you should therefore avoid it (there are several patous, but also a shepherdess!).
After the Cheval de Bois pass, stay high up on the left side and try to spot a path that winds down to the lake.
From the lake, it's easy, just follow the much clearer and more visible path.

For those seeking peace and quiet away from the hustle and bustle of the Tour des Écrins, this is the place to go!

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Date of your route : Aug 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

In conclusion, to keep track between points 4 and 6, I recommend keeping your smartphone handy or checking it frequently, as there is no longer a trail
That said, this circular hike was magnificent, even if it is intended for people familiar with IGN maps and GPS tracks

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Date of your route : Aug 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Continuing my commentary..
I had to return to the left to rejoin the GPS track of the proposed route, well above point 5, and continue to the pass (point 6). Note that I could have continued to a new valley where a herd was grazing (point marked 2261 on the map) and taken a path leading directly to the pass.
From the pass, you descend on the other side and there are no more problems.

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Date of your route : Aug 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I'll continue my commentary..
The path on the left bank is very pleasant until you reach the waterfall and point 2. After this point, it becomes very steep, but the trail remains clear until point 4. Be careful when crossing the stream covered by the alder forest after point 3. From point 4, you come out into a very pleasant valley, but the trail is no longer clear. Personally, I was attracted by the waterfall and the hut visible at the end of the valley, when in fact you had to turn sharply left to reach Lake Prelles and point 5

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Date of your route : Aug 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This is a beautiful hike, best done in the direction indicated, but the trail is not always easy to follow. As others have pointed out, the left bank trail no longer exists in some places, and you should not cross the Drac at point 1 but further on, when the trail rejoins the riverbed, at the point marked "Chaumeillon" on the IGN map. It should be noted that the stream is very easy to cross as it is August, but this would undoubtedly be different in other seasons. You can then easily rejoin the path on the left bank.

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Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike partially completed on 12/08/2024.
Please note that following heavy rainfall at the start of the season, a landslide has washed away the trail on the left bank of the Drac. It is therefore not possible to make a circular loop.
For our part, we passed the Pré de la Chaumette refuge on the way up. The descent after the Cheval de Bois pass on the Prelles lake side is magnificent, but not very well marked. There are a few cairns, but otherwise it's a bit of a guess.

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Hike attempted today (01/11/23). Unfortunately, Storm Aline (which also passed through Champsaur) did not do the area any favours.
The road is cut off 2.5 km before Les Auberts (the road has been completely washed away at Combe de Bécé, a very large landslide), so you have to park at the exit of the hamlet of Les Clots. The second problem is that the bridge allowing passage after Les Auberts on the left bank of the Drac Blanc has also been washed away! It was therefore impossible to cross today as the flow of the Drac was quite strong.
Seen from the right bank, the path leading to the Prelles waterfall also appears to have been washed away in places by heavy flooding at Combe de la Maison.

It should be noted that two municipal decrees issued by the commune of Champoléon prohibit access to the area.

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Date of your route : Aug 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike with superb scenery, particularly at points 3 and 4, where you come out onto a beautiful alpine plain, which is very rewarding after a fairly demanding climb.

However, be very careful at point 5, which is unclear. It is difficult to find the path just after the small lake and we got lost and had quite a struggle climbing back up a crumbly and very marked slope to rejoin the original path.

Be careful not to veer too far to the right at the lake. It seems to me that the "right" path is not very visible and it is very easy to stray from it and find yourself in a bit of a mess.

The return trip is less complicated; once you reach the wooden horse, it's impossible to get lost.

Bonus of this hike: lots of wild raspberries if you go at the right time of year! Keep your eyes peeled!

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Date of your route : Aug 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike in terms of scenery: it's truly spectacular. The start at the foot of the waterfall is very steep and rocky. However, we found the description a little sketchy and, as I don't walk with my eyes glued to my phone, we got lost for the first time above the waterfall but quickly found the trail again. When we reached the end of the pass a little later, we thought we would find the lake easily, based on the descriptions of other hikers, but we got lost again and the GPS wasn't working very well. Using the paper map and observing our surroundings, we headed straight up the slope and found a trail that led to the pass. We really enjoyed this hike despite the mishaps... It's a must-do!

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Hello, this Cheval de Bois hike is planned for September 2023. It has not yet taken place! Best regards.

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Date of your route : Jul 24, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike done under beautiful sunshine
Steep trail, with a few rare cairns leading to the lake.
Afterwards, the GPS track was very useful: no trail
Leisurely descent to the Pré de la Chaumette refuge

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Hello,
The final climb to the pass is indeed straightforward.
But I was expecting to find a trail, like at the start of the climb, so we spent a little time after the lake trying to find the start of the path, before doing the climb "à la carte and with GPS".
The idea was to warn future hikers about this lack of trail.

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Hello,
Indeed, between Lake Prelles (also known as Lake Surat) and the Cheval de Bois pass, there is no longer a path and you have to proceed on sight. In principle, it is not too difficult (technically speaking, but physically the slopes are steep). You just need to walk in the right direction, going around the summit of Rouite, to reach the Cheval de Bois pass.
Fortunately, there is a path from the Prelles waterfall, which is really useful for finding your way until you reach the small Lake Surat.

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Date of your route : Jul 16, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The difficult rating is well justified, both for the length and for the climb, which often requires the use of your hands.
I couldn't find the trail marked on the map between Lake Prelles and Col du Cheval de Bois. And the description of the hike seemed a bit vague on this section.
So we relied entirely on the GPS... Fortunately, reception was good in the area.

Otherwise, the scenery is magnificent and it's much more enjoyable to do this pass as a circular route than as a return trip from the refuge near La Chaumette.

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