Col du Morgonnet loop from Pontis

Park in the car park in the village square in Pontis.

(S/E) Start the hike by taking the Chemin des Sources. Quicklyturn leftonto the dirt track. Begin the climb through the woods. Join the mountain bike trail marked in red (Tour de Serre-Ponçon). The trail winds its way up through a protected water catchment area. Take advantage of a clearing in the forest to admire a beautiful view of the Grand Morgon. The trail descends slightly.

(1) At the crossroads, take the GRP® du Tour du Lac de Serre-Ponçon (marked yellow and red) on the right. The trail climbs steeply. After turning left at the hairpin bend, you will come out onto a charming meadow in a hollow. Take the path on the right towards the Col du Morgonnet.

(2) At the Col du Morgonnet (highest point of the hike), you have two options:
- Continue on to climb the Morgonnet (see description in the practical information section).
- As shown on the map, take the forest road that descends gently to the right (west-northwest).

(3) Continue and pass a remarkable tree, a 500-year-old European larch. Then descend along a ridge with magnificent views of the Lac de Serre-Ponçon.

(4) When you reach the Les Hugues sign, turn right and take the forest road that descends. Further on, leave the forest road and turn right onto a path that climbs uphill, marked as mountain bike trail no. 14 in orange. Descend almost to the Col de Pontis

(5) Just before reaching Col de Pontis, take the path on the right which continues along a ledge and climbs slightly.

(6) About 200 m after starting the descent, take the path on the left that continues downhill. Continue until you reach the D7 road, follow it to the right to return to the village car park (S/E).

At the start of Pontis, the "Récrée Gourmande" is a snack bar/refreshment stand with a small shop selling local products from the Alpes de Haute Provence.

Optional extra:
For those who wish to climb Morgonnet (1,754 m), refer to this hike. From Col du Morgonnet (2), take the second path on the left which climbs quite steeply to Morgonnet. From the summit, continue along the ridge towards the north-west. The path continues along a ledge (raspberry bushes). Rejoin the main route and arrive at the Cabane du Jas (3).

• The Old School Museum in Pontis (free admission)
• Les Demoiselles Coiffées