Col Saint-Jean - Montclar - Discovery trail

A superb, very easy circular walk at the Col Saint-Jean, ideal for children of all ages!
"Discovery trail" with a birdwatching hide near Lake Saint-Léger (don't forget your binoculars), a mysterious archaeological site, the Saint-Léger Chapel, a view of the Dormillouse fort at the top of the Blanche ridge...
Very shaded route.

Details

3680883
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.37 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 113 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 107 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,390 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,307 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The start is at the Col Saint-Jean sign. You can easily park in the resort's car parks.

(S/E) The trail starts 50 m further on after the last houses (leaving the resort behind you). At the fork, turn left towards the Chapelle Saint-Léger.

(1) As the chapel is closed, you can enjoy the view of the Blanche massif.
Continue along the shaded path until you reach a tarmac road, which you should not take.

(2) Continue along the path on the right, under the trees, leaving Lac de Saint-Léger on your left. This lake is not accessible, as it is protected by reeds all around and a bog that is very difficult to walk through!

(3) You can watch the birds on the lake from the hide on the right-hand side of the path. A pair of binoculars is recommended!

(4) Before taking the path back up to the right, take a short detour (signposted) to an archaeological site! I'm not sure I found the 3,500-year-old calendar stone... The return journey is in the shade of a beech forest, following the yellow-red markings ofthe GRP® Tour du Lac de Serre Ponçon.
You will come out onto wide fields with a view of the paragliding landing site (altitude 1333).

(5) Leave the yellow and red marked path, and take the trail on the right that runs alongside a low stone wall and leads back to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,330 m - Col Saint-Jean
  2. 1 : km 1.34 - alt. 1,348 m - Saint-Léger Chapel
  3. 2 : km 1.72 - alt. 1,319 m - Arrival at Lake St-Léger
  4. 3 : km 1.89 - alt. 1,323 m - Bird watching point
  5. 4 : km 2.23 - alt. 1,307 m - Archaeological site
  6. 5 : km 3.69 - alt. 1,327 m - View of the paragliders landing
  7. S/E : km 4.37 - alt. 1,330 m - Col Saint-Jean

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
User 27397475

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very popular, easy and pleasant walk.

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ddlyonnais
ddlyonnais

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, quite shaded.

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Mathilde F
Mathilde F

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice walk, shame the lake isn't accessible, you can barely see it! And the trees have grown in front of the observation hut, so you can't see the birds at all anymore.

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ameliejumper
ameliejumper

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely little walk to enjoy with the family. You can even ring the bell if you find the perfect stick 😉

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ENERGIE
ENERGIE

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant trail, suitable for all walkers, even beginners.

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Zaou26
Zaou26

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk, very well detailed and explained.
Suitable for families or average walkers.
It's a shame that you can't access the lake as it's on private land.
We were lucky enough to see some paragliders.

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gilles_v4
gilles_v4

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant little walk

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Nickki
Nickki

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A great trail that is accessible with young children, and it is so varied that it really motivated them to walk! The sacrificial stone is a good spot for a short break, and it would benefit from more information.

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