Matacharre Ridge and Pic Chauve circular loop

A little-visited ridge and peak offering a 360° panorama of the surrounding mountains and a magnificent view of the Combe de Mai and the snow-capped Montagne de Bure.
Please note: take note of the comments in the practical information section before setting out on this hike.

Details

1608185
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.16 km
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 5 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Very difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 887 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 883 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,765 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 935 m

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the climbing site in La Plaine, in the Roche-des-Arnauds district.

(S/E) Head south then north along a stony track; leave the track and take a yellow-marked path on the left following the torrent’s embankment. Cross the torrent – this section can be tricky when the water is high – and you’ll reach a crossroads of paths.

(1) Turn left towards the Col des Sérigons. Continue up a relatively steep slope to reach the junction marked ‘Matacharre’.

(2) Change direction by turning right, almost 180°, towards the east, to follow the sign for Matacharre.
The contour path skirts the Crête des Rortes, then at the fork heads north until it meets the forest track.

(3) Follow the forest track up to the Col de Matacharre (1,661m). There are a few shortcuts available to bypass some of the hairpin bends.

(4) From the pass, head left, westwards, to reach La Cuculière (1,723m), admire the panoramic view from here, then head south along the Matacharre ridge. Please note that the route includes a few tricky sections which should be approached with caution. There are no markings along the ridge. Reach the summit of Pic Chauve.

(6) Stay on the ridge to reach, in succession, Pic Chauve, Tête Plumée and Col des Sérigons, via a path that is more or less well marked, with an extremely steep descent (>30%).
Note: As this section had already been tackled previously, it determined the direction of the hike.
Arrive at Col des Sérigons.

(7) From the pass, the route is well marked in yellow; follow these markings. Take care at the 1382m mark: do not take the signposted path; continue along the track for a few hundred metres until you reach the start of the Ravin de la Mèque.

(8) Leave the track and head down to the left, through the undergrowth along a good path marked in yellow. Be careful: the path, covered in leaves, is steep and quite slippery. The return to “La Plaine” runs alongside the climbing site; do not take the path on the right leading down to the campsite.

(9) Crossing the Rif de l'Arc: unlike the marked route, look for a footbridge upstream to make the crossing easier and avoid getting your feet wet. Head to the car park at the climbing site (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 937 m - Climbing site car park
  2. 1 : km 0.76 - alt. 991 m - Col des Sérigons junction
  3. 2 : km 1.76 - alt. 1,271 m - Ascent to 1275m, Matacharre signpost
  4. 3 : km 2.99 - alt. 1,350 m - Forest track
  5. 4 : km 5.37 - alt. 1,655 m - Col de Matacharre (1661m)
  6. 5 : km 5.64 - alt. 1,716 m - La Cuculière 1723m
  7. 6 : km 6.99 - alt. 1,765 m - Summit of Pic Chauve 1771m
  8. 7 : km 7.53 - alt. 1,604 m - Col des Sérigons (1606m)
  9. 8 : km 8.86 - alt. 1,409 m - Ravin de la Mèque
  10. 9 : km 11.1 - alt. 937 m - Rif de l'Arc
  11. S/E : km 11.16 - alt. 937 m - Climbing site car park

Notes

Warning: This hike features steep gradients and some tricky sections along the ridge. Crossing the Rif de l'Arc can be tricky depending on the water level. Route reserved for experienced hikers. Avoid in wet weather, due to rocky sections, very steep slopes and slippery undergrowth.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
JulieFJ
JulieFJ

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A fantastic circular route, with views of Céüse and Le Dévoluy.

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Florent Ribail
Florent Ribail

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Why not suggest the descent (or ascent) to Pic Chauve via the ridge, starting from the forest road? The path is easy to follow and the descent – if you’re going down – is less ‘steep’ than the one from Pic Chauve to the Col des Serigons. A small cairn marks the start on the forest road. That’s why I prefer the descent.

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1950bba
1950bba

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route was followed in the opposite direction to that described.
Admittedly, the hike begins with a steep climb to the summit of Pic Chauve, but for old knees, it’s better to climb it than to descend it.
There are few views during the ascent. You make up for it at the summit (magnificent) and along part of the ridge.
The ridge is easy, not at all daunting apart from perhaps the first few metres (steep) after the summit. You have to navigate a bit to find your way through the vegetation, rocks and fence wire, but it isn’t necessarily unpleasant.
On the way back, a ledge section between 3 and 2: magnificent woodland with autumn colours.
If you’re doing the walk in this direction, follow the yellow ‘Montmaur’ markings (via the higher route) at the start (after crossing the stream), not ‘Sérigons’ (which leads to the hamlet of Sérigons, not the pass of the same name).

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isaha
isaha

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The route along the ridge isn’t very well marked, but it isn’t difficult and, above all, there are no dangerous sections.
The 360° view from the summit is truly magnificent

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Ankrajev
Ankrajev

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 04, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

One thing to note: the start point is very poorly marked on the map; from the car park, you have to go quite a long way back along the road you came on, or climb over the embankment.
Also, once on the ridge, you have to step over the electric fence of the cow pasture numerous times; best avoided when the herd is there. But how are you supposed to know?
Enjoy the walk – it’s not as difficult as it sounds.

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