Montsérieux ridge to Venterol

de fr

A walk starting from Venterol, mainly through woodland, with views of the Écrins (to the north), the Ubaye (to the east) and the Dévoluy (to the north-west). A short stretch along the ridge to the summit of Montsérieux, which offers a beautiful panorama of the Durance valley, the Champsaur, the Dévoluy and the Dormillouse massif.

Details

n°45991636
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.89 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,650 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,647 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 5,180 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,504 ft
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Description of the walk

From Tallard, follow the D46, then the D346 and finally the D854 to the village of Venterol. Continue to the car park at the cross-country ski centre (south-east of the village).

(S/E) Return to the village via the Chemin du Pied du Bois and then the Rue de l’Apiculteur (heading north, north-west) to cross the village.

(1) At the crossroads, turn left onto the Chemin du Clos de l’Eau and follow theGR®653Dsouth-west (the Way of St James, though not signposted at the start) to Le Grand Fau. Then ignore the path branching off to the left and carry on straight ahead.

(2) Take the second path branching off to the left (heading east) to join the track (elevation 1214).

(3) Turn right onto this track and follow it to a hairpin bend in the track.

(4) Take the track that climbs to the left, crossing the Blache Breiche stream. Pass the Source les Fontainiers on the left, then the Fontaine des Pluis on the right. Further on, ignore the path branching off to the right and continue along the track towards Montsérieux.

(5) Leave the track at the second hairpin bend to take the path leading straight ahead (cairn, heading south). Then ignore the path branching off to the right along the hillside and continue straight on to the ridge.

(6) Turn left onto the Crête de Montsérieux towards the summit (north-east). Cross the forest track briefly and continue along the ridge, which includes a few steep sections. You’ll come to another forest track.

(7) Head straight on towards the summit of Montsérieux (south).

(8) Once you reach the summit, turn back.

(7) Descend to the right along the forest track, taking five hairpin bends below the ridge, then rejoin the ridge (elevation 1440).

(9) Continue along the track to the right until you reach the next junction. Then turn left onto the track to return to the ridge one last time.

(10) Leave the track and take the PR® path (yellow markings, at the post with a sign) which heads off to the left (towards Les Faysses – Piégut), passing through a denser forest. Cross the Ruisseau du Grand Vallon stream and then the Ravin de Piégugier. Take care in winter as you cross a small waterfall which may be icy.

(11) Leave the main path and take a small track branching off to the left, continuing along the PR®.

(12) Cross a forest track and continue along the path opposite to reach Les Faysses.

(13) At the junction, carry on straight ahead, ignoring the paths branching off to the left and right, and head for the Ravin des Faysses (elevation 1096).

(14) Leave the path on the right and carry on straight ahead (westwards) until you reach the Chemin du Pied du Bois. Continue straight on towards the village of Venterol and the starting point at the cross-country ski centre (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,533 ft - Cross-country skiing centre
  2. 1 : mi 0.25 - alt. 3,520 ft - Venterol Castle
  3. 2 : mi 0.88 - alt. 3,944 ft - Le Grand Fau - Col des Marmets (1204m)
  4. 3 : mi 1.03 - alt. 3,983 ft - Point 1214
  5. 4 : mi 1.2 - alt. 4,062 ft - Montsérieux Trail - Col des Marmets (1204m)
  6. 5 : mi 2.47 - alt. 4,639 ft - Junction with the Montsérieux track
  7. 6 : mi 2.73 - alt. 4,705 ft - Montsérieux ridge
  8. 7 : mi 3.23 - alt. 5,125 ft - Forest track. Fork in the path. Return to the summit
  9. 8 : mi 3.41 - alt. 5,177 ft - Sommet de Montsérieux (1590m)
  10. 9 : mi 4.61 - alt. 4,711 ft - Point 1440
  11. 10 : mi 5.11 - alt. 4,619 ft - PR® ridge trail
  12. 11 : mi 5.8 - alt. 4,262 ft - PR® junction
  13. 12 : mi 6.02 - alt. 4,068 ft - Forest track
  14. 13 : mi 6.34 - alt. 3,806 ft - Les Faysses
  15. 14 : mi 6.55 - alt. 3,602 ft - Ravin des Faysses
  16. S/E : mi 6.89 - alt. 3,533 ft - Cross-country skiing centre

Notes

Before reaching the summit, which offers a stunning view, the route runs mainly through woodland (with beautiful colours in autumn).

The best views are on the eastern slope of Montsérieux (the summit is a wooded plateau): it is therefore best to follow the route in the direction described so that you descend the slope along a wide, panoramic track.

There are a few challenging sections along the Monsérieux ridge.

Worth a visit

Picnic table in the village of Venterol.

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.

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Reviews and comments

4 / 5
Based on 5 reviews
Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.8 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
chabre05
chabre05

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 22, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A easy route with plenty of shaded sections, which is very pleasant in this hot weather

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Saint-Jean 04
Saint-Jean 04

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with a beautiful view. On the way back, we walked through a lovely forest. We were able to admire lady’s slippers, a protected plant.

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diggi
diggi

Thank you for your clarification.
I have tried to take this into account in the route description.

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Mariefrez
Mariefrez
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route leads to the summit, which offers a stunning view, and runs mainly through woodland – a pleasant walk with beautiful autumn colours.
The description aims to be precise – perhaps too precise – and can lead to hesitation and mistakes, as there are numerous paths through the woodland. At the start, you must follow the track after passing through the village (the GR is not signposted at the start) and only take the path on the left at the third junction.
Then, once you reach the flat area at the top after following the track straight on (ignoring the signpost indicating the summit on the left), you must leave the track, which descends and is blocked by a gate, and look out for a path on the left at the bend, marked by a cairn.
Follow this path to the summit.
On the way back, stay on the track with at least five hairpin bends, then follow the yellow markings to the finish (the first sign is mounted on a post to the left of the track).

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Rey Pic
Rey Pic

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route without any major difficulties.
Do take care on certain sections in wet weather, though.
We inaugurated the new bench at the summit of Montsérieux, but the view was obscured...

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roath05
roath05

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk through the forest, mainly along tracks.
Lots of flowers at this time of year. A walk to enjoy with the family and help them discover nature.
A lovely view from the summit… the watchtower, a metal structure, is a bit of a surprise; but I suppose it’s necessary.

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