Ridges around La Salette: from Le Gargas to La Croix de Rougny

From Corps, on the Route Napoléon, take the road to the Sanctuary of Notre-Dame de la Salette and park in the car parks just before the Sanctuary.

(S/E) From the far end of the car park, just before the bridge, turn left behind the sign onto a path that climbs through the grass and joins the start of the marked trails at the top of a paved walkway.

Head towards the Col d’Hurtières on the left, following a path that starts on level ground and winds its way above the car park. At the junction with the Grande Combe, turn right to cross over and begin climbing through the meadow above the Col de l’Homme, eventually reaching the junctions at the Col d’Hurtières.

(1) Ignore the paths to the left and straight ahead, and veer right onto a faint track through the grass, which initially runs alongside an ONF route. Leave this shortly afterwards to climb up to the right across the grassy slopes towards a ridge descending from the Gargas.

When you reach this ridge, head up to the right over steeper slopes, where the path is more clearly visible, and follow the ridge along the edge of the forest until you reach a less steep section where the twin rocky summits come into view. Continue up the grassy ridge along the better-marked path, which higher up takes the southern flank to climb up to the first summit, the highest point of the Gargas.

(2) Continue eastwards, descending slightly along the southern flank before climbing up to the clearly visible cross, which is the summit marked from La Salette (orientation table).

(3) Descend via the lovely marked path with regular hairpin bends to the Col de l’Éterpat.

(4) Ignore the side paths and continue straight on along a track heading towards the Crête du Chamoux. The ascent is in stages. A first hump with slabby rock is best bypassed to the right to reach a small pass behind it; a second section of slabby rock and scree can be tackled straight on or also to the right, but you must quickly return to the ridge to avoid dangerous steep slopes and cross a rocky, schist-covered area marked by the Croix de la Bonne Mère.

This is the trickiest section of the day, where you’ll need to use your hands to get through safely. Beyond this, the path climbs a very steep but straightforward slope before levelling out to join the grassy ridge. The summit of Chamoux is about ten metres to the left (cross).

(5) Take the south-easterly ridge path, which descends slightly and passes above slopes that are at times very steep but not difficult. Stay on the path closest to the ridge until the ascent to the Tête de la Pale Traversière, where you can cut across to the right across the grassy slope. The ascent to the Croix de Rougny, preceded by a secondary summit, is easier.

(6) Descend southwards along the predominantly grassy ridge, with varying gradients, via a path that is not always clearly marked, to a flat area marked by a recent cross at Pale Ronde.

(7) Continue straight along the descending ridge to join the GR®50 coming from the Col de Prés Clos. You can also turn right (scant traces) to join the GR® further to the west.

(8) Turn right onto this GR® and follow it along the hillside; it crosses several streams and a few steep sections before reaching a more eroded area below Le Chamoux.

(9) In this area, the path has been improved with RTM works to ensure safe passage. It emerges opposite the sanctuary, which it reaches by first joining the paths descending from the Éterpat and then coming to rest at the cemetery enclosure.

(10) Head down to the right, then to the left, until you reach the basilica.

(11) Walk to the right of the basilica to reach the car parks (S/E).

There are no major technical difficulties; simply two sections require particular attention, justifying the ‘Difficult’ rating.

• The ascent from the Col d’Hurtières to the summit of the Gargas is off-trail and requires a good sense of direction to choose the best route, as there are tracks, notably a narrow path in the steepest sections, but this path can become lost in the grassier sections.
• The ascent to Le Chamoux from the Col de l’Éterpat is sustained and passes through a rocky, schist-covered section that requires you to ‘use your hands’.

The rest of the ridge walk is easier, following a track or path; it is rarely exposed but regularly runs above very steep slopes.

Visit to the site of the Sanctuary of La Salette, its basilica and the surrounding area.

Extensive views all along the ridge over the Dévoluy, the Vercors, the Taillefer-Grand Armet massif and the peaks of the Oisans…

Abundant flora; wildlife is limited due to the number of visitors to the Sanctuary, but vultures are frequently seen soaring near the ridges.