Crêtes de Vars via Vars-Sainte-Catherine

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A breathtaking and magnificent hike

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Date of your route : Jul 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy route to follow, offering magnificent views of the valleys around the ridges. We even saw edelweiss.
No need to worry about the "ridge" section, there is no danger of falling.

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Date of your route : Jul 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A truly beautiful route! Everything is magnificent: the wooded section, the green plateau, the view of the other valley and, above all, the ridge! A little apprehension at the start, but in fact it's not dangerous at all, it's perfect! What's not to be happy about? We parked in the school car park (you cross the whole village of Ste Catherine (we came from Vars les Claux) and then turn right and go back up into the village. Thank you!

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😅 That taught me a lesson!
The next day, I wanted to take it easy and go to the source of the Font Sancte via Les Écrins, but when I got to the snowy area... I realised that nature was telling me, "Didn't you get the message yesterday? GET OUT!!!"... so I turned back 🤣

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Thank you for your feedback. And yes, there is danger when there is snow.
When hiking, you should go around them and, if that is not possible, turn back.
However, it is possible to cross them with crampons and an ice axe, but this is no longer hiking, as it becomes snow running.
It is at this time of year, at the start of the season, that the most serious accidents occur, including slips and rock falls.
These hikes should only be undertaken after the snow has completely melted.

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Date of your route : May 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, one of the most beautiful I have done in the area.
BUT ☝🏻 !! Of course there's a catch, otherwise it wouldn't be any fun... Right now, on the ridge, there are patches of snow covering the trail, five in total, and the snow is melting fast.
The first one was fine, the second one was a bit tricky, but on the third one I slipped a metre towards the ravine. A rock stopped me from sliding any further. You can imagine the scene: me in shorts and a T-shirt, trying to press myself as hard as I could against the snow to crawl to the other side... I wasn't feeling great.
I have a big flaw in the mountains, which is that I'm not afraid, but THERE, I was VERY afraid 😨.
The fourth was much steeper. I thought about turning back, but I would have had to go back over the patch where I had slipped, so no. I had to climb back up towards the rock to get around the snow, practically sticking myself to the stone to feel my way forward, being especially careful of the grass, which was flattened by the snow on top of it and was like an ice rink.
The fifth was a kind of large snow bank to cross flat, so no major difficulty except that it was right on the part overlooking the ravine leading to the mountains, so you really had to cross on the left side of the rock. Walking on snow is fun for two minutes, but when you don't know what's underneath, it becomes much less so.
When I finished this section, I finally reached the forest... I wanted to hug and kiss all the trees 🤦🏻‍♂️
I'm going to do this hike again so I don't dwell on the negative, but in July or August, making sure the snow has melted.
Would I recommend this walk? Of course I would, and a big YES at that, but without making the same mistake I did and rushing in without thinking 🙄

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Date of your route : Aug 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, especially the part along the ridges. No difficulties. We parked in Sainte Catherine, which adds a few hundred metres. It's not that easy to find a parking space. The other option is to follow the track for 1 km to reach a fairly large car park, but it's not in very good condition, even if it seems passable with a vehicle with adequate ground clearance.

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Date of your route : Aug 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike, more impressive than dangerous. We saw young ibexes and, of course, marmots.

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Date of your route : Jun 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike with views of the surrounding mountain ranges.
The perfect time to discover the many flowers of the Alps.
No difficulty for experienced hikers

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Date of your route : Sep 29, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike that I have done many times, but usually in the direction of Saint-Catherine > Col de la Scie > Col de la Coulette -> Sainte-Catherine, as this route offers beautiful views of the Val d'Escrins and Vallon Lauugier in the direction of travel... it's a matter of taste.
It's an easy route, but there's a bit of a climb at the top, so keep an eye on the weather, of course, as storms and/or rain on this part of the route can make it slippery

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Date of your route : Jun 28, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Thank you for this beautiful hike, which offers stunning views of magnificent panoramas.
There were no particular difficulties until we reached the Col de la Coulette. As my wife and I are not particularly keen on major challenges, we hesitated a little before climbing the steep, dizzying slope that leads to the highest point. But once we reached the summit, although we are generally prone to vertigo, we decided to continue rather than turn back and face a difficult descent. And everything went well: we never felt in danger, but of course caution and vigilance are required on the ridge or on the sloping passages. We really enjoyed the views.

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Date of your route : Mar 03, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Only part of the described route, completed during winter
This is a rather unusual hike, as snow conditions will require us to wear mini crampons throughout the trip.
Starting from the hamlet of Ste Catherine in Vars, the sunshine will be perfect for strolling and admiring the superb landscapes of the Vars resort, all the way to the Col de la Coulette
Strolling, but also chatting... a little: seven women for one man!
This video will be an opportunity to talk a little about Vars and its valley.
Watch it here
https://youtu.be/oPL6cVpAe3g

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Date of your route : Jul 12, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Superb hike... Magnificent landscapes and views, impeccable descriptions and route, clear blue skies... We had an excellent day...

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Date of your route : Aug 14, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Breathtaking view of the Val d'Escreins and Vars. Caution for those who suffer from vertigo.

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