From Chaillol 1600 to Chantaussel

Start from the car park at the Chaillol 1600 resort.

(S) Cross the car park, heading north-west, and exit via a small tarmac path to the left of a ski hire shop. After about 150 m, in a large car park, turn right onto a path that climbs towards a forest track (a ski run in winter). At the next junction, turn left and continue uphill along the track.

(1) Leave the road and take a path on the left that descends slightly. At the Fork in the road shortly afterwards, turn right onto a path that crosses a torrent. Continue until you reach the Malcros Canal. An information board explains how the canal’s various water distribution basins work.

(2) Walk westwards along the balcony-style path, which offers magnificent views of the valley and the surrounding mountains. The path soon passes beneath the Lauzière chairlift line and, further on, crosses a deforested area (a ski run in winter). Further on, the path enters the forest and reaches a crossroads.

(3) Follow the first path on the left downhill, towards Chantaussel. At the next junction, turn left and continue downhill towards Chantaussel.

(4) You’ll come out onto the D543; follow it to the left. Shortly afterwards, as you come out of a left-hand bend, leave the road and take a path that descends to the right (be careful to spot this turn-off). The path descends quite steeply in places and generally heads south. You’ll reach a crossroads very close to a small lake.

(5) Turn right here. At the next junction, turn right again. Pass the hamlet of Les Blancs and carry on straight ahead until you reach the D43 road, near the hamlet of Chantaussel (E).

At the start, there is plenty of parking.

At the end of the walk, you can leave a car by the small recycling centre nearby (view this location).

Interesting remains of the Malcros Canal, whose waters were used to irrigate crops.