From Saint-Véran to Larche: Ubaye Transfrontière

de fr

A fantastic Franco-Italian ride between Saint-Véran and Larche! It will take you through strange places, from the solitary, green rocky landscapes of Saint-Véran to the fantastical, almost Dolomite-like terrain of the massif between Chambeyron and Orrenaye.

Details

n°156198
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 49.21 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5 days 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Very difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 20,728 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 21,916 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 10,820 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5,499 ft

Photos

lac Blanchet Supérieur
Le Viso vu du Pic de Caramantran
Arrivée au col de Chamoussière
La Rocca Bianca et la Tête des Toillies

Stages of the route

This route needs several days, find the details below:

  1. S
    Saint Véran - Refuge de la Blanche

    Saint Véran – Refuge de la Blanche

    ↔10.15 mi ↗4,537 ft ↘3,035 ft
    This serves as an introduction to a cross-border trek between Saint-Véran and Larche. We set off from the mountain pastures for a gentle approach to the border, through a rocky and colourful landscape that can at times be quite disorientating. There are no real difficulties, but a good understanding of how to read the terrain is sometimes necessary to avoid losing your way.
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  2. 2

    Refuge la Blanche - Bivouac Boerio

    ↔6.22 mi ↗4,180 ft ↘2,290 ft
    Là... on touche au sublime ! Un décor en technicolor, un itinéraire à difficulté croissante, de la recherche d'itinéraire et un bivouac qui tutoie les étoiles.
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  3. 3
    Du Rubren au Marinet

    From Rubren to Marinet

    ↔12.45 mi ↗4,498 ft ↘6,201 ft
    A very long day criss-crossing the border. But what breathtaking scenery! And you won’t be bothered by the neighbours... there’s little chance of coming across other two-legged creatures. But perhaps some ibex, vultures, including (apparently) a pair of bearded vultures.
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  4. 4

    Du Marinet à Barenghi

    ↔6.97 mi ↗3,556 ft ↘2,654 ft
    Une journée de presque repos. Mais deux cols courts et très techniques à franchir. Bivouac cosy mais pas grand où il convient d'arriver assez tôt pour trouver une place.
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  5. E

    From the Barenghi Bivouac to Larche via the Col du Vallonnet

    ↔13.36 mi ↗3,953 ft ↘7,723 ft
    This route largely followsGRP®® markings (Tour du Chambeyron). A safe option, yet still spectacular.Spectacular, because the route constantly alternates between stark, steep and rocky terrain and lush, rolling and reassuring landscapes.Safe, because it is fully signposted and even offers alternative routes to avoid the most difficult sections in the event of bad weather.
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Notes

To get to Saint-Véran, you can take the train to Montdauphin-Guillestre. From there, hitchhiking works quite well.
To leave Larche, please note that there is a free shuttle bus between Larche, Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye and Barcelonnette. From there, a coach service will take you to Gap railway station.

The various accommodation options are listed in the description for each stage.

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.

Other walks in the area

Walking Saint Véran – Refuge de la Blanche

Visorando Member
Saint Véran - Refuge de la Blanche
↔10.15 mi ↗+4,537 ft ↘-3,035 ft ◔8h 35 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Saint-Véran (Hautes-Alpes)
This serves as an introduction to a cross-border trek between Saint-Véran and Larche. We set off from the mountain pastures for a gentle approach to the border, through a rocky and colourful landscape that can at times be quite disorientating. There are no real difficulties, but a good understanding of how to read the terrain is sometimes necessary to avoid losing your way.

Walking Saint Véran - Col Agnel

Visorando Member
Saint Véran - Col Agnel
↔8.02 mi ↗+3,468 ft ↘-1,683 ft ◔6h 45 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Saint-Véran (Hautes-Alpes)
The fourth stage takes you towards the Italian border, offering beautiful views of Mont Viso.

Walking Saint-Véran – Agnel Mountain Hut

Visorando Member
Saint-Véran - Refuge Agnel
↔9.64 mi ↗+3,963 ft ↘-2,103 ft ◔7h 55 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Saint-Véran (Hautes-Alpes)
This is the second stage ofthe GR®®58, but it takes a variant route via the Col de Saint-Véran or the Col de la Cavale and includes an ascent to an altitude of 3,000 metres at the Pic de Caramantran. There’s a magnificent view of Mount Viso at the highest point of this route. At the start of the season, there were still plenty of snowfields. This is a very wild route, which I recommend as an alternative to the Col de Chamoussière path, which tends to be quite busy.

Walking Pic de Cascavelier via the Curlet ridges

Visorando Member
Le Pic de Cascavelier par les crêtes de Curlet
↔5.42 mi ↗+2,746 ft ↘-2,756 ft ◔4h 55 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Saint-Véran (Hautes-Alpes)
This beautiful and varied hike follows ridges offering unobstructed views. The route to the summit of Pic de Cascavelier via the rocky ridge is more alpine in character but never dangerous. The exposed path, zigzagging between the rocks, sometimes requires you to use your hands. From the Croix du Curlet, you have a magnificent bird’s-eye view of the village of Saint-Véran and its valley.

Walking The Refuge de la Blanche, starting from Saint-Véran

Visorando Member
Le Refuge de la Blanche au départ de Saint-Véran
↔8.69 mi ↗+1,814 ft ↘-945 ft ◔5h 35 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Véran (Hautes-Alpes)
Via the Grand Canal, now completely disused, a long crossing opposite the Grande Tête des Toillies, ending at the Refuge de la Blanche and then at the observatory car park.

Walking The balcony trail along the Grand Canal in Saint-Véran

Visorando Member
Le sentier en balcon sur le Grand Canal à Saint-Véran
↔7.65 mi ↗+1,266 ft ↘-1,266 ft ◔4h 35 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Véran (Hautes-Alpes)
This hike starts in Saint-Véran, follows the Clausis chapel trail, which it leaves to return via a beautiful balcony path along the course of the old Grand Canal. Without any difficulty, it offers superb views of the Saint-Véran valley, the village and the surrounding peaks throughout the route.

Walking Crête de la Marcelette from Saint-Véran

Visorando Member
Crête de la Marcelette depuis Saint-Véran
↔7.01 mi ↗+3,711 ft ↘-3,714 ft ◔6h 25 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Saint-Véran (Hautes-Alpes)
This is a superb hike, partly unmarked on the IGN map, where you will undoubtedly be the only ones to enjoy the 360° panorama throughout the central part of the hike.The ridge is safe for hikers who are not afraid of heights and are used to the mountains. Hiking boots are recommended.About halfway along the ridge, there is a lovely spot for a snack, with a hollow to shelter from the wind.

Walking Pic de Caramantran from Saint-Véran

Visorando Member
Pic de Caramantran depuis Saint-Véran
↔13.12 mi ↗+3,596 ft ↘-3,589 ft ◔9h 10 ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from Saint-Véran (Hautes-Alpes)
As an alternative to the classic route starting from the Agnel Refuge, this circular route allows you to enjoy the mountain pastures of Saint-Véran, the small hamlets along the way and the Lacs de la Blanche, adding more variety to the landscape on this hike. The magnificent view of the surrounding 3,000-metre peaks is a feast for the eyes, featuring Mont Viso, the Pain de Sucre and, on a clear day, Mont Blanc. The return route via the old copper mine adds an extra touch of history.

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