From Bayard Golf Course to the Drac Canal

On the A85 between Gap and Grenoble, park at the Gap Bayard Golf Club (Oxygenation Centre).
A free shuttle bus runs between Gap and Bayard every summer (line 73) and every winter (line 75).

(S/E) From the car park, take the path southwards, following the fitness trail arrows, until you reach the first junction.

(1) Take the path that climbs to the left and continue to follow the fitness trail markings, heading east.

(2) At the junction, turn left (north) until you reach a track at an altitude of 1258m. Turn right and follow this track eastwards. It gradually turns south-east and passes close to a pond.
About 300 m after the pond, the track turns sharply south and reaches a fork.

(3) Take the small path that goes straight ahead and joins another track, which you should follow to the left towards the south-east for 150 m until you reach a junction.

(4) Then take the lovely signposted path on the left which crosses the Torrent du Buzon, then leads to the hamlet of Pauchon.

(5) Continue along the path, veering slightly to the right to go round the bottom of Pauchon. Join the small road leading to the Canal du Drac.

(6) Follow the canal to the right. Cross the small access road to Les Furons, then cross the Torrent du Buzon again and reach a crossroads at an altitude of 1142 meters.

(7) Leave the canal and turn sharp right (backwards) onto the path heading due north, which winds through the forest to join the fitness trail.

(8) At the junction, rejoin the fitness trail to the left, heading north-west until you reach a fork at an altitude of 1273 metres.

(9) Go straight on. The track then climbs northwards for 2 km until it joins another track.

(10) Follow the track to the right, still heading north, until you reach the original junction.

(1) Head straight on to return to the car park at the start (S/E).

Water point and refreshments at the Gap Bayard Oxygenation Centre.

Do not stray from the route; the Bayard plateau is also a golf course.

Alternative route: at point (7), follow the canal to the Manes nature reserve. A few metres further on, take a path that climbs northwards and joins the fitness trail of the golf course at point (9) (Bayard plateau). Follow it for 2 km to the car park at the start (total time: 3h30 – 180 m elevation gain).

Shorter alternatives:

• at point (3), continue along the track to the right heading west. It continues as a path (still heading west) until it rejoins the fitness trail between point (9) and point (10) (total time: 1h45 – 50 m elevation gain).

* At point (4), continue along the fitness trail to the right until you reach point (8) (total time: 2 hours – 70 m elevation gain).