Embrun - From the lake to the cliff

A lovely little walk, almost entirely flat, which takes you from the shores of Lake Serre-Ponçon to the foot of the Embrun cliff.
Views of the lake as well as the gardens and orchards at the foot of the cliff.

Details

11540
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.40 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 98 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 102 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,631 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,562 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) Park in the swimming pool car park.

Take the path that runs alongside the Durance and head left along the river.

(1) Go under the N2094 bridge and follow the D467, which is restricted to local residents.

(2) Walk past the new footbridge built in 2018, which, after crossing the Durance, provides easy access to the Entraigues shopping area.

(3) Before the Rn94 bridge (Embrun bypass), take the small road on the left towards the cliff and then, after the football pitch, take the small path that runs alongside the stream

(4) Take the small road on the left, where you can admire the beautiful gardens as well as the houses and other buildings of Embrun, some of which cling to the edge of the cliff.
Walk to a fountain.

(5) At the fountain (drinking water), turn left. To the right, a very steep tarmac path leads up to the centre of Embrun (Leader Price shopping centre car park). See the alternative route under “During the walk” below.

(6) 600 m after the fountain, turn right towards the starting point.

At the swimming pool car park, the walk can end here or continue (as I did) around the Plan d’Eau d’Embrun. In which case, continue along the path, skirting the lake, and this ...... until you reach the car park (S/E).

This short, flat walk has been an easy one. I have friends who regularly do this circular walk at a brisk pace to keep fit.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,566 ft - Swimming pool car park - Plan d'Eau d'Embrun
  2. 1 : mi 0.18 - alt. 2,569 ft - Bridge on the N2094 - La Durance
  3. 2 : mi 0.26 - alt. 2,572 ft - Footbridge over the Durance
  4. 3 : mi 1.31 - alt. 2,598 ft - Before the bridge on the N94, turn left
  5. 4 : mi 1.68 - alt. 2,618 ft - A small path running alongside the stream
  6. 5 : mi 2.44 - alt. 2,625 ft - Fountain
  7. 6 : mi 2.86 - alt. 2,582 ft - D467, turn right. Confluence of the Durance - Vachères (rivière)
  8. S/E : mi 5.4 - alt. 2,566 ft - Lac de Serre-Ponçon

Notes

There are public toilets in the car park by the swimming pool.
There is a drinking fountain halfway along the route (5)
There is a shopping area near the swimming pool car park.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 20 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
Mariefrez
Mariefrez
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, leisurely walk offering beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.
Towards the end of the walk, we take a detour via a small path winding its way up to the old town of Embrun, then return to the path leading back to the lake.

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Vejapi
Vejapi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 05, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant, easy walk.

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User 27524270

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with incredible views from the top of the cliffs

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gazok54
gazok54 ★

Thank you very much 👍

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Marie0580
Marie0580

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely, easy walk for the whole family. The fountain was very welcome.
Thank you for the information sheet.

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Orac83
Orac83

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

This is a very easy parish-specific walk for the whole family, suitable for all ages. The path is wide and tarmaced.
it can be done on foot or by bike, and is flat.
No difficulty whatsoever. It matches the description perfectly.
A nice little outing; I hadn't seen the cliffs from this angle before. It's lovely.
PS: I would have added a checkpoint at the end of the lake on the other side.

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hubertmi
hubertmi

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

A short walk of little interest.

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marrirando
marrirando

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Thank you for this easy and enjoyable hike that can be done with the family.

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gazok54
gazok54 ★

Thank you, nonocruis1998
My route does not go through the housing estate. You have to do what you did, which is to turn left at the fountain to reach the Durance.
Thank you for using Visorando

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nonocruis1998
nonocruis1998

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 26, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

an easy and very pleasant hike to get back into shape at the start of the season.

the only downside is the return trip after walking along the cliff through the housing estate. Personally, I cut left to rejoin the path along the Durance before the bridge.

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renarddessables
renarddessables

A very pleasant walk to do with the family

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blauer
blauer

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Nice walk.

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Marioro
Marioro

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A pleasant, gentle stroll along the gardens, offering views of the Roc d'Embrun.

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ben83000
ben83000

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A magnificent hike, I highly recommend it. You can extend the route when you reach the chapel by taking the path on the left towards the summit, where a 380° panoramic view awaits you. It will take an extra hour between the chapel and the summit.

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caludebis
caludebis

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

for this route, there is far too much road and not much shade

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