Between Molines-en-Queyras and Saint-Véran

A short circuit from the hamlet of Pierre Grosse through the ski slopes to reach and discover Saint-Véran.

Details

327221
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.36 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 304 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 305 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,101 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,824 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start : Near the Pont de Chanterane

Access: From Molines-en-Queyras, follow the D205 towards Col Agnel. At the Pierre Grosse exit, turn right onto the small road leading downhill (Saint-Véran via the Route touristique). Park near the Pont de Chanterane.

(S/E) From the car park, follow the asphalt road downhill towards the campsite.

Red and yellow markings
After the campsite, turn right onto the path that runs more or less alongside the Aigue torrent. At the Pont du Moulin, continue straight ahead along the torrent to reach the signpost.

Yellow markings
(1) Turn left onto a narrow path leading up to Bois de l'Ubac. Rejoin the tarmac road and follow it to the right for a hundred metres. At the Bois de l'Ubac signpost, continue for another 100 m along the road towards Bois des Amoureux. At the next crossroads, leave the road and turn left onto a wide track which rejoins the road at the signpost.

(2) Turn left onto the track towards Pra-Mian. Pass under two ski lifts and a chairlift to reach the first snow cannon. Continue straight ahead on a section that becomes less steep. Pass a fountain, then the path descends slightly to the Pra-Mian sign.

(3) Turn left towards Chapelle Sainte-Madeleine. Follow the Chemin de Croix downhill to the right towards the village. At a crossroads, continue straight on, ignoring the Chemin de Croix descending to the right. Join the tarmac at the Maison du Soleil. Continue around a right-hand bend to reach the main street at the Fontaine du Chatelet.

No markings
(4) Turn left down this street, passing the church, a communal bread oven and several explanatory panels. At the Auberge Coste Belle, turn right along the road to the small Reformed Church.

(5) Turn right again along a small path that joins the main street. Turn left and follow it in the opposite direction to the Fontaine du Chatelet.

(4) Continue straight ahead to leave the village. Ignore a road to the right (fountain) and reach a crossroads with a car park (toilets, information). Continue straight ahead on the asphalt road to reach an oratory dedicated to the Blessed Virgin.

Yellow markings
(6) Leave the road and follow the path downhill to the left towards Clot Gautier. The path becomes a footpath, leading to the forest and then to the Clot Gautier marker.

Red and yellow markings
(7) Continue straight on towards Chettetive, pass the signpost of the same name, and continue right on a path that climbs up. Pass the reservoir, pass under the chairlift and the ski lift to reach the Pont du Moulin marker.

(1) Continue straight ahead on the same path back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,899 m - Pont de Chanterane car park by the river - Aigue Agelle (rivière) - Affluent du Guil
  2. 1 : km 0.59 - alt. 1,880 m - Pont du Moulin beacon
  3. 2 : km 1.23 - alt. 1,960 m - Lovers' Wood
  4. 3 : km 2.65 - alt. 2,090 m - Pra-Mian
  5. 4 : km 3.45 - alt. 2,043 m - Chatelet fountain
  6. 5 : km 4.01 - alt. 2,005 m - Église Réformée, turn right
  7. 6 : km 5.51 - alt. 1,993 m - Oratory of the Blessed Virgin
  8. 7 : km 6.47 - alt. 1,826 m - Clot Gautier
  9. S/E : km 8.36 - alt. 1,900 m - Pont de Chanterane car park

Notes

Start : Near the Pont de Chanterane

Access: From Molines-en-Queyras, follow the D205 towards Col Agnel. At the Pierre Grosse exit, turn right onto the small road leading downhill (Saint-Véran via the Route touristique). Park near the Pont de Chanterane.

Refreshments : Numerous fountains in Saint-Véran.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
User 2193251

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A fairly easy hike through pastures and forest. It's very pleasant to arrive at the top of St Véran with its panoramic view of the valley in autumn colours. A stop for a picnic or coffee, or both, in St Véran is a must.

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Garou
Garou

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely family walk, with no difficulties and some very beautiful scenery.

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nadvl
nadvl

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short circuit to discover the hamlets. It's a great way to get your legs under you when you arrive in the afternoon before the big hikes the next day.
No need for a GPS. Just cross the river again at the right point and everything is done on sight.
And there's a nice bar for a snack in Pierre Grosse: Vis'O.

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ThB
ThB

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A route completed in March that cut across ski runs that had been used on several occasions.

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JT
JT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike with a beautiful view of the valleys and the peaks already covered in snow, the larches still ablaze under the autumn sun of mid-November.
With the snow approaching and the morning frost, this was probably the last day that the trail was passable without poles, and we were still able to cross the ski slopes without any problems.
Tracking with GPS, but well-marked trail
Apart from a flock of sheep supervised by a talented sheepdog and 2 Patous, whose sole task was to ensure that any intruders bypassed the flock at a distance, there was no one on the route or in St Veran (apart from 2 craftsmen on a roofing project).

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HUPAT
HUPAT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This was an excellent day out. We ate at Saint Véran. Just a bit of stress on the way out because of the patous, but it went well.

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Ablette
Ablette

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely loop from the campsite, forest, meadows, beautiful finish above Saint-Véran, active marmots near the chapel of Sainte Marie-Madeleine and a stroll through the well-exposed village. Highly recommended... thank you.

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