The Barre des Dourbes ridge

Long north-south oriented ridge, the Barre des Dourbes ridge separates the basin of Digne-les-Bains from the Barrême syncline.
Rising in stages over twenty kilometres, culminating Pic de Couar some 1988 m above sea level.

Technical sheet

4722
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.35 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 647 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 656 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,722 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,102 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Les Dourbes, 8 km east of Digne-les-Bains by the D19.
Car park at the Serre forestry building, 1.5 km east of the hamlet of Dourbes.

Yellow markings
(S/F) At the car park of the forestry building, follow the forest track to a crossroads.
Turn left onto the GTP route to the Pas de la Faye. A little further up, turn right at a hairpin bend onto a small path that leads to a track above the track on the right and arrive at the crossroads of the paths tp the Pas de la Faye and Pas de Tartonne.

Yellow-Red markings
(1) Continue across the forest track for about 1 km. Turn right onto a path that goes up to a loop. It then joins a trail. Follow this trail crossing to the intersection with a path, ignoring the trails heading off to the sides. Continue to climb in hairpin bends. Ignore the path on the right under the Barre and head on to the Pas de la Faye by a crevice (steep passages).

Yellow markings
(2) Then leave the GTP and head right to the top of the rocky ridge. The route passes near St. Martin’s hole. Continue in the same direction until Pas de Tartonne (steep passages along the ridge).

(3) Then head down the path on the right, sometimes sideways, sometimes winding between two deep ravines. Leave successively right paths to the right under the Barre and cross over to reach the path taken on the way in.

(1) The return journey takes the same route as the outbound route to head back to the car park (S/F).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,111 m - ONF car park
  2. 1 : km 1.47 - alt. 1,253 m - Crossroads
  3. 2 : km 4.78 - alt. 1,673 m - Pas de la Faye
  4. 3 : km 6.51 - alt. 1,646 m - Pas de Tartonne
  5. S/E : km 10.35 - alt. 1,102 m - ONF car park

Practical information

Do not forget binoculars, water and a wind-proof jacket.

In the nearby area

On the way: St. Martin’s hole, the Barre des Dourbes ridge, wildlife, wild sheep.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 50 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Lou cigalou
Lou cigalou

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very beautiful hike done in the direction indicated, which allows you to walk in the shade during the entire ascent. Obviously, the crossing of the plateau is not sheltered, but there was always a light breeze to cool us down, and at this time of year, there were carpets of flowers everywhere! And what a view! The description was perfect and the route had been repainted recently... pure joy. To be done again and again!

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1950bba
1950bba

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very nice hike. The ridge route is magnificent.
We did the walk as described.
Fearing a steep, rolling descent below the Pas de Tartonne, we continued to the Pas de Labaud, where we thought the descent would be gentler.
This hope was only half fulfilled, as the route (longer, of course) is still quite stony.
For old knees, it's probably best to do the circuit the other way round (with or without the variant via the Pas de Labaud). From what I saw on the way up, the descent from the Pas de la Faye should be comfortable.

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Isabelle Moysan
Isabelle Moysan

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very nice walk. The vertiginous sections are easy. Thanks for the very clear description

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cam_bldn
cam_bldn

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Great hike, we did it in the direction Pas de Tartonnne - Pas de le Faye! There were a few vertiginous sections but no major difficulties, and the view from the top was breathtaking! We took the opportunity to have a picnic at the top before heading back down. The path is well signposted all the way.

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mattdel
mattdel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant hike today.
It takes about 4 hours 4 hours 30 minutes, at a leisurely pace, and I can confirm that the passage over the plateau is not at all vertiginous.
I recommend this hike, which takes place on a west-facing slope, so it's shady in the morning!

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jougla jean michel
jougla jean michel

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

It's difficult to follow the path on the ridge if you get caught up in the boxwood.

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Mia NOIRE
Mia NOIRE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A walk just as I remember it. The trou de Saint-Martin is not to be missed!

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Louis Vivier
Louis Vivier

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Superb hike, with breathtaking views at the top!
Requires a moderate level of fitness, or you can split the hike in 2 (the view at the top goes well with a picnic!).

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JULIEN Hervé
JULIEN Hervé

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very nice hike, with perfect weather.
As I have a good understanding of vertiginous passages, I passed the two "sensitive" points without any problem (but certainly more tricky with strong gusts of wind).
The view is magnificent, with an almost perfect alignment between Lure and Mont Ventoux.

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Roubaud Eliane
Roubaud Eliane

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : May 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A walk that can be classed as average for good walkers. Magnificent views from the summit and ridge.
The descent to the right of the Pas de Labau is fast but long and hard on the knees; it rejoins the track and requires a little ascent.
This hike should be avoided in very hot weather, preferring the 1st or last months of the year.

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rando0412
rando0412

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

lovely walk, perfectly maintained trails

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hugueschap
hugueschap

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

nice hike

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Marie Claude et Jean Claude
Marie Claude et Jean Claude

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Hello, you classify this route as medium-difficulty. I think it would be more appropriate to classify it as difficult, particularly because of the steep last 500 metres or so, with stones that roll under your feet. Otherwise, the views from the ridges were magnificent. We took some superb photos. Our efforts were superbly rewarded.

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GiovanniG
GiovanniG

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

An excellent hike, with changing and magnificent landscapes. The views are breathtaking...
Be careful though, the path to the forest house is extremely deteriorated, and I had difficulty getting in the car, touching it several times with the bottom of the body, praying not to get a puncture.
I'd advise you to park your car at Doubres, and to push on to the pas de Labaud, to go back down the path leading directly to Doubres.

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Phanetes
Phanetes

Hello
We weren't able to do this walk because the 4.2 km track leading to the start is closed to the road.

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