The Col Chabaud and Bousson Circular

A very easy circular route via two mountain passes on the border between France and Italy.

Details

356615
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.02 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 339 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 339 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,218 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,875 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Reach Cervières and take the road, now completely tarmac, to Fonts de Cervières. Park on the grass car park before the hamlet of Bourget.

(S/E) Take the Aigalans path to reach the hamlet of Cabot.

(1) Take the path on the left which, between the Grande Combe and Cabot streams, leads to the mountain pastures of this large area. Begin a fairly steep climb followed by a much flatter section to reach a crossroads (sign).

(2) Continue to the right on an excellent path to reach the Col de Chabaud, where you will find a sign and, more importantly, boundary marker no. 37.

(3) Take the same route back to the previous crossroads.

(2) Take the path on the right leading to border marker no. 33-1, continue into Italy and reach the Col de Bousson, marked by border marker no. 32.

(4) Return to France via the path heading west, quickly skirt around a small lake and, heading south-southwest, reach another lake with a sheepfold on its shore.

(5) Continue along this good path through the mountain pastures to reach the hamlet of Rif Tord.

(6) Join a wide track that leads to the hamlet of Les Hugues and the Chemin de l'Aigalans trail you took at the start. A few metres further on, you will return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,879 m - Le Bourget car park
  2. 1 : km 0.27 - alt. 1,883 m - Cabot
  3. 2 : km 2.08 - alt. 2,153 m - Crossroads circular
  4. 3 : km 3.14 - alt. 2,215 m - Col de Chabaud (2213m)
  5. 4 : km 4.9 - alt. 2,157 m - Col de Bousson
  6. 5 : km 6.51 - alt. 2,033 m - Sheepfold
  7. 6 : km 7.38 - alt. 1,901 m - Rif Tord
  8. S/E : km 8.02 - alt. 1,879 m - Le Bourget car park

Notes

There is no shelter on this route, and there is no water except in the streams. But be careful, this is grazing land and the water must be treated.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
AqualiJu
AqualiJu

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Late summer gives the landscapes a completely different atmosphere.
No difficulties, but the start is quite steep.
The mountain passes don't offer particularly beautiful views; the ridge walk, as mentioned in previous comments, is definitely worth the effort.

On the other hand, it's a great route for watching marmots!

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User 9173362

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy and pleasant hike with no technical difficulties

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brunor248
brunor248
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for sharing this beautiful hike, which we followed without difficulty at the end of July 2025. Going in reverse is indeed a very good choice. It can be enhanced with a few detours into Italy, which adds some beautiful panoramic views!

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SoPhil
SoPhil

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A walk with little elevation gain and easy to follow
We only saw six people
Possible to descend on the Italian side to reach the refuge
Possible to take alternative routes along the border ridge

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Bougnat63
Bougnat63

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The climb is through mountain pastures. The grass was tall, so it wasn't always easy to follow the trail.
This is the only downside to this hike, as there are no markings along the entire route.
There are also a few steep sections in the meadows.

The descent takes place in a different setting, with pretty little lakes halfway up the slope and a rather rocky and open landscape at the bottom.
There are old border markers and a few remains of small fortifications on the Italian side with views of Sestrières.
Be careful if you have a dog, though. There are flocks of sheep grazing in the summer.

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VirginieL
VirginieL

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The views of Cervieres are magnificent, with a wild aspect, a mixture of colours and wide open spaces. Fairly easy walk.

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Walker39380
Walker39380

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike with a fairly challenging climb right from the start ; the idea is to keep a steady pace and not hesitate to take breaks during the climb.
Once you reach the summit, you'll be rewarded with the view... Continue on without any problems to the border marker, then return and finish the route without any problems, still enjoying the splendid panoramic views.
Passage to the chapel that served as the setting for the series "Alex HUGO".

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desacetdecorde
desacetdecorde
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 19, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful, easy hike in a pastoral setting, with beautiful views of the ridges overlooking Fonts de Cervières, Pic de Rochebrunne to the south and the clearly visible Barres des Ecrins (south pillar) to the west, as well as the surrounding peaks: Agneaux, Pelvoux, Ailefroides, Bans, etc., which emerge above the clouds, and to the north, the imposing mass of Chaberton seen from the Col Bousson.
The start is indeed a little steep (very steep slope) on a clearly visible trail at the exit of the hamlet, which then disappears into the tall grass, but you should aim for the highest larch groves on the left bank of the stream before reaching the descriptive post located in the immediate vicinity of the Col Bousson. Boundary marker 37 at the Col Chabaud is located a little way off the path, but is clearly visible on the right. (The views towards Italy are uninteresting - Oulx ski resort -)
The return journey below the Col Bousson is via a track that winds westwards along the hillside before descending towards Rif Tord (a pretty lake below the pass).
The banks of the streams and torrents are dotted with orchids (at the beginning of the season).
The map is a little rough but still easy to understand given the nature of the terrain. The essentials are there.
In my opinion, the direction of travel is not important, but with children it may be better to start with the gentler slopes, i.e. to do the route in the opposite direction to the description.

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ginogi
ginogi

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 23, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A pleasant hike through the mountain pastures. I inadvertently started this hike backwards. However, in my opinion, the route as described does not start with a gentle slope, but rather a steep one. So my recommendation is to do it backwards.

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