trail closed at the start, but a return trip is still possible, see reviews.
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Depart from the Muandes car park in the Torrent de Rabioux valley, north-west of Châteauroux-les-Alpes.
(S/E) Return 200 metres back to the previous crossroads. Do not take any roads, but instead take the path that climbs into the forest. This path will cross another forest road, then climb up the south-facing slope and pass under the flysch bars.
(1) Cross the Cascade de la Pisse waterfall via a stone bridge at the top. You will arrive at cow pastures.
The aim is to go to the bottom of the valley, on the left, towards the pass at the foot of the Tête de Maitz cliffs.
(2) Leave the Cabanes du Distroit (mountain pasture barn) on your left (1880m) and continue into the valley along the path that leads to the next barn, Clot Égout (2050m). The path then veers to the right along a low wall built for livestock. Cross the Torrent du Distroit and follow the path that runs alongside it.
You will come to another step. The aim is to continue following the stream to reach the next step. The path is marked with cairns, sometimes with blue dots. Cross the step at the stream (darker rocks). Ignore the paths that lead to the left towards the mountain pastures at the foot of the Tête de Maitz cliffs.
(3) Once you have crossed this step, you will come out onto large mountain pastures. It is a vast cirque, with cliffs on the left and right, very steep mountains and then more cliffs. The lake is nestled at the bottom of the valley, at the foot of the steep mountains. Follow the paths lined with cairns that lead there (north-north-west).
(4) To return, follow the lake shore on the left to pass the crumbling stones of a large stone table. Return to the valley. Looking at the mountain pasture, it is a large valley divided in two by a large hill, the Tête des Maitz. It forms a Y shape. Set off again along the right-hand branch. Descend into the valley by taking one of the paths that follow the slope below the scree on the right (west) (do not walk on the scree or rocks; stay on the grass of the mountain pastures).
Head south until you reach the point where all the streams intersect and cross them. From there, follow the paths that lead down to the rocky outcrops and scree slopes at the end of the valley. A path marked with cairns descends to the sheep pastures below via the stream path, beneath the cliffs.
Follow this path down to the mountain pastures of the Vallée du Rabioux. As you cross the meadows, the paths may become less obvious and multiply. If in doubt, always choose the path that leads back to the left, towards the Torrent de Piedbrun.
(5) Cross the stream at a clearly marked point (altitude 1,870 m), climb slightly into the woods and then descend immediately, parallel to the stream. This short passage marked with cairns leads to the obvious path that descends into the valley.
(6) Join the road, do not take the bridge but turn left (east).
(7) 300m after this path, on the road, signs indicate to turn right to finish the hike along the Rabioux, towards the Muandes car park (S/E).
Visorando member
Moderate 
Easy 
