The Charance Gap and the Col de la Côte Gelée loop

From Gap, take the Route de l'Audet towards the Domaine de Charance. Pass the estate car park and continue through the hamlets of Les Nivouls and L'Audet (road closed to coaches). Park at the hairpin bend on the right.

Note: Gap's public transport can take you to the Domaine de Charance car park.

(S/E) Take the path heading south-west. Ignore the path that climbs up to the right and continue straight ahead. Above a clearing overlooking the Canal de Gap, you will reach the crossroads of the route called the Tour de l'Odyssée.

(1) Take the wide path that climbs to the right to follow the forest track and quickly reach a crossroads with several directions.

(2) Continue straight ahead, ignoring the paths on the right and left. You will reach a new four-way intersection.

(3) Leave the main path and take the trail that climbs to the right. This is a shortcut heading northeast to the Belvédère du Rochasson, then to the Clairière.

(4) Continue following a large bend to the left to climb into the woods. Leave the stony path that branches off immediately to the right and then, shortly after, the one on the left, to rejoin the Tour du Cuchon route, which is signposted here.

(5) Continue climbing on the right and arrive at a new crossroads.

(6) Turn left at the hairpin bend and continue climbing towards Pic de Charance and La Brèche to reach the foot of the rocky ridges of Crêtes de Charance. Reach the breach via a final climb over a short, easy scree slope.

(7) Turn right, along the ridge, towards the Col de Guizière (Tour de l'Odysée). Pass the orientation table and the Côte Plaine antenna. Descend the ridge, heading north-east, until you reach the Col de Guizière.

(8) Follow the ridge to climb to the Tête de Guizière, the highest point of the route. Continue along the ridge, descending below 1,760 m, then climbing back above 1,860 m to reach the Col de la Côte Gelée (altitude 1,862 m).

(9) Take the path on the right, descending in small hairpin bends, following the "Le Tour de Guizière" route until you reach "Le Tour de Folletière".

(10) Turn right to descend further. 200 m further on, ignore the path on the left and continue straight ahead (elevation 1,417).

(11) Continue straight ahead on the path that descends. Leave the "Le Tour de Guizière" (right) and "Le Tour de Folletière" (left) routes.

(12) Continue straight ahead on the path that climbs slightly, ignoring the path that descends to the left.

(13) Take the path downhill on the left. You will then join the "Le Tour de l'Odyssée" route and return to the Clairière crossroads, which you passed on the way there.

(4) Continue downhill straight ahead, then, after 50 m, take the small path on the left which leads back to the start via a shortcut through the forest.

(14) Continue straight ahead on the path that descends, ignoring the path on the left and the two on the right, to return to the path you started on and follow it to the Audet car park (S/E).

There are no water sources along the route. Picnic tables are available further down at the Charance estate.

Between (7) and (9): the Charance ridges offer a beautiful panorama of Gap towards Céüse, Dévoluy, Pic de Gleize, Vieux Chaillol, Ubaye, Montagne de la Blanche and the peaks of the Écrins. Be careful on windy days.

Don't forget your binoculars to admire the view.

The Domaine de Charance belonged for a long time to the powerful bishops of Gap, who built a castle and laid out the park and its canals. In 1973, the town of Gap became the owner and opened it to the public. The name Charance comes from the Occitan Vivaro-Alpine and means waterfall. Its origin comes from the Celtic "rin" meaning running water, and a prefix "cha", giving the idea of a fall.

Shorter variant:
(8) at the Col de Guizière: take the path on the right that descends towards Les Serrigues and the Tour de Guizière to reach the (6) and then the car park at the start (S/E). See "Le Tour de l'Odyssée via the Brèche de Charance and the Col de Guizière" (elevation 580 m, total time 3h30).

Longer option: from the Brèche de Charance (7), you can climb left towards the Pic de Charance cross, 1,825 m (+180 m, 1 hour round trip). A superb 360° view awaits you towards the Gapençais basin, as well as the Dévoluy and the Écrins!