Country:
City:
From Briançon, head towards Villar-Saint-Pancrace to the south of the town, then head towards the mountain centre and take the track on the left towards the hamlet of Les Ayes.
At the junction and signposts, turn right towards “Les Ayes via the forest” in the direction of the hamlet of Mélézin.
At the next junction, turn left and follow the track to the chalets in Les Ayes.
This track is easily passable by car and allows any vehicle to reach the hamlet.
Park in the car park located within the hamlet, near the Orceyrette stream.
(S/E) From the car park, head south along the road towards Lac de l’Orceyrette until you reach the bridge over the Orceyrette stream.
Take the path on the right bank (on the left) closest to the stream. The path climbs through the woodland, following the course of the Orceyrette stream, and opens out onto a vast meadow.
(2) Take the sharp left-hand bend to follow the track north-east for 70 metres.
Leave the track and turn right onto the path towards the Chalets de la Taure, the direction marked by a red arrow on a rock.
The discovery trail through the Bois des Ayes nature reserve winds upwards and then heads south.
Pass a path on your right and leave the forest to emerge into the pastures at the Chalets de la Taure.
(3) Head south-east and take the small path to cross the hill. You will emerge into a small valley which you must follow south-east, heading for the pass descending from the summit visible on the right, or the Crête de Vallouret.
Approach this pass by gradually ascending to the left up to the 2340m mark.
(4) Take a sharp left-hand bend and follow the small path north-north-east towards the pine trees. Cross the copses, ignore a path on the right, then climb up the hills.
Reach the ridge line.
(5) Follow it leftwards northwards towards its highest point. You can descend a few metres by heading towards the end of the ridge to get a better view of the town of Briançon.
For the return, descend the ridge southwards to the crossroads at an altitude of around 2,435m.
(5) Take the path on the left. Descend the south-southeast slope for 500m to the 2360m mark.
(6) Turn left and continue north-north-east towards the Vallon des Ayes beneath the Crête des Brusas.
Descend towards the “Ayes Lodge” chalet. Take the path on the right from the lodge to join the Ayes track orGR®5.
Descend the track to the left for 570m.
(7) Turn right onto theGR®5path, which leads back to the Chalets des Ayes and the car park (S/E).
Visorando Member
Difficult 
