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(S) Starting from Lac du Vallon, you are in the Écrins National Park. See practical information.
Please note: this section, from (S) to (5), is not marked and takes between 1 hour 30 minutes and 1 hour 45 minutes. There are no particular difficulties, but good orientation skills are required.
(S) Fromthe outlet of Lac du Vallon, take the path that goes around the north side of the lake towards Col du Rochail.
After about 150 metres, the path leaves the lake and heads north across a scree slope.
Keeping north, exit the scree on the right towards a small stream below (see photo).
Climb up the grassy strip until you reach the scree slope again (see photo).
The path veers slightly to the left, then diagonally to the right (east) to leave the scree.
(1) Go over the orange-coloured rock bar, heading due east up the grassy, stony strip.
To do this, leave the scree on your left and walk along the orange rocks (see photo).
Then begin a traverse to the right towards large black rocks (see photo).
(2) When you reach an orange rock barrier, the path climbs more steeply (see photo).
The path winds a few times and joins a sandy area (see photo) to reach the Col du Rochail.
(3) At the pass (see photo), descend the path on the left and change direction (north).
After a series of switchbacks, you will come to large black rocks and wind your way through this scree (see photo).
(4) You will emerge from the large rocks and reach smaller pebbles, with the path gradually turning eastwards.
Head right towards the small rocky outcrop (see photo) and continue down the switchbacks.
Then pass between the rocky outcrop and a large orange rock (see photo) to reach a flatter area (or late snowfield).
Continue straight ahead in the hollow of this valley until you find a small gorge on the right with a stream running through it.
(5) At the bottom of the gorge, find the path on the left side of the gorge (see photo).
On the side of the slope, at the end of the path , the trail disappears (see photo). Turn back a few metres, then descend into the hollow of the valley.
At the bottom of the valley, follow the left side of the steep slope until you reach its end where the valley widens.
Change direction (north) and find the path on the left slope, then follow the middle moraine (see photo).
At the end of the moraine, rejoin the hollow of the valley, then cross the stream and climb up the grassy slopes on the right.
(6) At the refuge, take trail no. 644 OBP (l'Oisans au Bout des Pieds, yellow markings). Continue straight ahead to take the descending trail.
(7) Continue straight ahead, slightly to the left on the initial trail, do not cross the Ruisseau du Vallon stream.
Then, at the next two crossroads, head towards Villard-Notre-Dame.
(8) In the village, leave the road and stop following trail no. 644 OBP, turning right towards Bourg-d'Oisans (yellow markings).
(9) After winding through the forest, the trail branches off to the left. There are no signs, but there is a faded yellow marker (see photo).
When you reach the tarmac road (D219), turn right, then take the path on the left, still towards Bourg-d'Oisans (yellow markings).
(10) At Ville Noire, on the road, turn left onto the GR®54 (white and red markings) and continue straight on to Bourg-d'Oisans.
Pass in front of the town hall and next to the pedestrian street.
(11) At the crossroads (GR® markings and signs), turn right onto Rue Saint-Jean and head towards Bourg-d'Oisans centre.
At the end of the short Rue Saint-Jean, leave the GR®54 and the markings and turn left onto Avenue de la République towards Grenoble until you reach the VFD bus agency (on your right) (E).
Visorando member
Very difficult 
Moderate 
