The Balcony of Champsaur

A balcony walk offering magnificent views of the plain at the entrance to the Champsaur.

Technical sheet

n°27414

Creation:
26 May 2013

Last update:
13 Sep 2022

Last review:
10 Nov 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 9.88 km
Average duration: 4h 10
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Vertical gain: + 479 m
Vertical drop: - 475 m
Highest point: 1,983 m
Lowest point: 1,578 m

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Ecrins, Champsaur, Dauphiné
District: Saint-Michel-de-Chaillol (05260)
Start/End: N 44.689073° / E 6.165798°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3437OT, 3437OTR
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Description of the walk

Park in the large car park at the Saint Michel de Chaillol ski resort (DA).
Head towards the wide forest track opposite the car park. At the start of this track, a large sign indicates the walks in this area.

(1) Continue along this track and you will reach a large crossroads after about 20 minutes.

(2) Turn left onto the^GR®50. This^GR® is marked in red and white, but also in yellow as it is the^PR® for the Balcon hike.
Climb gently to an altitude of 1,860 metres.

(3) Turn left onto the shared^GR®50-^GRP® du Tour du Vieux Chaillol trail. You will come to a trail junction at the signpost at an elevation of 2035 metres.

(4). Continue on the^GRP® on the left, leaving the trail to the Col du Viallet on your right. When you leave the forest, continue along the balcony trail until you reach a crossroads.

(5) You will then find the yellow-marked^PR® on your left, leaving the^GR® continue along the side of the mountain. Begin a quick descent, cross the stream to reach the Malcros canal trail.

(6) Follow this canal to return to the ski resort. Take the road on the left to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,595 m - Parking at Chaillol station
1 : km 0.17 - alt. 1,608 m - Hiking sign
2 : km 1.24 - alt. 1,731 m - GR50
3 : km 2.38 - alt. 1,876 m - Crossroads at elevation 1860
4 : km 3.15 - alt. 1,983 m - GRP of the Tour du Vieux Chaillol
5 : km 5.18 - alt. 1,904 m - Crossroads PR
6 : km 7.64 - alt. 1,590 m - Canal de Malcros
S/E : km 9.87 - alt. 1,598 m - Parking at Chaillol station 1600

Practical information

There are no water points or shelters on this route.

In the nearby area

Saint Bonnet en Champsaur, the capital of the area.
The Pétètes chapel and the 3 Croix viewpoint.
And of course, all the resorts in this area (Ancelle, Chaillol and especially Orcières-Merlette).
Take some time to read the sign recounting the (mis)adventures of the Malcros canal. This was a huge undertaking that was unfortunately abandoned, but is now being revived by heritage associations. A report on the restoration of this canal was filmed for the programme Des Racines et des Ailes. The report was broadcast in April 2013 on FR3.
For this canal, everything you need to know is here

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5

Based on 45 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5

Clarity of route map
4.8 / 5

Route interest
4.8 / 5

Fontenotte

10 Nov 2025 at 08:09 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A beautiful hike, varied in terms of the places you pass through and the landscapes you discover. I recommend it for exploring the area with the autumn colours of the deciduous trees and then the larch trees.

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jl1309m

12 Oct 2025 at 09:46 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

due to lack of time, I followed the Mal Cros canal route.
A beautiful, easy trail with stunning views of the mountains and valley. With a beautiful forest. 7km and 185m

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cathyfred

06 Oct 2025 at 16:10 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A beautiful hike suitable for everyone with stunning views. An alternative route leads to Lac des Barbeyrous, where you can enjoy a picnic at the designated picnic area or relax by the water's edge.

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Mareve

01 Sep 2025 at 15:13 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

At the start, the route follows the forest road. We took the grassy track. There were hikers on the path, but they turned off towards the Col du Vialet. From this junction onwards, there was no one else. The path runs along a balcony with a magnificent view over the Champsaurin bocage.

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pincemaille

28 Jul 2025 at 08:26 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant, easy hike. Beautiful views of Chamsaur.

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Christophe Bovet

05 Aug 2024 at 21:40 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very pleasant hike, easy to do with the family. The descent is a little steep but not dangerous (done with two children aged 4 and 7).

Please note that there is currently (August 2024) construction work at Clot Chenu for a water retention dam. The work can be easily bypassed.

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carolineetvincent

15 Apr 2024 at 17:05 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A beautiful hike with magnificent scenery.
A bit busy towards the end as you approach the resort.
After Point 4, there is a picnic table with a beautiful view

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Bonnemine13

23 Oct 2023 at 08:48 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very beautiful hike, magnificent landscapes.

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Bonnemine13

23 Oct 2023 at 08:45 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

A very beautiful hike with magnificent landscapes.

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Atam

24 Jul 2023 at 09:03 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very beautiful hike with magnificent landscapes, seeming longer than the advertised distance (11.4 km)

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olivierdu83300

27 Jun 2023 at 16:14 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Clarity of route map : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Hike completed on 24 June 2023. I chose to do it in the opposite direction to the one suggested in the description. Starting immediately to the left towards CANAL DE MALCROS is 100 times prettier. The forest path suggested by the itinerary from the main car park at the resort is of no interest in itself. However, the path from the Malcros canal to Lake Barbeyroux is splendid. There are woods and magnificent views. The return trip via the "high" path is nice for the first part, but becomes mundane when it joins the forest track. I therefore suggest returning via the same route.

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oha69

17 Aug 2021 at 22:17 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

This circuit is ideal for this. Like the previous comments, we opted for the Col du Viallet, a total of 15.5 km and 750 m of elevation gain. It took us 5 hours and 20 minutes in total, including 4 hours and 5 minutes of walking. We are quite fit. The climb is very gradual, so it's a walk that won't "break your legs". We found the winding descent from point 5 "difficult" and tiring, but once past the switchbacks, the end of the hike is almost flat.
Very varied landscapes. A long but easy hike, impossible to get lost.

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Vanessa69

28 Jul 2021 at 11:29 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A superb hike, which we rounded off with the climb to the Col de Vialet (1 hour 5 minutes there and back).
We didn't regret the detour, as the climb to the pass offers magnificent 180° views of the Dames Coiffées.
In total (including the pass), it took us 4 hours and 10 minutes (we hike regularly in the high mountains).

Even without the climb to the pass, this hike is a great way to warm up at the start of the season and is definitely worth doing.
The ground is very passable and the undergrowth is pleasant.

We set off at around 8:30 a.m. and didn't meet anyone until we started the descent from the pass, coming in the opposite direction, and then around the Malcros canal.

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HENRI RENE

14 Jun 2021 at 19:01 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Magnificent route, descent into the valley to be taken with caution

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Frederic_P

05 Jun 2021 at 23:01 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

beautiful loop completed during a trail run. Round trip to the Col du Viallet to see the adjacent slope. The snow that fell the day before was well settled and accumulated at the pass. A very enjoyable experience.

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