The Balcony of Champsaur

de fr

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

Details

n°27414
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.14 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,572 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,558 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 6,506 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5,177 ft
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Photos

View of the valley
Col du Vialet
Watering hole
Sandstone needles

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 theGR®50. ThisGR® is marked in red and white, but also in yellow as it is thePR® for the Balcon hike.
Climb gently to an altitude of 1,860 metres.

(3) Turn left onto the sharedGR®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 theGRP® 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-markedPR® on your left, leaving theGR® 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

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 5,233 ft - Parking at Chaillol station
  2. 1 : mi 0.11 - alt. 5,276 ft - Hiking sign
  3. 2 : mi 0.77 - alt. 5,679 ft - GR50
  4. 3 : mi 1.48 - alt. 6,155 ft - Crossroads at elevation 1860
  5. 4 : mi 1.95 - alt. 6,506 ft - GRP of the Tour du Vieux Chaillol
  6. 5 : mi 3.22 - alt. 6,247 ft - Crossroads PR
  7. 6 : mi 4.74 - alt. 5,217 ft - Canal de Malcros
  8. S/E : mi 6.14 - alt. 5,243 ft - Parking at Chaillol station 1600

Notes

There are no water points or shelters on this route.

Worth a visit

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

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Downloads
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Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 50 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
User 3613156

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 31, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A wonderful hike. Stunning views of the valley between points 4 and 5.

We did it over two days, camping just past point 4. It was brilliant.

However, we did take a detour to see Lake Barbeyroux. It added 4 km to the route, but in the end it wasn’t really worth it.

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User 7147034

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely circular walk featuring an ascent through the forest along a track, followed by an easy path that occasionally offers glimpses of the valley through the trees. There’s a small shaded area near the top station of the main chairlift where you can have a picnic. First viewpoint over the valley. The open path along the ‘balcony’ section offers a breathtaking panorama of the entire valley, the surrounding mountains and the villages.
A lovely route, with the return leg following an old canal through a beautiful beech forest after the descent.

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bernardino
bernardino ★

Hello, and thank you for your comment and, above all, for the enjoyment you had on this route.
Carry on exploring all over France by following the guide… Visorando.

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Annick84
Annick84

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We’re keen walkers but aren’t very good at finding our way! The Viso trail is our only guide; it’s easy to follow; a superb walk on which we only came across four or five other walkers; thanks to the person who mapped out the route

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chespeel
chespeel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant and varied route; met a few people; no difficulties on the trail

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ferrari174
ferrari174

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 03, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk

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Fontenotte
Fontenotte

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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
jl1309m

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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
cathyfred

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : 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
Mareve

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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
pincemaille

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

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

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User 10967782

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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
carolineetvincent

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : 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
Bonnemine13

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike, magnificent landscapes.

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Bonnemine13
Bonnemine13

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with magnificent landscapes.

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