The Bois de France

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The Bois de France suffered a serious fire a few years ago. The vegetation is now beginning to grow back, but the landscapes you pass through still bear clear signs of this ecological disaster. During this walk, you often get the impression of walking through an end-of-the-world landscape...

Details

n°13692
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.28 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 3,425 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 3,425 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 6,040 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,153 ft
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Photos

Colourful rock formations.
Views of the Ecrins.
Burnt trees
The Bois de France in autumn.

Description of the walk

Park your car at the side of the N94 road a few hundred metres south of L’Argentière-la-Bessée (opposite the Pont Chancel).
Follow the yellow-marked trail signposted ‘Route du Bois de France’ throughout the route.

(S/E) Head steeply up the path, which joins a forest track in 20 minutes.

(1) Turn left and follow the track for about 1,800 metres under a power line (the yellow markings are irregular due to roadworks on the forest track).

(2) At a pylon, leave the track and take the path (marked by a large cairn) which heads off to the right and climbs steeply, crossing the track several times (the yellow markings are clearly visible again).
Follow the path for approximately 2,500 metres until you reach a fork.

(3) Leave the path that climbs to the right and continue straight on, heading north. The yellow-marked path climbs steadily and crosses tracks again, sometimes following them for a few metres.
After about 2,000 metres, the path veers to the right, now heading south, and continues to climb until it reaches a series of small rock shelters (labelled ‘caves’ on the map).

(4) The climb becomes very steep and the terrain more challenging, but you will nevertheless reach the highest point of the route (1,828 m) in a few minutes.

(5) The landscape changes as you reach a section of woodland spared by the fire.
Follow the path which crosses the Ravin des Rouyes and begins to descend steadily. After about 600 metres, you reach a fork in the path.

(6) Follow the path on the right, which continues to descend and re-enters the area devastated by the fire.
Follow the path for 2,500 metres until you reach the fork you encountered on the way up.

(3) Turn left and retrace your steps along the morning’s route to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,153 ft - Parking along the RN94 - La Durance
  2. 1 : mi 0.53 - alt. 3,707 ft - Forest track – turn left
  3. 2 : mi 1.17 - alt. 3,701 ft - Electricity pylon – path on the right
  4. 3 : mi 2.1 - alt. 4,774 ft - Junction on the circular loop
  5. 4 : mi 3.28 - alt. 5,164 ft - Shelter under rock
  6. 5 : mi 3.66 - alt. 6,040 ft - Highest point
  7. 6 : mi 4.03 - alt. 5,732 ft - At the fork, continue to the right.
  8. S/E : mi 7.28 - alt. 3,153 ft - Parking along the RN94

Notes

Essential kit: sturdy high-top walking boots, walking poles, water (no refreshments available en route).
Shelter may be available in the ‘caves’.

Worth a visit

Silver mines to visit in L’Argentière-la Bessée (Vallon du Fournel).
Rafting and canoeing/kayaking at the Argentière white-water centre.

Reviews and comments

3.7 / 5
Based on 2 reviews
Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
3 / 5
Chloe Rando
Chloe Rando

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 30, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

The climb and descent aren’t particularly interesting, but there are some stunning views once you reach the top. It’s a very steep climb and descent, which is hard on the knees. It’s best to follow the track rather than the path on the way down. We did the circular route in the opposite direction; the descent down the valley is dangerous.

Machine-translated

pel
pel

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 18, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Hello,
A very interesting hike at the start of the season for gaining altitude with almost no snow.
The elevation gain is approximately 1,000 m, not 1,163 m as stated in the guide. Actual duration: 5 hours 15 minutes including breaks (the sign at the start indicates 4 hours 35 minutes, which is a realistic time without breaks).
In the description, at the fork (P), please specify that the path you take heading north (to the left) GOES DOWN until you cross a stream. After crossing the stream, you climb back up a track before taking a barely visible path on the right.
Mini crampons are recommended at the start of the season: if there is snow at the highest point of the walk (which isn’t visible from the starting point), crossing the valley may be dangerous without crampons… and if you turn back, the very steep section above the caves must be extremely tricky to descend given the gradient!
The landscape is striking and rather bleak.

Machine-translated

lepetitrandonneur
lepetitrandonneur

Hello,
This walk is magnificent and, whilst it is true that the scars of the past are still very much in evidence, I feel you do not emphasise the panoramic views of the Ecrins massif enough. The views of the surrounding mountain ranges are quite simply… amongst the most beautiful in the Alps and easily accessible from the valley.
The Vallouise Valley, the Fournel Valley and the Freissinières Valley are magnificent and make the Ecrins region a paradise for walkers and photographers.
(The two linked websites are full of photos and ideas for photography walks.)

Machine-translated

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