The Canal Neuf starting from Briançon

A pleasant, shaded walk, suitable for all ages, following the canals along the right bank of the Guisane.

Details

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Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.73 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 193 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 189 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,393 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,231 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at Pont de la Ribière.

(S/E) Stay on the road and continue until you cross the Guisane at the Pont du Martinet. Then begin the climb to reach a renovated chapel at the end of this road.

(1) Continue straight ahead onto the path that follows the road. Cross the Canal des Queyrelles and reach the village of Pramorel.

(2) Continue on to reach, very quickly, the Canal Neuf junction. Take the path on the right overlooking the left bank of the canal and continue until you come to a tarmac road.

(3) Turn left onto it and, after a short but steep climb, reach a crossroads of tracks. Turn left, walk past the Maison de l’Outre du Bas, then, via an easy descent, return to the Pramorel crossroads you passed earlier.

(2) Turn right to rejoin the Canal Neuf, follow the canal to the left again and reach the houses of Les Granges.

(4) Continue along a level path beside the water, passing directly beneath the Prorel cable car.

(5) Continue past the Queyrelles houses to reach the Rochas Garnier crossroads. Turn left downhill and take a detour to the unnamed chapel.

(6) Return to the path and continue the descent. Join the Route du Pinet; take this with care to descend to the Moulin Faure crossroads. Continue on to reach the Chapelle Saint-Jean.

(7) Pass once more beneath the Prorel cable car and continue along the path running alongside the Canal des Queyrelles. You will then reach the junction of the hamlet of Chabas and the Chapelle Saint-Jean.

(8) Turn right and, via a short but steep descent, reach the Pont de Ribière car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,231 m - Pont de Ribière car park
  2. 1 : km 0.77 - alt. 1,271 m - Renovated chapel
  3. 2 : km 1.8 - alt. 1,358 m - Pramorel
  4. 3 : km 2.88 - alt. 1,388 m - T-junction on the tarmac road
  5. 4 : km 4.99 - alt. 1,349 m - Les Granges
  6. 5 : km 6.44 - alt. 1,348 m - Prorel cable car
  7. 6 : km 7.37 - alt. 1,340 m - Unnamed chapel
  8. 7 : km 8.41 - alt. 1,283 m - Saint-Jean Chapel
  9. 8 : km 9.23 - alt. 1,289 m - Chabas
  10. S/E : km 9.73 - alt. 1,231 m - Pont de Ribière car park. After the - Guisane (rivière)

Notes

Water points along this route are the fountains at Pramorel (1) and Chabas (8).

Worth a visit

Chapels:
(1) Renovated chapel, (7) Unnamed chapel offering a superb view of Briançon, (7) Saint-Jean Chapel.

Canals:
from (2) to (3) and from (2) to (6) the Canal Neuf,
from (7) to (8) the Canal des Queyrelles.
These remarkable canals demonstrate the skill of our ancestors who, without lasers or measuring instruments, constructed these waterways that are essential to village life. They are currently maintained by various associations which, every year, carry out maintenance work on the canals to enable residents to benefit from this water collected further upstream on the Guisane.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Helene102
Helene102

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant, easy hike that can be enjoyed in all seasons: shaded in summer and offering beautiful views of the valley in autumn when the leaves fall. At the end of October, this trail is very quiet.

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Jeanlabat
Jeanlabat

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed on a hot day in mid-August. Almost the entire route is shaded and mostly along the water's edge. The route is not signposted, but it is fairly easy to follow. There are just two or three places where you need to keep your eyes open to find your way. The path is often narrow along the canals, making it a little tricky to pass other walkers (especially with the occasional mountain bike), but nothing too troublesome. It's a lovely walk to get your legs going.

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VCANET
VCANET

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, shaded walk.
For most of the route, the sound of the Guisane river drowns out road noise, except for motorbikes.

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kristinne
kristinne

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It’s very pretty, almost idyllic, and shaded; the little canal provides a refreshing breeze. The path is narrow, so I wouldn’t recommend doing this walk with young, boisterous children.
If you have a good sense of direction, you can extend the walk.
I had a lovely time; thanks to everyone who shared it

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