Le Chalet de Chazal, starting from La Cluse

A hike that quickly leaves the marked paths behind, taking you up the Abbéou stream to the mountain pastures, facing the Tête and the Roc de Garnesier.

Details

1415476
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.46 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 403 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 403 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,591 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,219 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park, equipped with toilets, at the western exit of the village.

(S/E) Take theGR® 94 (red and white markings) heading west.

(1) Do not cross the stream, but take the wide forest track that branches off to the right towards the north-north-west. You will then leave the marked trail, but the route is obvious, following the Abbéou stream.

(2) After the old Voran sheepfold, the path crosses a stream then continues along the Abbéou, widens again and climbs gradually away from the stream banks.

(3) Pass the Chalets de Chazal (sheepfolds) and continue along the path to its end (the stream is dry in summer, or covered in snow from All Saints’ Day onwards). The more adventurous can venture off the beaten track, following the tracks left by the herds to explore the surrounding area.
The return journey follows the same route as the outward journey down to the car park (S/E).

Alternative route:
On the way up, shortly after the Voran sheepfold, to the right of the ‘driveable’ track at ‘Pierres Taillées’, large boulders protect a clearing. On one of the first boulders there is a cairn. Climb up, keeping to the edge of the ravine, to emerge onto a small stony path. Several cairns guide you until the path widens and becomes clearly marked. It leads onto the track a few hundred metres before crossing the stream. This alternative route is much more pleasant and can be used on the return journey; a cairn also marks the start of the path.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,219 m - Car park at the western exit of La Cluse, near the - Béoux (torrent) - Affluent du Petit Buëch
  2. 1 : km 0.86 - alt. 1,237 m - Path to the right, end of signposting
  3. 2 : km 2.01 - alt. 1,299 m - Voran sheepfold.
  4. 3 : km 4.12 - alt. 1,581 m - Chalet de Chazal
  5. S/E : km 8.46 - alt. 1,219 m - Car park at the western exit of La Cluse

Notes

Water at La Cluse, lodge in the village.
No special equipment required (other than sun cream)

Worth a visit

You are at the southern gateway to the Dévoluy.
Picnic area near the car park, with a spot to dip your feet in the water.

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.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
patembrun
patembrun

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk in this secluded valley.

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1950bba
1950bba

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk, especially in the morning (the path is in the shade, with light shining on the surrounding peaks).
As for the alternative route, it’s worth noting that before you find the path, you have to walk all the way up through the clearing (I didn’t really see a cairn beforehand). On the way down, however, it’s hard to miss the cairn and the start of the path (which is actually much more pleasant).
We didn’t go any further than the end of the track just past the chalet, but apparently there’s an ‘ammonite slab’.

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Papounet JP
Papounet JP

Thanks to Franck D for pointing out the little path! It’s now easy to spot on the way up, thanks to a cairn on one of the large boulders separating the track from the clearing. Several cairns mark the route until the path becomes clearly signposted. This “alternative route” is much more pleasant!

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michel051
michel051
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk, with plenty of shade in the morning. Beautiful views of the Tête de Garnessier and the Roc de Garnessier, as well as the Ornans ridge

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Franck D
Franck D
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Once at the top, carry on a little further, then on the left you’ll find a rocky outcrop called “Rochers de la Baume”, which offers a lovely view of the cirque on one side and towards the Pic de Bure on the other.

Behind this promontory there is a waterfall

The path after the Voran sheepfold has turned into a track, which isn’t very pleasant; however, on the way down we found a small path that was easier to spot thanks to a large cairn. So, going the other way, on the ascent, shortly after the Voran sheepfold there is a clearing on the right, separated from the path by large boulders. Climbing up through this, you come out onto this small path.

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