Le Chapeau de Gendarme via the Col de Fours and Col du Gyp passes

A lovely circular alpine hike starting from the Super-Sauze ski resort, with an ascent of the Chapeau de Gendarme.

Details

3751032
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.82 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,106 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,111 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,674 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,701 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the Brec chairlift car park.

(S/E) Take the track that climbs to the left. Continue on to pass the Grands Vallons ski lift departure station and then the Amoureux ski lift arrival station. Then cross the Riou Pitchoun stream and shortly afterwards you will reach the Jo hut, where several ski lifts converge.

(1) Continue briefly to the left of the Jo hut, before turning right towards the Col de Fours. To do this, follow the Col des Fours ski lift. You will come out at this pass.

(2) Turn right down the path and pass under the south-east ridge of Brec Premier. Begin another climb and reach Col du Gyp via a beautiful traverse under the ridges.

(3) Begin a short descent opposite to reach the crossroads leading to Chapeau de Gendarme.

(4) Turn left onto the path to reach the summit of Chapeau de Gendarme.

(5) Take the same path as on the way up to reach the previous fork.

(4) Start descending to the left and head towards the Le Queiron sign. Turn 90° to the right, then make a 90° turn to the left and you will soon come to a crossroads.

(6) Take the path on the left and follow it until you reach the Brec chairlift.

(7) Turn left, enter the woods, then veer right. Continue to the Pré l'Adroit ski lift arrival station. Stay at the edge of the woods, then cross the slopes and turn right to return to the Brec chairlift car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,707 m - Brec chairlift car park
  2. 1 : km 1.9 - alt. 1,975 m - Cabane à Jo
  3. 2 : km 3.62 - alt. 2,315 m - Col de Fours (2315m)
  4. 3 : km 6.28 - alt. 2,444 m - Col du Gyp (2448m)
  5. 4 : km 6.55 - alt. 2,397 m - Chapeau de Gendarme fork
  6. 5 : km 7.23 - alt. 2,673 m - Summit of - Chapeau de Gendarme (2682m)
  7. 6 : km 8.68 - alt. 2,208 m - Queiron crossroads
  8. 7 : km 10.41 - alt. 1,964 m - Brec chairlift
  9. S/E : km 11.82 - alt. 1,701 m - Brec chairlift car park

Notes

During the summer season and when the ski resort is open, you can take the Brec chairlift to reach the Col de Fours and reduce the elevation gain for those who are less athletic.
Please note that depending on the season (hike completed in August), there are few or no water sources along the route.

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
User 3532945

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It remains an easy hike, but the summit section is quite steep.

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bleu78
bleu78

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Departure at 7:10 a.m., three cars in the car park, hardly anyone on the trail. A pleasant walk with a beautiful view at the summit, reached in two and a half hours from the Super Sauze car park. A beautiful valley full of flowers between the two passes. Five and a half hours of walking in total. A good walk to warm up.

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Claraazimut
Claraazimut

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I went on this hike with my dogs early in the morning. The wildlife is abundant and varied, and the scenery is superb! The climb up to the Chapeau de Gendarme is steep but short, and the view is well worth the effort.

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oxford7583
oxford7583

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike, it is possible to take the chairlift to cover a good part of the approach walk. The route is a little more challenging if we do it entirely on foot.

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sempervivum
sempervivum

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike done in the opposite direction, taking the Brec cable car. The climb up to Chapeau du Gendarme is very popular, justified by a magnificent panorama (views stretching as far as Vercors and the Ecrins mountain range!). The route between the Col du Gyp and the Col de Fours is magical beneath the scree. With no other hikers around, you can see chamois, marmots, large birds of prey, and more. The descent is uninteresting, passing through ski slopes and pylons, but those who are less athletic can take the cable car back down. A must-do when visiting Barcelonnette.

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MaryB2010
MaryB2010

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike. The first 300 metres of elevation gain to the mountain restaurant are not particularly interesting. Unless you enjoy the athletic challenge, this section can be done by chairlift.
After that, the scenery becomes stunning. Start the descent at the Col de Gyp pass and then begin the fairly long climb to the Chapeau du Gendarme. The descent to the resort on the chairlift side is easy (it would be a shame to take the chairlift back down).
This hike is accessible to those who are afraid of heights. My companion is very (very) sensitive to heights and had no problems.

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didier13930
didier13930

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with 80% of the route at around 2,000 metres. Be careful if, like me, you struggle with altitude. Beautiful scenery, physically demanding route, beautiful wildlife. Pure bliss...

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Maryline C.
Maryline C.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent hike
Breathtaking scenery
We did it the other way round and we think it's better

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henrigole
henrigole
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

After a long approach walk to Col des Fours, the route switches to the southern slope of Brecs Premier and Brecs Second. Superb panoramic views to Col du Gyp. Magnificent views also from the summit of Chapeau de Gendarme.

Traffic:

  • No one until Col du Gyp
  • Many people from Le Point (4) onwards

Dominique

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