Le Châtel or Bonnet de Calvin

This hike ends on a plateau dominated by the Dévoluy's landmark mountain: the Obiou.

Details

n°6209

Creation:
06 Jun 2012

Last update:
04 Oct 2022

Last review:
22 Sep 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 15.50 km
Average duration: 7h 40
Difficulty: Difficult
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 1,137 m
Descent: - 1,137 m
Highest point: 1,933 m
Lowest point: 926 m

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Dévoluy, Dauphiné
District: Mens (38710)
Start/End: N 44.806932° / E 5.770388°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3336OT, 3336OTR, 3337OT, 3337OTR
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Description of the walk

In Mens, head towards the hamlet of Menglas and park at the side of the road (there is no specific car park).
(S/E) At the exit of the hamlet, turn left onto the^GRP® marked in yellow and red. A sign indicates La Châtel and La Pierre du Sacrifice. Stay on this^GRP® until you reach the crossroads at this stone, ignoring the paths on the left.

(1) Go there, then return to the crossroads and take the path signposted Le Châtel.
Pass in front of the ONF house in Baret. Continue to the Petit Châtel picnic area.

(2) Take the wide yellow^PR® marked trail opposite, which leads to a large dirt park.

(3) Begin the climb indicated by a sign. Pass under a cliff and follow it for a few metres before a large bend to the left. A final climb takes you to the plateau.

(4) Then descend to the left to the orientation table.

(5) Return to the crossroads leading to the plateau.

(4) Continue climbing through the mountain pasture to reach the summit.

(6) Descend via the southern ridge, passing through the Col de la Brèche.

(7) Turn 180° to the right and walk along another cliff to reach the woods. The path then turns into a track, but the PR^® markings remain^. You will come to two crossroads where signs indicate the directions. In both cases, follow Jacquillou. You will arrive at the Saint Genis hunters' hut.

(8) Continue south to reach the Pré Mavoux crossroads.

(9) Turn right onto the track and continue to Menglas (S/E), following the yellow markings.

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 947 m - Hamlet of Menglas
1 : km 2.74 - alt. 1,025 m - Sacrifice Stone
2 : km 4.44 - alt. 1,301 m - Petit Chatel picnic area
3 : km 6.07 - alt. 1,516 m - Terre plein
4 : km 7.49 - alt. 1,839 m - Crossroads on the ridge
5 : km 8.02 - alt. 1,745 m - Orientation table
6 : km 9.24 - alt. 1,933 m - Summit of Calvin
7 : km 9.97 - alt. 1,752 m - Col de la Brèche
8 : km 11.89 - alt. 1,459 m - Saint Genis hut
9 : km 13.07 - alt. 1,285 m - Pré Mavoux crossroads
S/E : km 15.5 - alt. 947 m - Hamlet of Menglas

Notes

At the Baret hut, there is a water source below the trail, the only one on this route.
On the descent, before the Col de la Brèche, there is a tricky passage of about ten metres. This passage, secured by a cable, is not difficult if you take care.
Be careful after the pass too, as you walk along the cliff edge. There is a significant drop, but the path is wide and flat. However, you should remain vigilant on this section.

Two variations of this hike are available on Visorando, between (4) (Châtel summit meadow) and (E) (Menglas):
Variation 1: Le Châtel or Le Bonnet de Calvin
Variation 2: Chatel descent via Hirondelle

Worth a visit

A beautiful hike offering remarkable views of Les Ecrins and, of course, the Obiou - Ferrand axis above.
For enthusiasts, the Grotte de la Fétoura cave is located below Petit Ferrand and can be accessed from Le Serre.
Further on, the charming hamlet of La Jarjatte is the starting point for many other walks (Lauzon, Pointe Feuillette, Aiguilles de Lus).

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5

Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5

Route interest
5 / 5

rdub

22 Sep 2025 at 11:23 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike (done as described, starting from Menglas) with a very gradual elevation gain, offering 360° views throughout the crossing of the "Bonnet de Calvin". Views of the Vercors, Chartreuse, Oisans... and the Grande Tête de l'Obiou within easy reach.
The aerial passages are accessible with a little caution on the descent to the Col de la Brèche (handrail) and short sections that require the use of your hands, but nothing prohibitive with a little practice.
Thanks to the author.

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MRGPDS180

25 Aug 2025 at 15:20 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb route, sometimes high up, with magnificent 360° views.

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JCParavy

04 Oct 2022 at 13:05 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I reached the summit on a day when the sun returned after several days of rain, which meant there were still quite a few clouds clinging to the mountains.
With only the afternoon available, I set off from the Petit Châtel picnic area (Baret) like many others: ascent via the west-facing trail, descent via the Col de la Brèche. 4½ hours of hiking, 720m elevation gain.
A hike to be recommended in mid-season (when the autumn colours are just beginning to appear).
I'm adding a few photos.

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jc.chiari

06 Jun 2022 at 18:10 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

As suggested by a contributor, we started from the car park at point 2 and then, wanting to go around in the other direction, we went to point 8. So we crossed the cables uphill facing the slope....
The weather was beautiful and we had magnificent views of all the surrounding mountains and the Ma Mathésine plateau.

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ChristianNant70

14 Sep 2021 at 16:32 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Departure from point 2 (very rocky track to reach this point... drive slowly)
When you reach the foot of the cliff, don't hesitate to turn left and go back and forth: overhanging cliff, views... Brilliant.
Unfortunately, the orientation table is damaged.
Return from point 8 towards point 2 to shorten the route a little.
A very beautiful outing for the landscape and impressive cliffs.

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baptist robert

11 Aug 2021 at 17:42 7200

Just to point out that the hike (very well documented) can start at point 3, at the end of the forest track where there is a car park and a picnic area. From there, we saw several families with young children (aged 4-5-8) climb to the top of the Chalet and then descend, most likely by the same route. I would say "perfectly safe for children held by the hand".

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Pierre 38

04 Aug 2020 at 11:33 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike with very few people. We didn't start as indicated but shortened the route by starting from a place called "Le Verdir": hairpin bend on the small road that can be seen on the map just before the sacrificial stone.
We returned by cutting across from point 8 on the map (a hut we didn't see) via the marked path heading north.
Be sure to read the warning about the Col de la Brèche and the section that follows, which can be daunting.

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EtienneF38

20 Jul 2020 at 15:24 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We did part of this hike. We drove up the forest road to the car park at the Petit Châtel picnic area, marked by point 3. The road is long but fairly easy to drive on, and there were lots of cars parked in the car park. We then followed the route to the ridge, then the orientation table and finally the summit. The view is magnificent, both over the Trièves, the Drac valley and the Mathésine, and over the foothills of the Obiou, which on that day, as is often the case, was lost in the clouds. To avoid the tricky passage of the Col de la Brèche for those who are not comfortable with technical and exposed sections, we returned by the same route we had taken on the way up. This allowed us to get a better view of the superb caves at the foot of the cliff. Even shortened and as a round trip, this hike is well worth the detour.

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canelleguiot

08 Mar 2017 at 04:30 3600 • Edited: 08 Mar 2017 at 19:00 3600

We plan to go on these hikes in June.
Thank you for all your hikes.

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brittou

03 Oct 2016 at 10:09 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

It is best to do the route by climbing up the Pomarey ledge. Beautiful weather. 360° view. The walk is more recommended when the flowers are in bloom and there is still snow on the Obiou at the end of June.

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randoveropat

04 Jul 2016 at 22:39 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 04, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike with something for everyone (small rocky outcrop with cables, alpine meadows, etc.) and breathtaking 360° views, even including a visit from our friends the vultures!
It's a real feast for the eyes!
A must-see, even if the journey from Grenoble is a little long (1 hour 20 minutes).

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patlulu

13 Jun 2013 at 13:38 7200 • Edited: 13 Jun 2013 at 13:39 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 13, 2013
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A varied and interesting hike; be sure to see the "sacrificial stone" on the way back. The "shelter" marked on the map does not exist (or no longer exists); after the Col de la Brèche (which does not present any particular difficulties, especially on this side), the summit plateau is absolutely beautiful. The descent is not difficult.

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