Le Grand Charvia

A lovely hike in the Fonts de Cervières near Briançon, featuring a summit climb and the discovery of three lakes, including the magnificent turquoise-blue Lac Gignoux.
360-degree panoramic views of the surrounding peaks: Izoard, Ecrins and Cerces.
I recommend supplementing the description by using the Visorando app.

⚠️ GPS tracking recommended.

Details

36967
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.60 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 757 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 755 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,626 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,885 m

Photos

Description of the walk

From Briançon, take the Col de l’Izoard road to Cervières. Turn left onto the Route des Fonts (signposted; pass in front of the church).
Park in the first car park on either side of the road near the old La Chau farms.

(S/E) Walk down the road for a few metres and turn left onto the path heading towards La Chau.
Walk past the chapel and continue to the end of the hamlet until you reach a junction.

(1) At the signpost, turn 90° left onto the path towards Lac Noir and Lac Gignoux.

Follow this path up through the mountain pasture until you reach the old, dilapidated farm of Les Fraches.

(2) Continue climbing along this path. You’ll come to an unmarked T-junction with another path. Go straight on, passing Lac Noir on your left, then a small unnamed lake.

Shortly afterwards, turn onto the path on the left.

(3) Follow this path to the saddle linking Chenaillet to Grand Charvia.

(4) Take the path on the right and follow it up to the summit, marked by a larch cross.

(5) From the summit, look out for the path leading to Lac Gignoux.
Descend about thirty metres to join this path, which heads off to the left (be careful, it’s not obvious, so take great care).

(6) Head down to the lake. Follow it to its far end.

(7) Ignore the path leading down to the right. Cross it and then climb up the hillside for about fifty metres (south-southeast) to reach the “Ravin de la Grande Sagne” valley.

Descend into the valley until you reach a stream at the bottom, then follow its course, heading south-west.
At one point, the stream drops sharply; climb up the hillock on your right and head down the other side to cross the path you took on the way up near Les Fraches.

(8) Follow it down to the car park (S/E)

For those wishing to return via the trail from Lac Gignoux, see the practical information.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,888 m - Car park near La Chau
  2. 1 : km 0.54 - alt. 1,910 m - Trail junction
  3. 2 : km 1.3 - alt. 2,060 m - Les Fraches
  4. 3 : km 3.34 - alt. 2,317 m - Trail junction
  5. 4 : km 4.07 - alt. 2,501 m - Selle, crossroads of trails
  6. 5 : km 4.56 - alt. 2,625 m - Summit of Grand Charvia
  7. 6 : km 4.66 - alt. 2,616 m - Trail junction
  8. 7 : km 6.05 - alt. 2,335 m - Lac Gignoux
  9. 8 : km 8.02 - alt. 2,104 m - Off-trail junction, outward route
  10. S/E : km 9.6 - alt. 1,885 m - Car park near La Chau

Notes

Option to return via the path from Lac Gignoux.
After walking alongside Lac Gignoux, at point (7) turn right onto the track and you will come to a Y-junction with a path.
Ignore the path on the right and continue left along the track until you reach the junction from the outward journey, located below Lac Noir and marked by a cairn (IGN elevation 2231).
Turn 90° left onto the path, then follow the route back in the opposite direction to the Fraches farm and on to your car park.
A hike of medium-high and medium difficulty, with the option of returning via the path.

I have made a video showing the route and describing the atmosphere of this walk.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Britanicus100
Britanicus100
• Edited:

This slightly challenging off-trail section, visible in the video, adds to the interest and charm of the hike.
https://youtu.be/_9VDuO5Vkfw

However, for hikers who prefer to stay entirely on the trail, I have described an alternative return route from Lac Gignoux in the practical information section.

The author of the hike

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boubbou.com
boubbou.com

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A challenging hike for the knees both uphill and downhill, rewarded by the exceptional panorama at the top. Return from Lake Gignoux without any trail if you follow the Visorando route.

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sysyl69
sysyl69

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike, no shade (heatwave today, but it's fine if you set off early), a real 360° view.
Not easy to find the way down after Lake Gignoux (couldn't find a path, went down on sight among the marmots in the wetland). Very little-used route (except for Lake Gignoux).
I would rate it difficult rather than moderate.

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beaber
beaber

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A lovely walk, despite the intense heat; luckily we set off early. You can also go to Chenaillet... with a little extra effort! Families are swimming in the lake, which is nice!

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Bouniot
Bouniot
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Magnificent, lacks precision on how to reach the summit cross, but a great hike.
At the cross, there are the remains of a military installation, a guard post, which makes for a very comfortable picnic spot!!!! and a 360° panorama.

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randomas
randomas

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Everything was perfect. Quite physically demanding due to the intense heat and total lack of shade, especially at the beautiful Lake Gignoux.

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Britanicus100
Britanicus100
• Edited:

Hello

Thanks for the info, I've just updated the guidebook accordingly.
On the way back, the route takes you through a small valley with little streams.
A very pleasant route in summer to get away from the crowds.

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BERTRIO
BERTRIO

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Regarding the description, "Pass in front of the chapel, then at the end of the hamlet, take the path on the far left. A sign indicates the direction of LAC NOIR". In fact, the sign says "LAC GIGNOUX".
Regarding the route, there is little point in going via LES CRÊTES DE CHOUCHARD from Lac GIGNOUX to return.
It's a beautiful hike.

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daubram05
daubram05

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 16, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A pleasant hike in the Fonts de Cervières near Briançon.
Gentians, anemones and a few marmots accompany us along the way. At the summit, with one foot in France and one in Italy, a strong wind suddenly decides to push us towards the valley. It won't stop us from taking a nice break on the shores of the magnificent Lake Gignoux after a beautiful descent along the ridge, as the route suggested in the guidebook is still too snowy. We finish via the Grande Peatland ravine.
See it here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKUbzYxY...

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svcricri
svcricri

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2014
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A magnificent hike, although the route we took was not exactly as described. At the end of August, Lac Noir is partially covered with pink flowers. It is astonishing to see these colours when you arrive; it is splendid.
We passed Lac Noir and headed towards the small pass Collet Vert, then descended steeply towards Lac Gignoux, returning via Le Chenaillet and Lac des Sarailles: all this represents two circular loops in a figure of eight (see IGN map) and a beautiful sunny day.

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