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From Briançon, take the Col de l’Izoard road to Cervières. Turn left onto the Route des Fonts (follow the signs, passing in front of the church).
Park at the first car park situated 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 footpath heading towards La Chau.
Walk past the chapel and continue to the end of the hamlet until you reach a junction.
(1) At the sign, 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 at 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 continue past a small, unnamed lake.
Shortly afterwards, turn off onto the path on the left.
(3) Follow this path to reach 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 branches off to the left (be careful – it’s not obvious, so take great care).
(6) Head down to the lake. Follow its shore to the far end.
(7) Ignore the path leading down to the right. Cross it, then head up the hillside for about fifty metres (south-south-east) to reach the “Ravin de la Grande Sagne” valley.
Descend into the valley until you come to 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 descend the other side to rejoin the path you took on the way there near Les Fraches.
(8) Follow this down to the car park (S/E)
For those wishing to return via the footpath from Lac Gignoux, see the practical information.
Visorando Member
Moderate 
Easy 
