Le Monêtier-les-Bains walks

A short, unpretentious walk, best done in spring, on foot or with snowshoes depending on conditions, with a good chance of encountering ibex and/or mouflon.

A pleasant walk above the large village of Monêtier, famous for its hot springs and ski resort.

The Lac d'Arsine, which has been split in two for several years, nestles in the cirque formed by the Agneaux and Neige Cordier mountains and is a real gem.

A classic family hike. Most of the trail is in the forest, sheltered from the sun, except at the end of the trail to reach the lake. The trail runs alongside the Parc des Écrins and enters it in places. Please note the National Park regulations, in particular the ban on dogs, even on a leash (see the notice at the start of the trail).

The Briançonnais region had several hundred peasant-mines each operated by 2 to 3 people. This route lets you access two of these sites in the Guisane valley. Here you can still find remnants of these operations. It also offers stunning panoramic views of the Guisane valley and the Les Agneaux mountain. You can enjoy this in both summer and winter, with snowshoes (the southern exposure allows for rapid stabilisation of the snowpack).

Hike to a high-altitude lake nestled in a glacial basin at the foot of the Pics de Combeynot.

The Guisane, which waters the entire valley from the Col du Lautaret, crosses the villages of Serre Chevalier, Le Monêtier-les-Bains, La Salle-les-Alpes and Chantemerle before joining the Durance in Briançon. This easy climb follows the old Lautaret road to the pass, before turning left to reach the source of the Guisane.

This third stage of the crossing of France, following the 45th parallel as closely as possible, is long and difficult but absolutely magnificent. You will discover or rediscover the two jewels that are the Écrins and Meije massifs. Most of the route is on the GR® 50 and GR® 57. The paths are well marked and well maintained. This stage can be divided into four sections: 1) an ascent to the Col du Chardonnet; 2) the descent to Lauzet; 3) the ascent to the Col du Lautaret; 4) the descent to Arsine.

A post-lunch stroll at the foot of the Aiguillette du Lauzet overlooking the Lautaret sector of the great mountain passes.

20 minutes from the town of Monêtier-les-Bains. A beautiful day hike with a magnificent view at the end. View of the Grand Lac and the Écrins massif. Return to the car park via the same route.

Variation on the round trip hike: Le Grand Lac and Lac de la Ponsonnière allow for a circular route with a passage through a chimney, but this limits access to those with a minimum of mountain experience. A breathtaking, panoramic view of the Écrins Massif: Mont Pelvoux, Barre des Écrins, Pic de Neige Cordier, La Meije, Le Rateau and more.

Almost perfectly pyramid-shaped when viewed from Briançon, the summit of the Grand Aréa attracts all the tourists in the valley. This means that we are never alone at the top.

After admiring the beautiful lakes of Laramon and Serpent, and the Pic du Lac Blanc (2,980 m) in a mineral landscape, this circuit offers a stunning view of the Écrins and the Thabor massif. On the way back, you will discover the various small lakes of Les Gardioles.

A very pleasant and varied hike in a valley that has remained fairly wild. At the pass, there is a magnificent view of the Écrins Massif, the Cerces and the Grand Galibier Massif.

A classic of the upper Clarée Valley with a magnificent panorama of the Cerces and Ecrins massifs.

A beautiful hike with magnificent scenery. The climb to the Ricou refuge is a little steep but not particularly difficult. Once you reach the circular path, the route is very easy, almost flat until you reach the Torrent de la Cula. The view over the entire valley is truly superb. From the lake, the trail descends to Laval.

Hike to one of the most beautiful ridges in the Briançonnais region, starting from the Col du Granon, allowing you to visit four peaks and revealing a beautiful panorama of the Écrins and the Cerces. The route follows a trail with some sections that may be daunting for hikers who are prone to vertigo.

This circuit has two attractions: a high point and a beautiful mountain lake. Close to the Serre-Chevalier resort. Family-friendly circuit.

A family hike starting from the Col du Granon, which allows you to discover a beautiful lake and, on the way back, magnificent views of the Ecrins.

This route takes you to Lac de l'Eychauda, looping back via the pass of the same name, then Pas de l'Âne and finally Col des Grangettes. The view of the lake from Col des Grangettes is panoramic.

In the Crête des Grangettes cirque, there is a particularly famous mountain lake at 2,514 metres, called the Eychauda.

Discover La Clarée from the right and left banks. A pleasant walk, sometimes a little difficult but so enjoyable in the cool air. A route close to the river, with flowers and vegetation depending on the season. And, of course, the beautiful and impressive Débaret waterfall. You start by walking through part of an authentic village, with its weathered, exposed timber houses. Then, get up close and personal with nature at its most charming.

A beautiful, not very difficult walk starting from Névache. It will take you from the larch forest to the very mineral landscape that forms the setting for this lake. The place is quiet and imbued with a great serenity, which is lacking in most of the lakes in the region, which are often very busy.

Route along the right and left banks of the Clarée, to discover the hamlet of Fontcouverte, in the heart of the Cerces Massif.

Between forest, mountain pastures and the banks of the Clarée, this walk takes you gently from Névache to the upper Clarée valley. It is also an opportunity to discover the hamlets and isolated chalets scattered throughout the valley. Don't forget to admire the pretty Fontcouverte waterfall on the way! Please note that if you do this hike outside the shuttle bus operating period (information available from the tourist office), you will have to walk back to the starting point along the same route!

A beautiful, challenging hike that takes you around the Cerces Massif, from lake to lake... There are a few tricky sections for those who are afraid of heights

This is a short hike, with a section off the trail, to a magnificent lake, a true viewpoint of the Cerces massif. I recommend using the Visorando app.

A family loop in the bottom of the Clarée valley to discover two beautiful mountain lakes. Important note: During the summer (14 July to 15 August), access by private car from Névache Ville Haute to the car park at the Laval terminus is impossible between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. A shuttle bus runs regularly to allow everyone to enjoy this beautiful valley. It is advisable to park your vehicle in the car parks at the entrance to Névache (Roubion).

Enjoy a beautiful walk in the Haute-Clarée valley, which offers a festival of lakes reflecting the peaks of the Cerces (the Pointe des Cerces, the Roches de Crépin, the Pointe du Riou Blanc and the Pointe des Banchets). The Col des Muandes (2,828 m) offers a view of the Etroite valley and Mont Thabor.

It's a round trip, but a magnificent one, where the trail winds its way among high-altitude lakes and takes you to the highest point, the area's iconic summit: Mont Thabor. You will sometimes follow theGR® trail, sometimes unmarked paths, marked by almost too many cairns. Trust your map and your sense of direction, but still check your position before entering dangerous areas.

A classic walk in the Clarée Valley, set in one of the most beautiful landscapes in France. This easy walk allows you to admire the reflections of the Cerces and Écrins mountains in the crystal-clear waters of the many Gardioles lakes. The landscape is so striking that you should allow at least an hour or two more than the scheduled time to complete the circular route. Much of the route is far from the beaten track, sometimes off the beaten track altogether.

This is an easy route that allows you to see the three most accessible lakes in the upper Clarée Valley. If the weather is fine, you won't be able to resist the temptation to cool off in the many pools created by the torrent, and the surroundings are majestic.

This lovely walk showcases two remarkable features of Saint-Chaffrey: a cool path along the Torrent de la Guisane and its canal, followed by a tour of the hamlets of Chantemerle, Villard Laté and La Villette. Beautiful views of the valley and surrounding mountains complete this walk.

A very pleasant route through a pine forest. Panoramic views of the Serre Chevalier valley, the village of Saint-Chaffrey and the Écrins mountain range.

Visit a summit renowned for ski touring, but also in summer for the historical heritage associated with this place.

Visit a particularly pleasant lake nestled in the large cirque at the foot of the Gardiole.

A high-mountain route leading along the edge of a moraine ridge with breathtaking views of the high peaks of the Écrins.

Hike in a high mountain setting overlooking the Glacier Blanc and the surrounding peaks.

Hike to discover the Combe and the Col de Laurichard, west of the Combeynot Massif.

For me, this is one of the most beautiful hikes in this magnificent region of the Alps, with breathtaking views of the eastern glaciers of the Meije massif. It is a long walk through the mountain pastures, but with very gradual climbs. However, there is one section that may be tricky for those prone to vertigo. A great alternative to the hike to Lac d'Arsine, which starts from Monêtier-les-Bains.

Stage1 of the Tour du Combeynot: From the Col du Lautaret to the Alpe de Villar-d'Arêne refuge via the schistose crevasse trail overlooking the Romanche valley. Unique view of the Écrins and Meije peaks.

A beautiful hike offering views of the Rois Mages massif and Mont Thabor, with most of the climb taking place in the forest.

Hike above Ailefroide with a beautiful panoramic view of the Vallouise valley, the small pass of Rascrouset, the Selé, the Pelvoux and the Glacier Blanc. Excellent viewpoint, especially of the Pelvoux.

This early morning hike is a sure-fire way to see chamois. It is easy to access and well-equipped photographers will be able to take some beautiful shots. For everyone else, the views alone will be a feast for the eyes. The only difficulty is getting up very early

The most popular ski summit in the Alps, offering breathtaking 360° views of the great peaks of the Écrins massif, the Cerces, the Vanoise and Mont Blanc.

Visit a chapel overlooking Briançon, offering remarkable views of the Durance valley.

From its height of 3,178 metres, enjoy the magnificent 360° panorama that Mont Thabor offers over the Alps, as well as its small chapel, Notre-Dame des-Sept-Douleurs.

This is a short walk to an easily accessible lake that is well worth a visit. At the foot of a huge scree slope, Lac Vert is a gem of exceptional colour.