The Palastre loop

Take the D944 road towards Orcières and pass the village of Pont du Fossé. After 500 m, turn left onto the small tarmac road D481 towards "Les Richards". At the hamlet of Les Richards, continue along the hairpin bend to the end of the road 100 m higher up and park in the small car park to the north.

(S/E) Follow the Bayles forest road, which climbs gently in hairpin bends towards the north-west. Cross the stream flowing from the Cirque de la Pousterle.

(1) Take the path on the right, which joins the forest, then leaves it near the Torrent du Brudou.

(2) Turn left to leave the forest and ford the stream. Gain altitude in the mountain pasture to climb the grassy ridge opposite in a series of switchbacks (sign).

(3) Continue climbing to the right, ignoring the path to the hut on the left. Pass above the Cabane de Pierre Drue and continue climbing in switchbacks through the alpine meadow dotted with limestone rocks until you reach the Col du Palastre.

(4) For the short loop to the summit: take the belt path on the left, heading south.

(5) Turn left and go around the Palastre to the east. Then climb a few switchbacks up to the summit ridge. Be careful! Do not go near the edge of the cliff and remain cautious on the few exposed sections of the ridge.

(6) Follow the ridge on the right to climb to the summit of the Palastre and reach its large cross. Enjoy the vast panorama of the Champsaur, the Dévoluy and beyond.

(7) Descend straight down northwards to rejoin the fork you passed on the way up at the pass.

(5) Continue left until you reach another fork you passed on the way up.

(4) Follow the faint path towards the ridge ahead, heading north between Pic du Clot Lamiande and Pointe Prouveyrat. Ignore the path on the left that descends to Les Roranches. Continue ascending through the mountain pasture until you are directly below the pass.

(8) Climb northwards to the pass at an altitude of 2,315 metres, between the Pic du Clot Lamiande and the Pointe Prouveyrat.

(9) Descend the slope heading south to join the small path that runs along the southern slope, below the ridge line. Follow this path downhill towards the Cabane de la Baume, heading east.

(10) Turn right just before the hut to descend. Cross the rocky ridge and lose altitude via a series of switchbacks until you rejoin the ascent route.

(2) Follow the route you took on the way up, in the opposite direction, until you reach the car park (S/E).

There is no drinking water on the route.

There is no shelter except in front of the Pierre Drue and Baume huts.

There are beautiful landscapes in this little-visited valley beyond the Col du Palastre.

Shorter alternative: you can shorten the route slightly by avoiding the two small "detours" at the summit of the Palastre (7) and at the pass at an altitude of 2315 m (between the Pic du Clot Lamiande and the Pointe Prouveyrat). However, these detours only add a little time to the route and offer beautiful views, particularly of the Tourond valley.