Le Piolit via Rouanne Haute

A splendid hike with a difficult route that will take you to the Col de Chorges. Climb Piolit and enjoy its 360° panorama, then descend via the Col de la Pourrachiére.
From Piolit (2,464 m), there are views to the south over Lake Serre-Ponçon and Mercantour, and to the north-east, north and north-west over the peaks of Champsaur, Dévoluy and Ecrins.
Caution: do not attempt this route too early in the season, as there is still a lot of snow due to the exposure. See § practical information.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.82 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 854 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 863 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,448 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,610 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Coming from Gap, take the D944 then follow the D13 straight ahead to wooden roof tile. Pass Le Château d'Ancelle and continue to Ancelle, following the D13. At an intersection at the bottom of the village of Ancelle, turn left, cross the bridge over the Rouanne, then turn right and, at the next bend, turn right again onto the small tarmac road which then becomes a wide track with several fords.
Continue to the end of the Vallée de Rouanne Haute. The route is easily accessible by normal car. Park in the car park.

(S/E) Go to the footbridge over the Rouanne below the car park. Cross it and continue for a few hundred metres.

(1) Take the path that branches off to the left. Begin the ascent to an intersection.

(2) At the intersection of two paths, take the upper path on the right. The two paths rejoin a little further on. Continue to the intersection of these paths. The path coming from below continues towards the Balcons de Rouanne.

(3) Turn sharply right until the next intersection.

(4) The path on the right leads directly to the Col de la Pourrachiere. Turn left and follow the path along the ridge below Pointe de Fleurendon and above Clot des Naïs to reach the Col Chorges. At the bottom of the valley, you can see a summer farm. From the pass, there is a magnificent view of Lake Serre Ponçon and the Mercantour.

(5) Turn right and follow the path that leads to Piolit. The summit offers a 360° view.

(6) From the summit, descend about 200 to 330 metres (see photo with caption). Turn left to descend into the mountain pastures until you reach a path that is difficult to see. Continue to the Col de la Pourrachière.

As the path was covered in snow, we sometimes deviated from it, taking detours to avoid the snowfields on the Bonaparré ridges, which made the hike particularly tricky and, above all, very unstable. This was especially true as this entire section of the route is on a slope.

(7) At the Pourrachière pass, turn left and continue downhill, crossing the mountain pastures, passing a spring and the Courou torrent, and continuing through the forest until you reach an intersection.

(8) Turn right and continue down the forest path.

(9) Take the wide forest track, which branches off to the right well above the stream and ravine. This path is not shown on the IGN map, which shows it running alongside the stream below. Continue downhill and cross the bridge over the Rouanne again to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,621 m - Rouanne Haute car park
  2. 1 : km 0.2 - alt. 1,612 m - Path that branches off to the left
  3. 2 : km 2.1 - alt. 1,891 m - The two paths meet up.
  4. 3 : km 3.07 - alt. 2,010 m - Turn sharply to the right.
  5. 4 : km 3.44 - alt. 2,040 m - Fork to the left - Pointe de Fleurendon
  6. 5 : km 6.11 - alt. 2,245 m - Turn right - Col de Chorges (2249m)
  7. 6 : km 6.93 - alt. 2,448 m - Le Piolit
  8. 7 : km 8.58 - alt. 2,141 m - Col de la Pourrachiére
  9. 8 : km 10.95 - alt. 1,784 m - Turn right at the fork on the descent.
  10. 9 : km 11.31 - alt. 1,735 m - Wide forest path
  11. S/E : km 12.82 - alt. 1,620 m - Rouanne Haute car park

Notes

Please note: do not attempt this hike too early in the season. It is therefore classified as difficult.
We did this hike during Ascension weekend 2019 and there was a lot of snow, making it very technical and even dangerous. Fortunately, we had brought overshoes to walk on the snowfields (instead of crampons) and we were roped together. That's why it took us 7 hours.
In dry weather, this route is not dangerous.

There are several water sources along the route, including two springs.
Be sure to wear good walking shoes, as you are in the mountains.

Please note: the ascent of Piolit remains difficult. The terrain is very loose. The descent to the Pourrachiére pass is sloping and therefore slippery. It is therefore classified as difficult.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Liru
Liru

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this hike in the opposite direction to the one suggested in this guidebook. This made it easier to find our way along the Bonaparré ridges (from the Col de la Pourrachière), with no trouble finding the path. And so, the descent from Le Piolit was gentler (we preferred to tackle the steep climb on the way up rather than on the way down).
A beautiful hike with stunning views of the surrounding peaks.
Take care around the herds that remain in certain areas until mid-October (see photo of the sign)

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medaral
medaral

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful route. The climb to the summit is tough, but it doesn't last long.

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champet67
champet67

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant and easy route to Col de Chorges, then caution is advised for the ascent of Piolite, but what a magnificent 360° view at the summit! It would take too long to describe all the peaks.
Then there's the serious descent and the traverse under Bonaparté to reach Col de la Pourrachière, which isn't easy for everyone. I wouldn't recommend it for novices as there are a few tricky sections.
Otherwise, a superb hike to do in fine weather.
Thanks to the editor of this hike.

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Kt
Kt

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike. The view from the top of Piolit is exceptional. It's worth the effort to push through the last 100 metres of elevation gain.

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JODIDO
JODIDO

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2015
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

So I did this hike in July 2015, starting from the Rouanne Haute car park, and I had fond memories of it.
I was hiking much less than I do now, and I remember that the last part to reach the summit seemed difficult to me.
On 23 August 2023, I climbed Piolit again, but this time starting from Baillenq, at the very beginning of the forest track.
It took me 2 hours and 20 minutes to reach the summit of Piolit without taking any breaks.
The views from the summit were magnificent. I was alone, having only encountered one trail runner who was descending as I was climbing.
Since it was only 9:45 a.m., I decided to continue on the valley that leads to wooden roof tile or the Rouanne Haute car park. I walked along the ridge trail, which avoids ending up on a kind of track that zigzags in the distance. Not having a map, I figured that from wooden roof tile, I would hitchhike back to Baillenq. But to my surprise, I quickly saw signs pointing to "Col de Moissière"!
The path took me along part of the Balcon de Rouanne, which runs mostly through the forest.
Once at the pass, I stayed on the district road to retrieve my vehicle.
It was a beautiful hike that I really enjoyed, and it took me 5 hours and 45 minutes with a 40-minute break.

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sabinefebvre
sabinefebvre

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

From Piolit, don't descend too far, but head for the Bonaparré ridge, which is easier and offers better views!

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Kalou07
Kalou07

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Great walk, second part not marked at the beginning

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Chris de buiss
Chris de buiss

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The trail that starts at Piolit and leads to the Col de Pourchaière has disappeared just before the pass, so you have to descend to rejoin the original trail that comes from Rouanne. Otherwise, it's a very beautiful hike.
Thank you.

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vincentlc
vincentlc

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for the hike and for the comments.
I can confirm that there was still snow on 20 June 2020 in the middle of the path leading up to the Col de Chorges, forcing us to make a small traverse to get underneath it.
I can also confirm that it is easy to climb back up to the Bonaparré ridge when the path taken after the Piolit is only a few dozen metres away: the descent to the ridge then offers additional beautiful views of the Piolit and the Dévoluy.

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Vincent M8.
Vincent M8.

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

-Between points 2 and 3, it is best to use the paths that run almost parallel to the bulldozed track.
- Below the Selle chalets (cairn marking the start of the old path), as well as towards point 9.

On the wise advice of the shepherd we met: when crossing under the Bonnaparré ridge, the path climbs a little (cairn). You need to reach the wide, comfortable ridge that descends towards the Pourrachière pass. The hike then becomes fairly easy (without snow, of course).

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