The Tour de l'Aiguillette du Lauzet

A beautiful route in the Cerces Massif, which joins the Via Ferrata du Lauzet at La Croix.

Details

39324
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.93 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 924 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 923 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,575 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,694 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in thefirst car park on the left of the road coming from Monêtier-les-Bains; it is preferable to use this car park in summer.

(S/E) Take the road (with caution) to Pont de l'Alpe.

(1). Then take the wide track on the right that leads to Alpe du Lauzet. Cross Alpe du Lauzet via the upper path and reach the junction of two paths.

(2) Leave the Sentier du Roy (signposted) on your right and continue straight ahead on the main path. Follow a few hairpin bends, then walk along the stream on your left to reach the Col du Chardonnet crossroads.

(3) Take this direction, which is theGR®57. You will reach another junction.

(4) Leave theGR® on your left and take the unmarked but clearly visible path on the right, which leads to the Col de l'Aiguillette.

(5) Continue along this path to the right until you reach a crossroads below the Aiguillette du Lauzet.

(6) Turn right to reach the clearly visible cross planted on the neighbouring peak of Aiguillette du Lauzet. Please note that some sections require the use of your hands.

(7) Return to the previous crossroads.

(6) Then begin the long descent. Next, join theGR®50or Chemin du Roy.

(8) Take it to the right to reach the chalets of Alpe du Lauzet via an almost flat crossing.

(2) Then retrace your steps to return to Pont de l'Alpe.

(1) Retrace your steps to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,694 m - Pont de l'Alp car park
  2. 1 : km 0.22 - alt. 1,704 m - Pont de l'Alp
  3. 2 : km 1.59 - alt. 1,951 m - Alpe du Lauze
  4. 3 : km 2.68 - alt. 2,214 m - GR57
  5. 4 : km 3.34 - alt. 2,362 m - GR57 crossroads - Col de l'Aiguillette trail
  6. 5 : km 3.78 - alt. 2,532 m - Col de l'Aiguillette
  7. 6 : km 4.31 - alt. 2,520 m - Carrefour Croix
  8. 7 : km 4.54 - alt. 2,534 m - Summit of La Croix
  9. 8 : km 6.43 - alt. 2,083 m - GR50 or Chemin du Roy
  10. S/E : km 9.93 - alt. 1,695 m - Pont de l'Alp car park

Notes

Water points at Alpe du Lauzet, then none thereafter.
Halte Roche Robert at Alpe du Lauzet (drinks, fast food).
The view from the summit is remarkable, with Barre des Ecrins, the Agneaux range, the remaining glaciers, Pic de Rochebrune and the Queyras summits, as well as the Chambeyron range.
However, the only thing missing is La Meije.

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Worth a visit

The baths of Monêtier.
The Galibier, one of the great Alpine passes.
The Lautaret Alpine Garden.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
bernardino
bernardino ★

Hello.
As I haven't done this route for some time, I read this in your comment:
I can confirm that there is a landslide, but it can be crossed without any difficulty, as long as you don't rush.
As it is not mentioned in my description and I have not heard about it, could you tell me where it is so that I can mention it in the description?
Thank you in advance.
Have a good day

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User 22580717

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike for experienced hikers, without necessarily presenting major technical difficulties, the difficulty lying more in the length.
I can confirm that there is a rockfall, but it can be crossed safely without rushing.
After point 8, we took the path on the left that takes us back to point 1, a variation on the proposed route that takes us back to point 2. The path is very pleasant and very easy to take or follow.
I recommend it all the more because the descent is easier to reach point 1, which can be important at the end of a hike when fatigue sets in.

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Octave monjoin
Octave monjoin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Excellent circular route, saw a herd of about fifteen ibex, beautiful variety of landscapes.

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Melquiond bernard
Melquiond bernard
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed in beautiful weather. There was snow behind the Aiguillette, so we decided to climb up to the Col du Chardonnet and follow the ridge to descend to the Col de l'Aiguillette. We saw many ibex during the climb. We had lunch at the summit below La Croix. For the return trip, we took the Chemin du Roy to Le Monetier-les-Bains (magnificent balcony overlooking the Écrins and Meije massifs). It's true that this made the route longer, but there were no difficulties.

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j p david
j p david
• Edited:

Everything is well explained, but given the time, I was unable to do it.

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Britanicus100
Britanicus100
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 03, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely trail run with panoramic views from the pass over Montagne des Agneaux and Barre des Écrins.
I made a video with the names of the peaks, which describes the atmosphere of this route.
https://youtu.be/z1Y2OR_xFjw

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olivier.geeraerts.og@gmail.com
olivier.geeraerts.og@gmail.com

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Magnificent hike, but be careful if you suffer from vertigo in some places.
That said, it's a superb walk.

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Chris3084
Chris3084

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 30, 2013
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Superb hike. Be careful not to miss the fork (hairpin bend) that leads to "the cross planted on the neighbouring peak of Aiguillette du Lauzet".
I can confirm that "some sections require the use of your hands" to reach the cross. Nothing too complicated, except that it's better to look ahead than to the sides, which can be daunting for those prone to vertigo; but nothing impossible.
I recommend the Cerces massif, which offers magnificent landscapes and probably other hiking ideas...

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