The Odyssey Tour via the Brèche de Charance and the Col de Guizière

From Gap, take the Route de l'Audet towards the Domaine de Charance, pass the lake car park and continue past the hamlet of Les Nivouls (no coaches allowed). Park at the hairpin bend on the right (maximum 5 cars).
Note: Gap's urban transport system can take you to the Domaine de Charance car park.

(S/E) Take the path heading south-west. Ignore the path that climbs to the right and continue straight ahead. Above a clearing overlooking the Canal de Gap, you will reach the crossroads of the route called the Tour de l'Odyssée.

(1) Take the wide path that climbs to the right and follow the forest track until you quickly reach a crossroads with several directions.

(2) Continue straight ahead, ignoring the paths on the right and left. You will reach a new four-way intersection.

(3) Leave the main path and take the trail that climbs to the right. This is a shortcut heading northeast to the Belvédère du Rochasson, then to the Clairière.

(4) Continue following a large bend to the left to climb into the woods. Leave the stony path that branches off immediately to the right and then, shortly after, the one on the left, to join the Tour du Cuchon route, which is signposted here.

(5) Continue climbing on the right until you reach another crossroads.

(6) Continue climbing, taking the left in the hairpin bend. Finish with a final climb up a short, easy scree slope, ascending the Brèche towards the Pic de Charance and the Brèche, to reach the foot of the rocky ridges of the Charance peaks.

(7) Turn right onto the ridge. Pass the orientation table and an antenna, then the highest point of the route, the summit of Côte Plaine. Descend the ridge, heading northeast, until you reach the Col de Guizière.

(8) Turn right towards Les Serrigues and the Belvédère du Rochasson, descending through the mountain pastures via a few hairpin bends. You will soon come to another crossroads, at the Tours de l'Odyssée and Guizière.

(9) Keep right on the Tour de l'Odyssée trail, descending quite steeply to reach a wider trail.

(10) Take it on the left, heading north-east. Ignore the path going up on the left and go down the one on the right to return to the Clairière crossroads, which you passed on the way there.

(4) Take the small path downhill on the left, which is a shortcut back to the initial crossroads.

(1) Turn right and follow the same route you took on the way there until you reach the Audet car park (S/E).

There are no water sources along the route. Picnic tables are available at the Domaine de Charance.
Between (7) and (8) Take care on the ridge on windy days.
Don't forget your binoculars to admire the view.

(7) The Charance ridge offers a beautiful view of Gap towards Céüse, Dévoluy, Pic de Gleize, Vieux Chaillol, Ubaye and Montagne de la Blanche.

Longer option: from the Brèche de Charance (7), you can climb up to the left towards the Pic de Charance cross, 1,825 m (+180 m, 1 hour there and back). A superb 360° view awaits you towards the Gapençais basin, as well as the Dévoluy and the Écrins!

(S/E) The Domaine de Charance belonged for a long time to the powerful bishops of Gap, who built a castle and laid out the park and its canals. In 1973, the town of Gap became the owner and opened it to the public. The name Charance comes from the Vivaro-Alpine Occitan and means waterfall. Its origin comes from the Celtic word "rin" meaning running water, and a prefix "cha", giving the idea of a fall.