The Tour de la Montagne de Ceüse

A remarkable circuit on the Ceüse mountain.

Details

n°7832

Creation:
15 Jul 2012

Last update:
19 Aug 2020

Last review:
01 Dec 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 12.79 km
Average duration: 5h 25
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 620 m
Descent: - 621 m
Highest point: 1,989 m
Lowest point: 1,515 m

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Bochaine, Dauphiné
District: Manteyer (05400)
Start/End: N 44.518249° / E 5.937013°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3338ET, 3338OT
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Description of the walk

At La Roche des Arnauds, take the D18 road that leads to the Ceüse ski resort. Park in the large car park at the end of the road.

(DA) Take the wide track that starts opposite the car park, then head left and continue on this track following the^PR® (yellow) markings. You will reach the summit of Les Marseillais.

(1) Continue south-southwest then southeast until you reach the top of the Torrent de Manteyer ski lift. The track branches off to the left and becomes a path. At the crossroads, a sign points to Pic de Ceüse. Follow this path.

(2) Then turn right. The trail is still marked^PR® and large cairns indicate the edge of the cliff. A slight descent followed by a very short climb brings you to the entrance to the forest.
Go around a small cliff and rejoin the GRP^®.

(3) Head north on the^GRP® and follow the red and yellow markings until you reach the junction with the PR^®.

(4) Continue right on the^PR®, reaching a place called La Manche (sign).

(5) Turn right onto the path at 180° and follow the mountain pasture and then the forest back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,516 m - Parking at Ceuse station
1 : km 1.66 - alt. 1,824 m - Summit of Les Marseillais
2 : km 3.78 - alt. 1,975 m - Pic de Ceüse
3 : km 7.94 - alt. 1,737 m - GRP crossroads
4 : km 9.74 - alt. 1,810 m - GRP PR crossroads
5 : km 10.31 - alt. 1,769 m - La Manche crossroads
S/E : km 12.79 - alt. 1,515 m - Parking at Ceuse station

Notes

Bring plenty of water, as there is none along the route. It is long and very hot (at least in summer), so be prepared. There is also no shelter.

Worth a visit

The view is exceptional, stretching from the Ecrins to the Ventoux with a breathtaking view of the Pic de Bure and its summit plateau. Gap is also at your feet.
In late spring and early summer, walkers are greeted by a carpet of magnificent flowers.
Finally, the cliffs of Ceüse to the left of the ridge trail are a climber's paradise. And here there is a route that exceeds grade 9, the maximum grade.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5

Based on 60 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5

Route interest
4.8 / 5

User 27390299

01 Dec 2025 at 09:35 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent hike,
very steep climb to the peak of Ceuze, but the 360° view is splendid, then the route along the ridges is easier. Many thanks to the author of the route.

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Pascal du var

14 Sep 2025 at 11:41 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

a challenging route at the start (with the option of an easier detour), but complete satisfaction at the finish with a 360° view.
Followed by a leisurely stroll on the Céüse plateau with more superb scenery.

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Patricia13

08 Sep 2025 at 09:09 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This is a beautiful hike that offers magnificent views of Dévoluy on one side and Champsaur and the Gap valley on the other. The route is varied, but for me it lacks a bit of vegetation, except for a few groves of trees on the way down. It's best to choose a sunny day (for the view!) but not a hot one, as there are few places to shelter.
And despite everything, the 600m elevation gain is well worth it.
I recommend it!

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passoun

11 Aug 2025 at 11:29 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

Stunning views of the surrounding mountains.

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Ber83

13 Jan 2025 at 18:59 3600

Magnificent hike, long climb at the beginning but very rewarding afterwards, pure joy

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Harfangdesneiges

13 Jan 2025 at 13:00 3600 • Edited: 13 Jan 2025 at 16:20 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb snowshoe hike, which proved a little difficult to follow the route described. But we eventually found our way using the IGN map. Céüze is a disused ski resort, which means it's open to everyone for snowshoeing, ski touring and even snow kiting! I recommend this beautiful route, whatever the season.

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vgasquet

04 Nov 2024 at 11:42 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike from start to finish. A very varied route despite the appearance of the rolling plateau, with breathtaking landscapes amid the autumn colours. The second part is particularly worth the detour, with its canyon landscape. No difficulty. Thank you very much for this route

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Alexb13

19 Sep 2024 at 15:17 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike! Sunshine all the way with breathtaking scenery, and we even saw some marmots, foxes and deer
At the start, the signposting isn't very clear but it's easy to follow as the path/track is visible, then the second part is well marked.
The climb to the peak of Ceüse takes about an hour but is quite steep!
The walk took 3½ hours (for people who are used to hiking and have a good pace)
Definitely worth doing again!!!

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Ber83

27 Aug 2024 at 08:56 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
This hike is truly magnificent. A beautiful variety of landscapes. Be careful at the start of the hike, which is difficult until you reach the peak of Céüse. It could be classified as moderate to difficult. There is no water along the entire route. There is a little shade on the second part. This beautiful hike offers extraordinary views and is a feast for the eyes. I highly recommend this hike. Avoid doing it on days with bad weather, rain or fog.
Enjoy your hike!
Bernard

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am_clre

15 Jul 2024 at 09:02 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The climb is quite difficult for novice hikers, but the view is worth it! We followed the path, checking the app from time to time to make sure we were still going in the right direction.
Between points 2 and 3, I recommend following the path along the cliff rather than climbing up as indicated in the itinerary. There are two small waterfalls there that are quite nice.
It took us 8.5 hours in total because we stopped often.
A very beautiful hike with stunning views from the start.

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patbouc

08 Jul 2024 at 11:37 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent views. Excellent trails. All you have to do is walk and enjoy the scenery

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Cathy 05

03 Jun 2024 at 08:50 7200

i know this plateau relatively well, so there were no disappointments.
On the way, we saw lots of spring flowers.
perhaps a little long on the way back through the English Channel.

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Cathy 05

31 May 2024 at 20:25 7200

i know this plateau relatively well, so there were no disappointments.
On the way, we saw lots of spring flowers.
perhaps a bit long on the way back through the English Channel.

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JODIDO

13 Sep 2023 at 16:01 7200 • Edited: 19 Sep 2024 at 16:12 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2023
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

I wanted to return to the Céûse Mountain after giving up on climbing the Pic de Céûse on 25 August, having got lost on the route.
But this time, I didn't set off from the Céüse resort, but from the start of the track leading to Châtillon-le-Désert, as I had left my vehicle at the side of the road.
This added 420 metres of elevation gain, but I had no desire to drive 7 km there and back on a very rough track!
It took me three hours without any breaks to reach the Corniche de Céüse (1,993 metres).
I stopped for a bite to eat before continuing on the ridges for about fifteen minutes to reach the Pic de Céüse (2,016 metres).
I got back to my car in 2 hours and 45 minutes, and didn't see a single hiker on the way up or down. Just a couple on the Corniche.
25 km, 1,200 metres of elevation gain, 6 hours and 40 minutes in total, with a 40-minute break.

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JODIDO

27 Aug 2023 at 13:37 7200 • Edited: 27 Aug 2023 at 16:28 7200

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

After seven hikes in a row, and before returning to Avignon, I had marked this route, which seemed easy and not too long. I didn't know this former ski resort, which closed permanently in early 2020.
The apartments and former shops are for sale, and the famous Gaillard hotel has also closed down for good...
After parking in the resort car park, I started walking, but there were problems with the signposting right from the start!
The only yellow signs indicated "Torrent de la Sapie" and "Collet de la Manche".
There was nothing about "Le Mont des Marseillais". Just before the start of the track, there was a brown sign indicating "Pic de Céüse direct". So I took the track, but didn't see any signposts. When it started to descend, I turned right to climb up to the heights, to the last pylons. I suspected that the peak was on a ridge to my left in the distance, but unsure, I turned right and stayed up high.
When I reached a small peak with an antenna, I spotted a path starting from a valley.
i went there and ended up climbing up to the Collet de la Manche (1,820 m). A mountain biker showed me where the Pic de Céüse was. So I had to go back to the resort and try to find the right signposts!
It was 10 o'clock, and given how hot it already was and my physical condition after seven hikes, I decided not to continue and to come back another day...
I was still frustrated that I hadn't been able to find the right route, even though I had taken this track!
In the end, it was a short 3.5-hour walk, 9 km with 500 metres of elevation gain...

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