The Conchiers tour via Puy Jaumar

A short, unpretentious walk, best done in spring, on foot or with snowshoes depending on conditions, with a good chance of encountering ibex and/or mouflon.

Details

n°2074584

Creation:
13 May 2019

Last update:
02 Sep 2026

Last review:
26 Aug 2026

Activity: Walking
Distance: 4.77 mi
Average duration: 3h 35
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 1,588 ft
Descent: - 1,591 ft
Highest point: 6,342 ft
Lowest point: 4,859 ft

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Cerces, Dauphiné
City: Le Monêtier-les-Bains (05220)
Start/End: N 44.97711° / E 6.512574°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3436ET, 3436ETR, 3536OT, 3536OTR
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Description of the walk

When arriving at Monêtier from the south, take the Chemin des Preynas (opposite the post office and the “Jardin d’Écrins” shop). Follow this road for a few hundred metres until you find a car park on your left.

(S/E) From the car park, take the path (not shown on IGN maps) which continues along the same route as the Chemin des Preynas.

(1) Turn right onto the path leading up along the ridge.

(2) Turn right towards Puy Jaumar and ignore the path on the left, which will be the one you take on the way back.

(3) Turn right onto the main path.

(4) Leave the path and continue south-east across the fields, along the cliffs where mouflons like to bask in the sun.

(5) Reach the Puy Jaumar chapel and head up to the right, towards Puy du Cros.

(6) Turn right after the shepherd’s hut, towards the hamlet of Puy du Cros. Stay on the main path, ignoring the numerous tracks that criss-cross here and there, and follow the Cime des Conchiers, which lies at your feet.

(7) Leave the path heading towards Puy Chevalier on your right and continue along the path descending to the left.

(8) Turn left onto the balcony path known as the ‘Boucle des Conchiers’ – a snowshoe discovery trail – and rejoin the route you took on the way up.

(2) Follow the path back down the way you came to reach the car park on Chemin des Peynas (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : mi 0 - alt. 4,862 ft - Chemin des Peynas car park
1 : mi 0.07 - alt. 4,934 ft - Path leading uphill to the right
2 : mi 0.47 - alt. 5,276 ft - Crossroads of the circular loop
3 : mi 0.61 - alt. 5,456 ft - Main path on the right
4 : mi 0.77 - alt. 5,722 ft - Off the beaten track towards the south-east
5 : mi 1.38 - alt. 5,902 ft - Puy Jaumar Chapel
6 : mi 1.88 - alt. 6,309 ft - Turn right at the shepherd’s hut
7 : mi 2.75 - alt. 6,027 ft - Path leading down to the left
8 : mi 3.5 - alt. 5,515 ft - Junction with the “Circular Route of Conchiers”
S/E : mi 4.77 - alt. 4,859 ft - Chemin des Peynas car park

Notes

No water source, but stay alert, as there are many ibex, roe deer and mouflon, and they know how to be discreet...

Worth a visit

- Admire the remains of the small cableway (pylons and gondolas) which were used in the ^19th century by the valley’s farmer-miners. For further information: Société Géographique et Minière du Briançonnais.

- Monêtier-les-Bains hot spring.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5

Based on 14 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5

Route interest
4.4 / 5

JPC07

26 Aug 2026 at 12:02 7200

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The real highlight of the walk begins at point 3. Beautiful views over the valley; an easy descent through the woods after the ‘Rocher des Chiens’, though not particularly pleasant. An incredible jumble of rocks that seems to loom over the village of Le Monétier right at the start of point 8: spectacular!
An easy walk, suitable for any average walker and relatively interesting.

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DENISFRAN

26 Jul 2026 at 19:59 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route, but no ibex or mouflon!... The climb is a bit steep, but the descent is gentle and shaded, taking you across three scree slopes. Lovely views of Monetier and the surrounding area, particularly from the Puy Jaumar chapel.

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romanche

04 May 2026 at 11:22 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 04, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely little spring walk, with magnificent views of the surrounding area, which is still snow-covered at higher altitudes. We were completely alone on the Puy du Gros plateau. However, we decided to head back via the direct path to Monêtier – and thank goodness we did, as there had recently been a rockfall on the path below the cliff. We’re not sure whether it affected the horizontal return path or not. Thank you very much for this walk, which we wouldn’t have thought of doing without your description

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User 4032310

11 Nov 2025 at 21:29 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with beautiful aerial views of the ridge. The route is fairly easy to follow, except at point 4 where we missed the path, which shortened the walk a little, but we got back on track a little further on.

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Jeanlabat

27 Aug 2025 at 19:11 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed on a beautiful day in August. It offers beautiful views of the heights of Monêtier-les-Bains and the glaciers. At this time of year, the section through the mountain pastures between points 4 and 5 is not very useful or interesting. We navigated by eye (no trail on the ground) and GPS, without seeing a single cow (and of course no ibex or mouflon). Apart from that, it's a very pleasant loop!

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TiBN

16 Jan 2025 at 20:37 3600 • Edited: 16 Jan 2025 at 20:37 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike offering stunning panoramic views of Le Monetier and the surrounding mountains.
The trail is well marked and cleared of snow.
Done today without snowshoes. However, crampons may be a little extra reassurance, especially on the descent 😊

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Bertrand_61

11 Jan 2025 at 16:06 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Accessible without snowshoes due to low snow cover. Easy ascent. Descent requires more attention due to refreezing in the late afternoon.
Superb panoramic views of the Monêtier dome, the Serre-Chevalier valley, the Tabuc valley, etc.

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isabelle5891

20 Aug 2024 at 18:01 7200

Then it will be for next time. Thank you for this hike!

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bernardino

19 Aug 2024 at 10:41 7200

Hello
Thank you for your comment on this very pleasant outing. However, you mention that there was not a single ibex or mouflon in sight. This is quite normal at this time of year because, in summer, these animals give way to cows and also hikers. To see them, you need to go higher up in the Moulette valley, for example.
Have a nice day and enjoy your hikes!

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isabelle5891

19 Aug 2024 at 08:41 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful views of the southern heights of Monetier, glaciers, Agneaux... Not a single ibex or mouflon in sight, but cows! A lovely morning, extended by a short stroll through the village.

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bidouslim

12 Aug 2024 at 14:04 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello
Very nice hike, beautiful views
The start after point 2 is a bit steep in summer
If we return to the area, we will take it in the other direction from point 2 just to see
I think that should be nice too

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aspttrando

06 Feb 2023 at 12:50 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful balcony route, completed under a beautiful blue sky and lots of sunshine. The start was very icy, so we did this hike using only crampons; snowshoes were not necessary, especially since there was practically no snow on the way back.
Very beautiful panorama.

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GillesA

12 Apr 2021 at 09:51 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful balcony trail with snow-covered scree slopes and a few steep sections; mouflons spotted briefly in the distance.

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manu4x405

08 Feb 2021 at 15:47 3600

It's true that with the sunshine today, the view of the Écrins massif must have been pretty nice.
Did you see the mouflons?

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Zoezip

08 Feb 2021 at 10:21 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Easy to access, very well marked with a choice of different paths to take along the route. Beautiful views of Monêtier. ... easy to do despite a slightly steep climb, but caught up in the emotion of the beauty of the site ... you don't think about it anymore. It's only on the way back down that you realise how steep the climb was... even if you do a circular route.

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