Le Vieux Chaillol from Chaillol 1600

This is a long hike to reach the Pic du Vieux Chaillol (3,163 m), a landmark peak in the southern Hautes-Alpes landscape.
Please note that the elevation gain is only 1,530m and not 1,706m as stated on the information sheet.

Technical sheet

74930
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 23.55 km
  • ◔
    Duration according to author: 8 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Very difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 1,627 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 1,627 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 3,153 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,598 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking is available below the Chaillol Tourist Office at 1600.

(S/E) From the Tourist Office, take the track opposite and pass under the ski lift.
Head towards Col de la Pisse (GR® signposting) on the track on the right. Continue along the track, pass the signs for Coustaille and Lou Dévès, then continue straight ahead towards Col de la Pisse via the Cabanes forest road. When you reach the first sign for Les cabanes, turn right.

(1) Turn right and cross the stream to find another Les cabanes sign. Turn left towards Col de la Pisse on the yellow and red marked trail, which winds through the forest on a gradual but not too steep climb.

(2) Reach the Grande Baume crossroads and continue right towards Col de la Pisse. 300 metres further on, at a crossroads, turn left. The trail climbs to Col de la Pisse, which offers a beautiful view of the Champsaur valley.

(3) From the pass, turn right onto the stony path and follow the old Mal Cros canal for a while. There will then be no more signposts, just cairns. Try to follow the cairns and the numerous and varied tracks, which all lead to the Col de Côte Longue. This section is very stony in places, but higher up it rejoins the old canal and arrives at the Col de Côte Longue.

(4) From the pass, take the path on the left indicated by a sign for Le Vieux Chaillol. Continue climbing for about 500 metres to reach La Cabane des Parisiens, the last barrier before the summit.

(5) Turn left at the hut and begin the climb to the summit. It is quite difficult, as there are many cairns and traces that are more or less visible at times, but also many rocks and stones. You will need to find a way through, trying not to follow the cairns that go to the left, but rather those on the right.
The summit section is easier and, once you reach the summit, there is a small shelter on the left with a hiding place for the guest book. A few metres further on, the true summit (3,163 metres) offers breathtaking views.

(6) Descend by the same route (if you can find the same cairns) or by another trail to La Cabane des Parisiens.

(5) From the hut, turn left onto the path along the mountainside that passes the remains of the canal and leads to Lac de Mal Cros.

(7) From the lake, return to La Cabane des Parisiens.

(5) Descend to the Col de Côte Longue (4) and then to the Col de la Pisse (3) via the same route as on the way up. Begin the descent towards Chaillol Station - Le Chevalet, still following the same path as on the way up.

(2) At the Grande Baume junction, turn right towards Le Chevalet and continue downhill.

(8) When you reach the Le Chevalet junction, turn left towards Chaillol Station - Les Cabanes. The descent continues along a beautiful forest trail and returns to the Les Cabanes crossroads.

(1) Turn right onto the track that leads back to Chaillol station and the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,598 m - Tourist Office car park
  2. 1 : km 1.9 - alt. 1,757 m - The Cabins
  3. 2 : km 5.16 - alt. 2,131 m - Grande Baume
  4. 3 : km 7 - alt. 2,353 m - Col de la Pisse
  5. 4 : km 8.91 - alt. 2,669 m - Col de Côte Longue
  6. 5 : km 9.34 - alt. 2,703 m - Cabane des Parisiens
  7. 6 : km 10.85 - alt. 3,148 m - Vieux Chaillol
  8. 7 : km 13.62 - alt. 2,757 m - Lac de Mal Cros
  9. 8 : km 20.25 - alt. 2,033 m - Le Chevalet
  10. S/E : km 23.55 - alt. 1,598 m - Tourist Office car park

Practical information

You can take shelter in La Cabane des Parisiens, or even spend the night there (6 beds available).

You are hiking in the heart of the Ecrins National Park.

The Écrins massif is an exceptional area, open to all, with a rare natural, cultural and landscape heritage. To protect these treasures, the heart of the park is marked by blue, white and red flags, where regulations must be observed. Please read these rules when planning your hike to help preserve this shared heritage at https://www.ecrins-parcnational.fr.

This route passes through a sensitive area where specific rules may apply:

In the nearby area

 Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

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

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 46 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Delphinium
Delphinium ★

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

I wanted to do this hike since 2012 and finally did it in memory for a friend who disappeared. I started the hike at around 5pm so I could avoid the crowd and sleep at the Cabane des Parisiens. I saw many bouquetins, marmottes, etc. I started the ascension at 4.30 in the morning to catch the sunrise. It is quite easy to follow the cairns and keep the mobile app on at the same time. The sunset and sunrise were just incredible!!!
On the way down, I met too many people. It was overcrowded from 8am already...
I suggest to be an early riser and get to the top! The view is magnificent and worse the effort.

User 25750091

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Clarity of route map : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Useless app, unreliable directions...
Nothing is free, so we ended up using the old IGN blue series 1:25,000 map and a compass
We uninstalled the app on the first day of our hike.

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wallaby47
wallaby47

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A beautiful hike; this year, Lake Malcros was still frozen in places.

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Petit ours
Petit ours

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

I confirm the 23.5 km and 1,700 metres of elevation gain. The 1,583 metres correspond to the difference between the highest and lowest points. In fact, there is a 1,700-metre climb.
Thank you to those who provide such accurate route information.

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annemeheuxguilhot
annemeheuxguilhot

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

On 8 July 2024, I stopped at the Cabane des Parisiens due to fatigue, while my companions continued on to the summit. The soft snow stuck to our crampons, and although it was beautiful, it was exhausting for them.

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cezens15
cezens15

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

It's a good 22 km round trip with an elevation gain of around 1,500 m. It's physically demanding but not impossible for someone who is reasonably fit. I was lucky to have beautiful weather, great light and still quite a bit of snow at the top. Please note that you have to park at Chaillol 1600, as the upper car parks, which save time and distance, are closed until the end of November 2024 for construction work

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JODIDO
JODIDO
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

I had already climbed the Col de la Pisse four or five times in the past, most recently in the snow at the end of September 2020.
But I had never continued on, even though I wanted to climb Vieux Chaillol. I don't think I was ready.
From Chaillol 1600, I climbed up to the Col de la Pisse via the balcony trail, which offers beautiful views of the Champsaur and Dévoluy.
It took me 2 hours and 5 minutes to climb the 760 metres of elevation gain. I then continued towards the Col de Côte Longue (2,690 metres).
I left the path clearly visible to cut across, and following some obvious tracks, I arrived at the Cabane des Parisiens in 10 minutes. Don't continue on the path that leads to the tunnel and the lake, but take the route marked with cairns just behind the hut.
From the Cabane to the summit of Vieux Chaillol, there is a 465-metre elevation gain, which took me 1 hour and 10 minutes.
I expected it to be more difficult, but you just have to follow the cairns all the way up, and apart from a small rocky outcrop to cross, there are no difficulties. This route marked with cairns seems to be the "official route", because from what I had read in the past, it used to be more complicated due to the many alternative routes up the mountain.
The view from the top of Vieux Chaillol is breathtaking: the main peaks of Oisans, Barre des Écrins, Ailefroide, Meije, a few peaks in Valgaudémar including Olan, as well as Dévoluy (Pic de Bure, Grand Ferrand, Grande Tête de l'Obiou).
The return trip to Chaillol 1600 took three hours, following a different route after descending the Col de la Pisse, passing through the forest and above the lake.
The hike took me 9 hours, including a 1 hour 40 minute break, covering 24 km and approximately 1,570 metres of elevation gain.
I don't think it's considered "Very Difficult", but it's for experienced walkers with knowledge of high mountains!
It was my second 3000+ hike of the summer, after the Refuge du Promontoire (3092 m), from La Bérarde.

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FDG38410
FDG38410

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Great hike! Magnificent 360° view. A few ibexes, but mostly vultures. A flock of sheep at the sheepfold before the Col de la Pisse. Perhaps a guard dog (heard but not seen). It is possible to bypass the area.

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sabinefebvre
sabinefebvre

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A long and beautiful hike in the company of ibexes.

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quito84
quito84

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very beautiful 3,000 metres, but you have to earn it (especially in the final section). A female ibex was waiting for us at the summit! I opted for the last section via a trail that was not very clear at first but became clearer further on, and on the descent I took the right-hand trail (going downhill), which was perhaps clearer but steeper (requiring the use of hands)... We made the round trip to Lac de Mal Cros, which was superb and definitely worth doing! We made the ascent between 1 and 2 on the left (in the direction of the ascent, faster and very beautiful) and the descent between 2 and 1 on the left (in the direction of the descent), which was longer and gentler but also very beautiful!
No snow problems at this time of year (just a few patches), which can be easily avoided. Luckily there are small waterfalls to fill your water bottles. Definitely worth doing again!

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le dd
le dd

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

An exceptional hike which, given the elevation gain, distance and altitude, is well earned and requires excellent physical condition. We didn't go via the lake. From the Cabane des Parisiens, we climbed straight up. Be very careful, as the trail markings are difficult to see. Several pseudo-trails can lead you astray.
Great hike!! With chamois and ibex. At the summit, the view is exceptional, as with any hike above 3,000 metres.
Thank you

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Jérôme Vasseur
Jérôme Vasseur

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very beautiful summit. I recommend starting from the village of Les Borels in the Champoléon Valley. You start a little lower down and it's a bit longer than if you start from Chaillol station, but the route through the Tourrons valley and the Col de Cote Longue (where you join the route taken by those starting from Chaillol station) is particularly beautiful and wild.
It is worth noting that a disastrous project to build a restaurant accessible by chairlift at the Col de la Pisse has been abandoned: it would have damaged the landscape and brought additional visitors to the area. It will not go ahead: phew!

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oha69
oha69

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A beautiful hike, but challenging due to its length and elevation gain. We set off at 7:30 a.m. from car park P2 (the first car park on the forest track after the resort). On the way up, we took the left-hand path and the right-hand path on the way down, in the opposite direction to the hike. This was a good choice as the left-hand path is very long, especially on the way back. Apart from a few tight bends at the start of the climb, there were no problems reaching the Col de la Pisse, which gradually becomes more visible. We reached it in two hours, including breaks. After the Col de la Pisse, the slope is quite steep at first but then becomes very gentle towards the end, leading to the Cabane des Parisiens. There are no difficulties up to this point, which we reached in three hours from the car park. To the left of the hut, a well-marked trail leads to Vieux Chaillol. It was so well marked that we went left past the rocky outcrops when we wanted to follow the trail, which was to the right. Apart from a few passages, which are not dangerous but require the use of your hands, the route is very easy. We reached the summit in 1 hour 30 minutes from the hut. You need to be careful of slipping, but it's really not a problem. At the summit, there is an exceptional 360° view, despite the clouds that were starting to form (it was 12 noon). We descended on the right-hand side (left-hand side when descending) to rejoin the trail we had started on. There were chamois above and to the right of the hut. We wanted to go to the lake, but as we were afraid of heights, we turned back after 100 m. There were many hikers on this trail. In total, it was 6.5 hours of pure walking for an 8-hour 50-minute hike, including all the breaks and the picnic at the summit. 20.6 km with 1,433 m of elevation gain. A magnificent hike that is not to be missed. Given the length, it is best to be in good physical condition.

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loris307
loris307

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

My first 3,000-metre peak and I wasn't disappointed by the breathtaking scenery. I recommend doing it early in the season as there is no longer any snow on the trails. The route is very well marked, but the last part involves looking for cairns (easy). There are lots of ibex on the last part, and the Parisian hut is open and very pretty. The little lake was also really beautiful. I'll post some photos of this magical hike. A good 1500 to 1600 metres of elevation gain on my Garmin. Thank you for this beautiful route.

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Cassandra J.
Cassandra J.

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Regarding access to the start, there is indeed a Car Park 2 following the track under the chairlift behind the Tourist Office. However, it is not very large, and above all, the track is not very passable for low cars (such as our Clio). This Car Park 2 saves you about 800 metres of track.

The path up to the Col de la Pisse is clearly signposted. It took us 1½ hours to get there.
After that, the old Chaillol is also very well signposted. There are no difficulties until you reach the Parisiens hut. Then you have to make your way through the rocks, sometimes climbing with your hands. It's not impossible or dangerous, you just have to take your time. To the far right of the climb, there is a fairly clear path that leads up to the summit. We climbed up the middle. In good weather, it's not difficult to see your destination. When it's overcast, it's best to follow the path so you don't end up on the edge of a cliff (on the far left).

Once at the top (after 3½ hours), the view is magnificent! And on the way back, what a joy to come across chamois just a few metres away from us.

A must-do hike for travellers in the area!

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