Le Vieux Chaillol from Les Borels

Access:
From Gap, take the N85 towards Col Bayard. Then turn right towards Col de Manse onto the D944. Follow signs for Orcières on the D944.
Then, at the Pont de Corbière, turn left onto the D944a. Follow this small, north-facing road as it climbs up the Champoléon valley until you reach Les Borels.
A large car park is signposted on the left (suitable for motorhomes) just before the entrance to Les Borels.

(S/E) To the south of the car park, head towards the bridge and cross the Torrent du Drac Blanc. You will immediately come to the signpost marked “Champoléon les Borels”.
Carry straight on towards the Refuge du Tourond (the^GRP®® Tour du Vieux Chaillol trail branches off to the left).
Pass quickly to the right of a picnic area where there is a spring. Follow a track through the larch trees.

You’ll reach the gate to the Champoléon communal forest. The track turns into a footpath which begins to climb.

(1) At the fork in the road, continue along the track on the left towards the Refuge du Tourond (marked by a wooden sign).
After a few hairpin bends, turn left again (the route diverges from the IGN map).

After about 350 metres, ignore the paths to the left and carry on straight ahead towards the Refuge du Tourond (marked by a wooden sign).
The track then heads west-south-west, over relatively flat terrain, overlooking the Tourond torrent.

(2) At the “Pré du Clot”, after crossing the ravine, continue to the right towards the Refuge du Tourond. Cross the torrent via the small wooden bridge.
The signposting for^{the GRP®®} “Tour du Vieux Chaillol” appears. Turn immediately left onto the grassy path, thereby leaving the^GRP®®. Reach the refuge by arriving just below it (see alternative routes in the practical information section).

(3) At the Refuge du Tourond, take the path on the left towards the Cascade de la Pisse (marked by a wooden sign). Cross a small torrent and continue to the waterfall. You’ll reach the Cascade de la Pisse after about 900 metres, following a mountain-side path on slightly uphill terrain.

(4) From the waterfall, turn back towards the Refuge du Tourond, then, after crossing the Torrent du Tourond, return to the “Pré du Clot” signpost.

(2) Then continue to the right towards the Col de la Venasque, following the^GRP®® Tour du Vieux Chaillol. Yellow/red markings.
Walk through the woodland on a path cutting through the tall grass, then follow several hairpin bends as you climb. You’ll reach a barely marked Fork in the road after about 1.2 km.

(5) At the Fork in the road, carry on straight ahead towards the Col de la Venasque, staying on the^GRP®® Tour du Vieux Chaillol. Yellow/red markings. The path on the right leads to the Source de Planure (round trip).
You’ll begin to emerge from the tree cover. The landscape opens up around the cliffs of Venasque and the Tourond.

(6) At the “Planure” signpost, turn right towards the Col de la Côte Longue. Cross a small stream bed (which may or may not be dry depending on the time of year) and emerge into a ravine, which you must cross by veering slightly to the right.

A tricolour mark is visible in places. This marks the boundary of the Écrins National Park.

(7) After about 700 metres, you’ll reach a small fork; take the narrow, hairpin-bend path on the left which climbs towards the Col de la Côte Longue. There’s a small wooden sign here (the path straight ahead is signposted ‘Tour de Planure’).

The ascent is gentle at first. The path winds its way through the grassy pastures. The trail is faint in places.
A hut (which appears to be very recent) is visible on the left on the promontory. Pass quickly past it and move away from it to follow the track which turns right towards the north-east.

You will then reach a rockier area with scree and small boulders. The route is marked by fairly scattered cairns. As you approach the Col de Côte Longue, the slope becomes much steeper and the ground is quite slippery (small stones and earth).
Reach the pass, marked by its cairn.

(8) At the Col de Côte Longue (alt. 2,690 m), continue to the right towards Vieux Chaillol. The landscape is entirely rocky. Follow the clearly marked path, which climbs on a gentle incline.

(9) You will then reach the Col de Riou Beyrou (alt. 2,695 m) and the Cabane des Parisiens.

It is possible to make a round trip (approximately 2 km) to Lac de Mal Cros by taking the path to the right of the hut, along the mountainside (facing north) and passing by the remains of the canal.

To continue the ascent, go round the back of the hut. There is no real path here; the route follows the rock face directly and passes through a few scree slopes. Numerous cairns are visible. There are also some simple features in place to mark the route, such as low stone walls.
The summit only comes into view at the very last moment.

(10) Arrival at the summit of Vieux Chaillol at an altitude of 3,163 metres.

The summit offers a panoramic view to one’s heart’s content. Starting from the west and moving clockwise: the Dévoluy in its entirety, the Vercors, the Taillefer, a section of the Grandes Rousses, the Écrins, the Queyras, the Haute-Ubaye (Rubren, Malacoste, Péouvou). Next come the Font Sancte, the Panestrel…The Parpaillon ridge, the Estrop massif… The Digne Pre-Alps, Lure, the Ventoux, the Grand Delmas and the Trois Becs are also visible on a clear day.

Head back down the same way to La Cabane des Parisiens (see practical information) and continue on to the Col de Côte Longue.

(8) At the Col de Côte Longue, leave the ascent route and continue to the right, descending towards the Col de la Pisse.
The landscape remains rocky, with beautiful, unobstructed views of the Dévoluy to the west. The path descends quite steeply. Although unmarked, the trail on the ground is clearly defined. Reach the Col de la Pisse (alt. 2,354 m).

(11) From the pass, continue to the left towards Chaillol 1600. The path descends through pastures in a series of hairpin bends. Pass close to the sheepfold, then cross the Torrent de la Pisse.

(12) At ‘Le Cavalet’, continue straight on towards the Col de la Venasque. Follow the^GRP® Tour du Vieux Chaillol. Yellow/red markings.

(13) After about 500 metres, ignore the path veering slightly to the right (which runs along the southern slopes of the mountain; the trail is visible straight ahead).
A low, symbolic stone wall encourages you to carry on straight ahead. Stay on the^GRP®®. The climb to the pass follows several hairpin bends.

(14) The Col de la Venasque offers a stunning panoramic view across the whole valley. Simply follow the^GRP®®. Numerous hairpin bends mark the relatively long descent.
Although^GRP®® signposting is sparse, the path is clearly marked and unambiguous. After about 3.5 km of descent, you’ll reach the ‘Planure’ signpost.

(6) Continue to the right towards Champoléon/Les Borels. Stay on the^GRP®® Tour du Vieux Chaillol. Yellow/red markings. You’ll reach the Pré du Clot (see alternative route in the practical information section).

(2) Then follow the same route as on the way out to return to the car park at the entrance to Les Borels (S/E).

Water point:
Shortly afterwards (S/E) at the picnic area.
(3) Tourond mountain hut.
Several streams (including the Torrent de la Pisse).

Fauna/Vegetation:
Le Vieux Chaillol forms part of the Écrins National Park, so certain restrictions apply; see the following link: Écrins National Park regulations.

There may be herds below the Col de la Pisse (11) and the Col de la Venasque (14) (there is a gate to pass through the fence).

Alternative routes:

(9) The Cabane des Parisiens is a former construction hut, used during the building of the Mal Cros Canal. Well restored, it now serves as a basic but clean shelter for several walkers.
It can serve as a place to camp if necessary. Basic facilities; no wood-burning stove or chimney, but it is possible to sleep on wooden planks.

(3) The ascent to the Col de Côte Longue can be undertaken partly by setting off directly from the Refuge du Tourond. Take the path that runs to the left of the main building and then joins the second building at the rear. Follow this track, which goes round the Clot de la Selle and crosses the Torrent de Mal Cros. You will emerge at (7).

(2) The return journey from the Pré du Clot can be made by passing close to the Refuge du Tourond. Follow the^GRP®® by turning right after the bridge. The path descends fairly gently into the valley, overlooking the Torrent du Tourond. You’ll reach the hamlet of Les Fermons. Continue the descent until you reach the Torrent du Drac Blanc. Follow the right bank until you reach Les Borels.

Pisse waterfall.
Mal-Cros Canal.
Champoléon Valley.