Le Vieux Chaillol from Les Borels

Access:
From Gap, take the N85 national road towards Col Bayard. Then turn right towards Col de Manse on the D944 departmental road. Follow the signs for Orcières on the D944.
Then at Pont de Corbière, turn left onto the D944a. Take this small road, heading north, 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) South of the car park, head towards the bridge and cross the Torrent du Drac Blanc. You will immediately reach the signpost for "Champoléon les Borels".
Continue straight ahead towards the Refuge du Tourond (the^GRP®® Tour du Vieux Chaillol trail branches off to the left).
Quickly pass to the right of a picnic area where there is a spring. Follow a track suitable for vehicles through the larch trees.

You will reach the barrier to the Champoléon communal forest. The track becomes a path which starts to climb.

(1) At the fork, continue on the path to the left towards the Refuge du Tourond (there is a wooden sign).
After a few hairpin bends, turn left again (the route differs from the IGN map).

After about 350m, ignore the paths on the left and continue straight ahead towards the Refuge du Tourond (wooden sign).
The trail then heads west-southwest, on relatively flat ground, overlooking the Tourond torrent.

(2) At "Pré du Clot", after crossing the ravine, continue to the right towards the Refuge du Tourond. Take the small wooden bridge over the torrent.
The^GRP®® "Tour du Vieux Chaillol" signposts appear. Immediately turn left onto the grassy path, leaving the GRP®^®. You will reach the refuge when you arrive below it (see variations in practical information).

(3) At the Refuge du Tourond, take the path on the left towards the Cascade de la Pisse (wooden sign). Cross a small stream and continue to the waterfall. You will reach the Cascade de la Pisse after about 900m, via a path on the mountainside that climbs slightly.

(4) From the waterfall, turn back to the Tourond refuge and then, after crossing the Torrent du Tourond, return to the "Pré du Clot" signpost.

(2) Continue to the right towards the Col de la Venasque, following the^GRP®® Tour du Vieux Chaillol. Yellow/red markings.
Walk through the undergrowth on a path crossing tall grass, then follow several switchbacks uphill. After about 1.2 km, you will reach a slightly marked fork.

(5) At the fork, continue straight ahead towards 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 (return trip).
Start to emerge from the vegetation. The landscape opens up around the cliffs of Venasque and Tourond.

(6) At the "Planure" signpost, turn right towards Col de la Côte Longue. Cross a small stream bed (dry or wet depending on the time of year) and come out onto a ravine which you must cross, keeping slightly to the right.

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

(7) After about 700m, you will come to a small fork and take the small hairpin path on the left that climbs towards the Col de la Côte Longue. There is a small wooden sign (the path straight ahead is marked Tour de Planure).

The climb is gradual at first. The path passes through grassy pastures. The trail is not very clear in places.
A hut (which appears to be very recent) is visible on the left on the promontory. Pass quickly above it and move away from it to follow the trail that turns right towards the northeast.

You will then reach a more rocky area with scree and small boulders. The route is marked by fairly scattered cairns. When you arrive below 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 a cairn.

(8) At the Col de Côte Longue (alt. 2,690 m), continue to the right towards Vieux Chaillol. The landscape is completely rocky. Take the well-marked path, which climbs gently.

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

You can make a round trip (about 2 km) to Lac de Mal Cros by taking the path to the right of the hut, on the mountainside (facing north) and passing by the remains of the canal.

To continue the climb, go behind the hut. There is no real path, so you will have to climb directly over the rock and a few scree slopes. There are numerous cairns to guide you. There are also a few simple stone walls to help you find your way.
The summit is only visible at the last moment.

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

The summit offers a panoramic view. Starting from the west and moving clockwise: the Dévoluy in all its length, the Vercors, the Taillefer, a tip of the Grandes Rousses, the Écrins, the Queyras, the Haute-Ubaye (Rubren, Malacoste, Péouvou). Next come the Font Sancte, the Panestrel...The Parpaillon chain, the Estrop massif... The foothills of the Digne Alps, Lure, Ventoux, Grand Delmas and the Trois Becs are also visible on a clear day.

Descend by the same route to La Cabane des Parisiens (see practical information) and continue to the Col de Côte Longue.

(8) At the Col de Côte Longue, leave the ascent route and continue downhill to the right towards the Col de la Pisse.
The landscape remains rocky, with beautiful views of Dévoluy to the west. The trail descends fairly quickly. Although not marked, the trail is clearly visible on the ground. Reach the Col de la Pisse (altitude 2,354 m).

(11) From the pass, continue left towards Chaillol 1600. The trail descends through pastures with a few hairpin bends. Pass near the sheepfold and then cross the Torrent de la Pisse.

(12) At the "Cavalet", continue straight ahead towards Col de la Venasque. Take the^GRP®® Tour du Vieux Chaillol. Yellow/red markings.

(13) After about 500m, ignore the path slightly to the right (which runs along the southern side of the mountain, visible in front of you).
A symbolic stone wall encourages you to continue straight ahead. Stay on the GRP®^®. The climb to the pass is via several hairpin bends.

(14) The Col de la Venasque offers a beautiful view of the entire valley. Simply follow the GRP®^®. Numerous switchbacks make for a relatively long descent.
Although the^GRP®® is rarely marked, the path is well-defined and unambiguous. After about 3.5km of descent, you will reach the "Planure" signpost.

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

(2) Then retrace your steps to return to the car park at the entrance to Les Borels (S/E).

Water source:
Shortly after (S/E) at the picnic area.
(3) Tourond refuge.
Several torrents (including the Torrent de la Pisse).

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

Herds may be present below the Col de la Pisse (11) and the Col de la Venasque (14) (gate to cross the fence).

Possible variations:

(9) The Cabane des Parisiens is an old construction hut that was used during the construction of the Mal Cros Canal. Well restored, it now serves as a basic but clean shelter for several hikers.
It can be used as a bivouac if necessary. Comfort is basic, with no wood stove or fireplace, but it is possible to sleep on wooden planks.

(3) The ascent to the Col de Côte Longue can be done in part by starting directly from the Refuge du Tourond. Take the path that passes to the left of the main building and then joins the second building at the rear. Follow this trail around the Clot de la Selle and cross the Torrent de Mal Cros. You will come out at (7).

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

Pisse waterfall.
Mal-Cros Canal.
Champoléon Valley.