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Park at the Fournet car park at the top of Les Claux resort and go to the Les Claux signpost. It is right next to the Chabri'aire playground.
(S/E) Les Claux sign, altitude 1,930 m: turn right towards Col de Vars via L'Écuelle, 4 km, 3 hours (the path on the left is the return route), following the path that winds its way up through the forest. Follow it until you reach the edge of the forest.
(1) At the edge of the forest, do not continue straight on towards Col de Vars, but take the path on the right which leads you to a signpost after about 100 metres.
At the signpost, do not follow the path to the left towards "Les Myrtilles" but instead take the almost flat path to the right until you reach the next intersection.
(2) Signpost: follow the direction "Col de Vars Par Combe Froide" by continuing straight ahead on the path that climbs through the grasses of Combe Froide to Col de l'Écuelle (along the way, you will see many marmots and a tiny lake just before the short but steep climb to the pass). Above you, you will see Pointe de L'Eyssina (a very beautiful hike, see description on visorando).
(3) At the Écuelle signpost, head towards "Col de Vars" by descending towards the hut below until you reach a beautiful marshy area (follow the yellow markings carefully and be careful as the descent is tricky).
(4) Signpost at the marshy area: continue straight ahead towards "Col de Vars", following the path to the still waters of "l'Écuelle" and descend to Col de Vars (view of the Haute-Ubaye slope).
(5) Col de Vars sign, turn left towards "Les Claux via Refuge Napoléon, 2h15, 4km800" taking the path that passes to the left of the small lake to the heliport. Go around the heliport on the left, descend via a wide track to the level of a water collection point (do not descend to Refuge Napoléon).
(6) At the water collection point, leave the track and take the yellow/purple marked trail on the left. It passes above the refuge and takes you back to Les Claux station (S/E).
Visorando Member
Difficult 
