The Cols des Ourdeis and Peygus

The pretty cirque located after the Izoard chalets serves both passes and a beautiful little lake.

Details

36949
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.94 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,883 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,870 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 8,625 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 6,972 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

From Briançon, take the D902 towards Cervières and Le Laus. About 5km after Le Laus, in a left-hand bend, stop the car in the car park at the side of the road.

(S/E) From the car park, follow the wide path that leads to the partially destroyed chalets of Izoard. Continue along the path on the left, which is poorly marked and even non-existent in places, to reach the Col des Ourdeis. On the way, you can see the Col de l'Izoard on your left.

(1) The path ends at the pass. Continuing beyond this point seems dangerous.
Take the same path back down for about 200 metres.

(2) Cross the rocky area on the left, using the grassy Col des Peygus opposite at the foot of Grand Peygu as a visual reference point. There is no path through this area.

(3) After admiring the pretty little lake, take the path opposite, which leads to the Col des Peygus.

(4) From there, descend back down to the lake.

:3(Continue to the left, still off the trail, to reach the chalets and the starting point)S/E::.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 6,978 ft - D902 car park
  2. 1 : mi 1.5 - alt. 7,913 ft - Col des Ourdeis (2421m)
  3. 2 : mi 1.75 - alt. 7,805 ft - Lake trail
  4. 3 : mi 2.58 - alt. 7,818 ft - The small lake
  5. 4 : mi 3.26 - alt. 8,566 ft - Col des Peygus (2612m)
  6. S/E : mi 4.94 - alt. 6,982 ft - D902 car park

Notes

The hike is made a little complicated by the lack of a trail. However, both passes are clearly visible, so you can navigate by sight.
There is no drinking water along the route.
Be careful of theft from cars in the car park at the side of the road. Do not leave anything visible in vehicles.

Worth a visit

Col de l'Izoard.
Briançon, its pretty town and fortresses.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Pasnog
Pasnog

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

At the end of October, the route was not very busy. A beautiful hike in a pretty cirque where the grassy slopes invite you to take a nap after your picnic. There aren't really any trails, so you have to aim for the passes.
I chose a different route for the descent: from the Col des Peygu, I descended the scree slope (icy at the end of October...) towards La Lausette and then Le Laus. A beautiful descent, a little steep at the end (and at the beginning) but a very pretty trail after the scree slope.

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sben
sben

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike with beautiful scenery.
Very quiet, we only came across two other groups of hikers.
We were able to see chamois cooling off on a snowfield through our binoculars.
Thank you for this hiking idea.

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Benoit Nelles
Benoit Nelles

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did the hike on Saturday afternoon. There weren't many people (we only met one other person on the trail).
The site is magnificent. The climb to the second pass is optional, but the view behind the pass is beautiful. There are lots of marmots, which are not very shy. The paths are not very well marked, but it is not difficult to find your way.

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daubram05
daubram05

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 04, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Here is an interesting variation on this route:
The Peygus tour offers varied landscapes ranging from the Perragne mountain pastures to the Peygu pass, which overlooks a magnificent valley dominated by the Peygu ridge. We will descend this steep, rocky valley to reach the Lauzette fort. We will complete the circular route by crossing the impressive Malazen valley: not for those who are afraid of heights...
See it here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmIeRVhg...

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Britanicus100
Britanicus100
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 23, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Done several times in summer on snowshoes and touring skis
some videos
Col des Peygus in summer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgqEyiAP...
on skis https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x401yc...

Les Ourdéis on snowshoes https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1ddby...
On skis https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3pld0...

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gazok54
gazok54 ★

Thank you for this encouraging first comment, and I am delighted that you enjoyed the hike.

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