The ridges of Céüse West: La Manche – Crête de Lumineuse – Crête de Raux

At La Roche des Arnauds, leave the D994 and take the D18 towards Manteyer, then towards the Céüse resort. Drive to the end of the road and park in the large car park.

(S/E) Take the wide track that starts opposite the car park, heading south, until you reach the first flat section.

(1) At this bend, continue along the main track to the right, heading north-west, until you reach the Y-junction.

(2) Continue straight ahead on the track, still heading north-west, until you reach the Sapie valley at a second inverted Y-junction.

(3) Continue straight ahead, heading south-west, up the grassy valley to a hairpin bend.

(4) Take the small path on the right which descends towards the ravine, heading south-west. Cross the Sapie torrent, then climb up the eastern slope of the Barre mountain to reach its ridge at an altitude of 1,770 metres.

(5) Turn sharply left and follow the ridge southwards, taking the GR® de Pays “Entre Céüse et Durance”, marked in red and yellow. Ignore the path on the left-hand side of the slope and stay on the ridge to climb the next grassy hump and reach the summit of La Manche (mini-marker).

(6) Continue along the ridge and pass the small pass, still heading south. Then cross over to the other, steeper slope, staying below the summit cliffs.
Initially open, this slope passes through a wooded section, then becomes more rugged, before opening out onto a grassy plateau dotted with small rocky outcrops. Climb back up towards the ridge, still heading south, until you reach a junction with a path coming from the right.

(7) Continue straight ahead along the ridge, leaving the GRP®, heading south, until the next path junction.

(8) Climb up to the left towards the Crête de Lumineuse, heading east, then cross the Torrent de Lumineuse and head up towards the Marais de Raux.

(9) Go round the marsh on the left, passing between the trees, heading north-east (it is also possible to go round it on the right). At the northern end of the marsh, follow the faint path north, then north-west. Then climb the grassy hillock, heading north-west, to reach the summit of the Crête de Raux (former top station of the Aiguebelle ski lift).

(10) Descend through the grass, heading north-east, then climb the second hill topped by a telecommunications mast (former top station of the Sapie ski lift). Enjoy the stunning views over the high peaks of the Oisans.

(11) Join the track running along the slope, heading west.

(12) Turn right, heading north-east, and follow the track towards the resort and the Sapie valley. You’ll arrive at a small platform marking the former top station of the Miane ski lift.

(13) Continue the descent along the ridge, heading north-east. The view overlooks the former Céüze 2000 resort. Then take a final, slightly steep descent to join the connecting run between the Sapie valley and the resort.

(2) Turn right to head back down the piste you took on the way up.

(1) Pass the bend and return to the car park where you started (S/E).

There are no drinking water sources on the route: take a sufficient supply with you, as the entire route is very exposed to the sun.

The nearest amenities (restaurants, shops) are in La Roche-des-Arnauds, Gap or Veynes.

Late spring and early summer are the ideal times to admire the vast fields of wildflowers.

The starting point indicated is the main car park of the old resort. It is also possible to start from the bottom of the Sapie valley, parking in the small car park at the large hairpin bend, about 300 m before the resort. In this case, walk up the valley along the old ski lift track for about 500 m to join the path coming from the resort on the left.

Shorter alternative: just before the point (7), turn left to reach the summit of the Crête de Lumineuse directly, then head to (10) the summit of Raux (elevation gain 380 m, total time 3 hours).

Céüse is a mountain in the Gap region, rising to an altitude of 2,016 m. Listed as a Natura 2000 site, it is the highest point of the Bochaine massif and its southern cliffs are home to large climbing walls. In Vivaro-Alpine Occitan, Céüse means ‘pebble’.
Here, you feel cut off from the world, which seems out of reach far below the cliffs. The former small ski resort (closed in 2020 and dismantled in 2026) is ideal in winter for snowshoeing or peaceful ski touring, far from the hustle and bustle of ski lifts and mass tourism.

The Céüse mountain is an iconic peak in the Gapençais region, rising to an altitude of 2,016 metres. Classified as a Natura 2000 site, it is the highest point of the Bochaine massif. Its high southern cliffs are world-renowned for their multi-pitch climbing routes.
In Vivaro-Alpine Occitan, Céüse means ‘pebble’, a direct reference to its impressive limestone ridge.
The vast summit plateau offers a remarkable sense of isolation: the world seems to have remained far below the cliffs, providing a rare feeling of calm and freedom.
The former Céüse 2000 ski resort, which closed in 2020 and will be gradually dismantled from 2025 onwards, is now an ideal area for hiking, snowshoeing or ski touring, far from mass tourism.

Marmots are present in the area between points (6) and (7), just before the Crête de Lumineuse.