The Selle ridges

de fr

A beautiful hike starting from the village of Sainte-Catherine. You will pass from one valley to another. Along the way, you will see a beautiful valley, numerous marmots and an interesting descent along the Chagnon torrent.

Details

n°1305401
Creation:
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.49 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 628 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 619 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,396 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,783 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐
    Areas: Alps, Dauphiné
  • ⚐ District: Vars (05560)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 44.602168° / E 6.694216°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3537ET, 3537ETR, 3538ET, 3538ETR
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Photos

Alpine pastures
Climbing up towards the valley.

Description of the walk

Park in the school car park in Sainte-Catherine. See the map of hikes in Vars.

(S/E) At the end of the square, look for the signpost. Follow the signs for Sainte-Marie via Pont de la Salce, taking the narrow lane and climbing up to the sawmill.

(1) Continue straight ahead towards "Cabane du Vallon 5km, 3h" (5km, 3 hours), taking the track tothe first hairpin bend. You will come to another signpost.

(2) Continue straight ahead towards "le Vallon, la Selle" until you reach the two signposts just before the Pont de la Salce bridge.

(3) Near Pont de la Salce at the crossroads of several paths:
- do not take the path on the right that descends to Sainte-Marie,
- nor, a few metres further on, the path that climbs slightly to the left towards La Selle.
Continue straight ahead, slightly to the right, towards "Le Vallon", cross the bridge and continue along the track until the next intersection (150 metres after the bridge).
You will find a signpost here: follow the direction of "le Vallon" by continuing along the track that climbs to the left. Before the hairpin bend, you will reach a trail junction.

(4) Don't miss the path that branches off slightly to the right (yellow markings on a tree). Climb up through the mountain pastures across several grassy terraces to the valley (be sure to follow the markings, yellow lines on the rocks and wooden posts with a yellow line). You will reach a three-way junction.

(5) Keep to the right-hand path and continue slightly uphill to the Cabane du Vallon junction.

(6) Follow the signs for "La Selle" by turning left until you reach Cabane du Vallon. At the hut, follow the path on the left uphill (not very visible) to the top of this ridge, arriving at the La Selle 2405m sign.

(7) Follow the signs for "Sainte-Catherine" down the other side of the ridge towards a pond. Then continue downhill, as the path is not very visible, until you reach Le Chagnon (there are posts along the way to guide you). Arrive at Le Chagnon.

(8) Continue downhill, first on the left bank (300m), then on the right bank, following the signs for "Sainte-Catherine" until you return to the crossroads near the Pont de la Salce bridge.

(3) Continue straight ahead along the same path until you reach the school car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,783 m - School car park in Sainte-Catherine
  2. 1 : km 0.54 - alt. 1,852 m - Sawmill sign, altitude 1,845m
  3. 2 : km 1 - alt. 1,889 m - Signpost
  4. 3 : km 1.93 - alt. 1,887 m - Pont de la Salce
  5. 4 : km 2.67 - alt. 1,983 m - Trail intersection on the right
  6. 5 : km 3.49 - alt. 2,093 m - Carrefour three-way junction
  7. 6 : km 5.17 - alt. 2,291 m - Signpost
  8. 7 : km 6.32 - alt. 2,394 m - La Selle sign, altitude 2,405 metres
  9. 8 : km 7.63 - alt. 2,148 m - Le Chagnon (torrent)
  10. S/E : km 11.48 - alt. 1,785 m - School car park in Sainte-Catherine

Notes

Buy the guidebook "Vos randonnées à Vars" (Your hikes in Vars), available from the tourist office (€3), to find this hike and all the other hikes in Vars.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 15 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
User 1601936

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike through two wild valleys, alone among marmots, with no posts or buildings in sight.
NB alternative: Done in reverse (steeper climb on the way up, but gentler descent on the way back, which is easier on the knees): excellent!
NB Variation 2: the free shuttle buses in Vars during the summer allowed me to start from Ste Catherine and return via Sainte Marie

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DUN
DUN

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

We did this hike in July, but the weather wasn't great. The steep climb along dirt roads and through the woods isn't very interesting, apart from a few viewpoints.
However, the arrival at the summit offers a magnificent view of the valley and several mountain passes. And there are lots of marmots, which are not shy at all! The descent is easy and very pleasant.
A fairly demanding hike, best done in good weather.

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83Isa
83Isa

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this walk at the beginning of July and really enjoyed it. We didn't encounter anyone, the landscapes were welcoming, there were lots of marmots and the difficulty level was moderate. In short, it was a very pleasant and peaceful experience in beautiful surroundings. After the hut, it was a bit tricky to find the markers and poles, but nothing too complicated, especially as it was easy to correct any mistakes. Thank you for this suggestion!

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bebert38
bebert38

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike without much difficulty, except for the markings in certain places

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perlelune
perlelune

Hike planned for May during our stay in Ubaye
Kind regards...

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macorto
macorto

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike!

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Arcade78
Arcade78

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with varied landscapes and few visitors. Just one comment about the title: I would rather call it "Le Col de la Selle" (The Saddle Pass). The route indicated does not follow the ridge of the same name.

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GrooGroo
GrooGroo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike.
Not many people out on this Sunday in May, but there was a welcoming committee! The meadows were dressed to the nines, adorned with a thousand flowers, and the marmots shouted "yay" in encouragement as I passed by.
The variety of scenery and lack of difficulty make this circular a lovely, enjoyable walk.
Thank you for sharing.

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Paderic
Paderic
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike with no particular difficulties.
The mountain pastures at Cabane du Vallon are very beautiful.

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gigine57
gigine57

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

There were few people on this route (we only encountered four people the entire way).
A very beautiful hike with magnificent scenery and marmots everywhere, which we were able to approach despite having our dog with us (on a lead, of course). It took us 5 hours and 20 minutes to complete the route at a leisurely pace.

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mapigap
mapigap

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route through the mountain pastures. It was an opportunity to pass by the hut in the valley where I spent my first summers when my father was a shepherd up there. The cows were very close to the path and accompanied by their calves, so we had to go around the herd to avoid any problems. This rainy year meant we were able to find a little water left in the small lake at La Selle. The view of the peaks is magnificent: Mortices, Paneyron, Eyssina, the Écrins massif...

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Pcours
Pcours

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk with varied landscapes and routes.
The signposting is very good except after the cabin in the valley. You need to follow the map carefully and set off after the cabin, keeping well to the left and looking for the markers in the distance.

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jpvars
jpvars

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

I have had a second home in Vars for 50 years, but it was Visorando that gave me the idea for this hike, which I didn't know about. Thank you. After the approach walk, both directions of the circular route are equally good. In summer, in the morning, it is better to follow the recommended direction (ascent towards the Vallon). After passing through the forest, the arrival at the mountain pastures offers a beautiful view of the Paneyron and the Chatelret, accompanied by the sound of cow bells in summer. After the Vallon hut, it seems preferable to climb up via the circular loop that goes around the summit, rather than the uninteresting shortcut that goes directly up to the small pass. From the Crête de la Selle, the view is interesting, especially towards the Crête de Vars and the peaks overlooking the Val d'Escreins, Pic de Houerts, and La Mortice. The small lake on the other side was almost empty in mid-August. The descent is pleasant, never steep, and follows the right bank of the torrent, which has been fitted with numerous dam structures, to a track that you take on the left and which descends (on the right, it goes back up, which lengthens the return journey without adding much). This is the perfect hike to warm up your legs before more challenging routes.

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thierry grandin
thierry grandin

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk without any great difficulty

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Netra
Netra ★

Hello observer, thank you for your comments.

Without wishing to make a pun, I would like to point out that neither the author nor Visorando are responsible for the markings on site...

Were the map and description insufficient to continue the hike? How could this description be improved so that other hikers can find their way more easily? Thank you in advance.

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