The Crêtes de Vars via the Val d'Escreins

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A beautiful classic hike that starts from Val d'Escreins (nature reserve) and climbs up to the ridges overlooking the Vars Valley, then descends further down via another pass.

Details

n°163485
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.16 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 860 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 866 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,572 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,773 m
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Photos

Ridges
Chamois
Ridge
Ridge

Description of the walk

Take the road to Vars and turn into the Val d'Escreins to park at the end of the car park.

(S/E) Follow the path south then south-east, which climbs up the valley for 500 metres.

(1) Take the path that climbs into the forest to the south, which turns into a trail, crosses a stream, and climbs fairly steeply to reach the mountain pastures at Pas at 2156m.

(2) Head towards Lac des Neuf Couleurs, following the stream until you reach a sheepfold on the left.

(3) Cross the stream and climb the path to the west towards Col de la Coulette at 2,362m.

(4) At the pass, climb north-west to reach the Vars ridge via a path that is quite steep in places.

(5) Follow the balcony path for 2km, which descends gently to the Col de la Scie.

(6) Turn right towards Val d'Escreins on a pleasant, well-marked trail through the forest. At the bottom of the valley, take the first trail on the right, which will bring you back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,779 m - Car park
  2. 1 : km 2.26 - alt. 2,153 m - Le Pas
  3. 2 : km 3.43 - alt. 2,279 m - Sheepfold. Cross the stream
  4. 3 : km 5.04 - alt. 2,354 m - Col de la Coulette (2362m)
  5. 4 : km 6.17 - alt. 2,563 m - On the ridge.
  6. 5 : km 8 - alt. 2,335 m - Cok de la Scie (2362m)
  7. 6 : km 10.8 - alt. 1,781 m - At the bottom, on the right
  8. S/E : km 11.16 - alt. 1,780 m - Car park

Notes

Marked in yellow all the way.
Good footwear is essential and walking poles are recommended.

At Le Pas (2), you can climb directly up a good path to the Col de la Coulette (4) - 45 minutes less
You can do the circular in the other direction, climbing more gradually and with a fairly steep descent. I don't like it.

Worth a visit

Please note: although the path is good throughout, part of the ridge runs along the edge of the valley (no cliffs). Not recommended for those who are afraid of heights or young children. In this case, make a return trip to the pass or summit.
The great Vauban fort of Mont Dauphin near Guillestre.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 14 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Randophil57
Randophil57

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A classic in the region, but still a very beautiful hike with the added bonus of passing by the sheepfold on the way to the Col de la Coulette...

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sadded
sadded

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a hike we do every year! It takes 4.5 hours.
The views of Vars, Escreins and Les Ecrins are incredible.
You can picnic on the ridges with children halfway along the route.
If you leave early (8:30 or 9:00 a.m.), you can do the hike in one go and eat at the Basse Rua refuge

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Paderic
Paderic

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Since the storms of December 2023, crevasses caused by landslides have damaged the wooded slopes in places. The proposed route from the start at point 1 requires crossing difficult scree slopes, which can cause you to lose your way. Instead, take the path that climbs just after (as indicated by the signposts on site). Otherwise, the hike is really very beautiful. There are lovely mountain pastures between points 1 and 2, a ridge offering beautiful panoramic views on both sides, and a pleasant descent through the woods to finish. We thoroughly enjoyed it.

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matthiasavignon
matthiasavignon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2024
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!
I'm quite prone to vertigo, so the start of the ridge trail was a bit daunting, but I got over it!
The route is truly magnificent and the detour to point 2 is definitely worth it.

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DoMass
DoMass

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did a very beautiful hike in the opposite direction to the description, given the terrain, which involved a fairly steep climb through the forest and a gentler descent.

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bruneau_maryline
bruneau_maryline

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2021
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 along the ridge. Best done in dry weather

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Jacques84
Jacques84

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

description and interest of the hike: very good
like some others who have commented, I would have described the hike as difficult. The climb from the Col de la Coulette to the Vars ridges is steep (> 30%)

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quadfred51
quadfred51

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

No difficulty following the route. I loved this hike in beautiful autumn sunshine, practically alone. The route along the ridges is magnificent. Stunning scenery. Not for those who suffer from vertigo. However, there is no risk if you don't trip over your shoelaces... A hike not to be missed...

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jpvars
jpvars

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hike done at least six times, starting from Ste Catherine or Val d'Escreins. From Ste Catherine, it is preferable to do it in the direction of Col de la Scie-Pas de la Coulette, which is what we do because in summer the climb is in the shade of the forest and the descent is in full sun, which is more bearable. In summer, at the sawmill above Ste Catherine, we take the dirt track on the left, when it is open, to the car park after a large EDF pylon, or even further until we find a sign indicating the path that leads to the Col de la Scie. The climb is very pleasant and the arrival at the pass offers a magnificent panorama. The ridge trail is very varied, arid and vertiginous on the Val d'Escreins side, greener and more cheerful on the Vars side. Edelweiss are abundant in season, to be admired but not picked. At the summit, the view is magnificent, 360°: Oisans to the west, Font Sancte, Pic des Houerts and Mortice to the north, the Chambeyron massif further east, and the peaks of Vars and the Parpaillon range to the south. After the descent to La Coulette, take the path on the right which leads back to the track and then to the car park, the end of the hike. I already want to go back...

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cricri58
cricri58

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 31, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hike done in the direction of Col de la Scie - crossing and descent via La Coulette and to the end of the valley. Very beautiful hike in sunny weather. Saw three chamois and three marmots. Very different landscapes between the two passes. Superb, worth doing again. Trail in good condition and dry. Someone with me who usually suffers from vertigo was not impressed (trail wide enough). No problems with the route

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pouget yves
pouget yves

There is a cairn
and a well-marked path heading west.

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picotel
picotel

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

As already mentioned, the sheepfold is not visible at point 3. You simply need to change direction when crossing the stream, passing over the rock that shelters an abundant spring.
The section on the ridge is of course a little tricky, even when the ground is dry, so be careful not to slip!
A lovely walk.

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lolylarando
lolylarando

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 23, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello

A magnificent hike with varied landscapes, best enjoyed in the direction indicated as the descent is more gradual

The difficulty level is stated as moderate, but I would describe it as difficult

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Michaël B.
Michaël B.

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Please note that a violent storm has damaged the trails with mudslides 12/08/17

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gazok54
gazok54 ★

Thank you, grand_mel
I corrected the Coulette.

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