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Park at the Col du Festre.
(S/E) Take a wide path heading west; this is theGR® Tour du Dévoluy. Follow this path, marked with red-and-white and yellow markings, until you reach the crossroads of paths at an altitude of around 1,520 metres.
(1) Let a path to the right leading to the Cabane de la Rama pass you by and continue left on theGR®, which very quickly performs a circular loop southwards before heading back north. Pass close to a small shepherd’s cottage and reach a sort of small, barely marked pass at an altitude of around 1,750 metres.
(2) Leave theGR® and zigzag straight up the grassy slope to the left. Reach a first flat section, then, via another short, steeper slope, reach the Tête du Jas des Armes.
(3) Descend straight down, almost due south, towards the small pass.
(4) From the small pass, climb due west in a series of switchbacks up a grassy, stony slope to reach the Tête du Merlant.
(5) From the Tête du Merlant, descend directly along the stony ridge heading south-east towards the Col de Darne.
(6) From the Col de Darne, continue to follow the stony ridge (the ridge walk is magnificent, but it is possible to take an easier route slightly below and to the left where it gets a bit steep). Reach the summit of the Chauvet.
(7) From the summit of Chauvet, follow the ridge, still heading south-east. Some sections are a little tricky, but it is easy to avoid them, usually by taking the left-hand route.
(8) At around 1800m, the ridge becomes steeper, but the terrain quickly changes from scree to grass. The descent becomes easy down to a small pass at around 1550m. (The last few metres take you through a dense little copse of Scots pine: easy, but the needles prick a bit!).
(9) At the small pass, rejoin theGR® and follow it to the left. This leads easily to the Col du Festre (S/E).
Visorando Member
Very difficult 
Easy 
Association / Club / Walk leader
Moderate 
