Les Guions - Champaussel via the Thurifères

Visit two alpine hamlets above Saint Crépin, passing through the famous forest of juniper trees.

Details

113692
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.71 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 515 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 517 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,295 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 918 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park on the road in front of the Saint-Crépin post office.

(S/E) Start on the wide path (signposted Les Guions) perpendicular to the road. Quickly enter the forest and follow an easy climb to the canal path junction.

(1). Turn right and follow the zigzagging path to quickly reach the highlight of the walk: the large juniper tree known as the Elephant.

(2). Follow the signs to make the round trip.
Back on the trail, continue climbing to the hamlet of Les Guions.

(3). Take the wide track heading north, which turns into a path at the end of the meadow. Begin the descent, crossing the Torrent de Pra Reboul on the beautiful footbridge.

(4) Gain altitude again to reach the second hamlet, Champaussel.

(5) After a break, start your return to Les Guions via the same route.

(3) Take the first path on the right (signposted Saint-Crépin) and go around the rocky outcrop.
Be careful here as you begin a steep descent requiring caution to reach the path of the old canal known as Canal de l'Abeil.

(6) Walk along the climbing site before returning to the initial crossroads you passed on the way there.

(1) Turn right and follow the same route as on the way there to reach the Agence Postale car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 920 m - Post Office car park
  2. 1 : km 0.3 - alt. 975 m - Crossroads of the Guions and Canal trails
  3. 2 : km 0.93 - alt. 1,131 m - The Elephant
  4. 3 : km 1.7 - alt. 1,291 m - Les Guions
  5. 4 : km 2.57 - alt. 1,223 m - Footbridge
  6. 5 : km 3.03 - alt. 1,293 m - Champaussel
  7. 6 : km 5.26 - alt. 1,173 m - Narrow passage on the descent
  8. S/E : km 6.71 - alt. 918 m - Post Office car park

Notes

Water at Les Guions and Champaussel.
Shelter at the Guions wash house and under the balconies in Champaussel.

Worth a visit

Les Guions: a hamlet that has been completely renovated thanks to the work of an association from the Lyon region (Saint-Priest), this hamlet offers a splendid view of Mont Pelvoux opposite and the Saint-Crépin aerodrome, a mecca for gliding in the Durance valley.
The climb up the Thurifères trail is punctuated with signs explaining the presence of these magnificent trees here.
For more information about this forest

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
fanee
fanee

Hike not completed Rain +++

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6784B8062127046
6784B8062127046

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very interesting, varied hike, accessible to all, magnificent views of the valley.
Recommended for families or friends who are unfamiliar with the area.

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6784B8062127046
6784B8062127046

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

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IZALaciotat
IZALaciotat

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike without much difficulty, but the climb is still quite long. At the top, we reached the pretty hamlet of Les Guions with its wash house. We continued on to the hamlet further on, but didn't go all the way to the end. To get there, we had to descend a steep slope to the river, where we finally decided to stop for a picnic and a refreshing swim! The Thuriferes forest is unique, but if you're not a botanist, it's just trees 🤣

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Mariefrez
Mariefrez

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike to discover these beautiful trees. An educational hike with numerous explanatory and historical information boards.
Return along the climbing wall (be careful not to confuse the hiking trail with the climbers' trails...) and the canal.
On the way back, visit the medieval village of St Crépine and then, on the road back to Gap, take a detour to admire the petrifying fountains of Reotier.

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bg05
bg05
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A small change to be made to the description: the post office has been moved and a car park with around fifteen spaces has been created near the start of the discovery trail. A very pleasant and interesting walk focusing on juniper trees, and of course the hamlet of Les Guions has been beautifully restored. To get to Champausel, you have to ford the Pra Reboul stream, but the hamlet is less interesting and has not been restored. On the way back, go through Le Villard to see the chapel and descend to St Crépin via the forest trail.

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ADNET
ADNET

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Thank you for this very enriching hike about juniper trees and the history of the hamlet of Les Guions, where we were able to chat with a resident who is a member of the Saint-Priest association. However, as the footbridge had been destroyed, we were unable to cross the Pra Reboul stream (very beautiful) and reach Champaussel. It is possible to cross using a tree trunk a little further down, but it is risky. You need to be very careful and vigilant on the descent, and your knees must be in good condition, but the view is fantastic.

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jeanpierre.domart@orange.fr
jeanpierre.domart@orange.fr

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

Beautiful views, lovely trail. Be careful at the forks after Champaussel, as there are no signs. To return, cross the stream and climb back up to the canal.

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nicovelo13
nicovelo13

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Quite a strenuous hike, but very enjoyable.
Beautiful scenery, breathtaking views of the valley.
Beautiful trees (a change of scenery).
A multitude of landscapes (rocks, meadows, undergrowth).
Be careful on the descent to St Crespin (not suitable for those with weak knees).

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nicovelo13
nicovelo13

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Quite a strenuous hike, but very enjoyable.
Beautiful scenery, breathtaking views of the valley.
Beautiful trees (a change of scenery).
A variety of landscapes (rocks, meadows, undergrowth).
Be careful on the descent to St Crespin (not suitable for those with weak knees).

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randomas
randomas

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We saved this hike for last, as the weather was heavy and a storm was threatening, but everything went well. Well marked. A pleasant, steady climb through juniper trees with interesting information boards. At Les Guions, we met members of the association that owns the land. The switchbacks are easy to navigate. Two downsides: the loud noise from the N94 road below until after L'Éléphante and the lack of shade between Les Guions and Le Villard.

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laclaréemavallée
laclaréemavallée

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 08, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A very interesting and educational trail exploring the juniper trees.
The hamlet of Champaussel is very typical.
Superb hike.

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