The Parchers from Vallouise

de fr

A very easy visit combining the traditional houses of Vallouise, grouped side by side, and those of Les Parchers, which are much more spread out.

Details

n°175256
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.87 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 118 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 112 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,185 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,114 m
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Description of the walk

Park in the large car park at the Maison du Parc at the entrance to Vallouise when coming from L'Argentière-la-Bessée.

(S/E) Cross the car park and then the Onde, a torrent originating from the glaciers surrounding Les Bans to the west.

(1) Head west along the road to the Chambonnettes winter caravan park and you will soon reach the D504. Turn right and follow it for about 400 metres before turning left into a small lane. Climb an iron staircase to reach a new road. Turn right and you will arrive at the square and church in Vallouise.

(2) Go down to the right, cross the Gyr and continue to the right on the RD994E for about 300 metres. Cross (be careful, this is a busy road) and take the road on the left that leads to the cemetery and quickly turns into a path.

(3) Continue south-east, pass a path on the left and reach the road serving the housing estates in La Casse. Turn right, then take the second street on the left. After a hairpin bend, you will reach a path where a signpost indicates Petit Parcher.

(4) Turn right at the hairpin bend and follow this wide path straight ahead. Cross this hamlet, continue straight ahead on the D704 and reach a crossroads called Croix. Turn right onto the small road going downhill, find a small path between two fences and reach the Grand Parcher road. Turn right and reach the crossroads with the RD994E.

(5) Cross the RD with caution, then cross the bridge over the Gyronde. Ignore the first track on the right and take the second one. Begin a slight ascent and stay on this wide track, ignoring all the paths on the right or left. You will reach the top of the pumping station and a small dam.

(6) Begin a rapid descent and reach a crossroads of tracks. The one on the left is a ski track; take the one on the right to reach the D504 and the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,147 m - Parking at the Park House
  2. 1 : km 0.24 - alt. 1,149 m - Turn left towards the winter caravan park. Follow the - Onde (cours d'eau) - Affluent de la Gyronde
  3. 2 : km 1.59 - alt. 1,162 m - Place and Church, after the - Gyr (cours d'eau) - Affluent de la Gyronde
  4. 3 : km 2.03 - alt. 1,165 m - Vallouise Cemetery
  5. 4 : km 3.19 - alt. 1,183 m - Carrefour la Casse
  6. 5 : km 4.82 - alt. 1,117 m - RD994 crossroads - Pont de la - Gyronde (rivière)
  7. 6 : km 5.89 - alt. 1,157 m - Pumping station
  8. S/E : km 6.87 - alt. 1,147 m - Parking at the Park House

Notes

No shelters, drinking water available at the numerous fountains in Vallouise.
This route crosses three rivers: (1) the Onde comes from the Bans glaciers, (2) the Gyr from the Noir and Blanc glaciers; these two rivers converge at the Maison du Parc and give rise to (3) the Gyronde, which should not be confused with its namesake in Aquitaine, which also receives two rivers, the Dordogne and the Garonne.

Worth a visit

The ski resorts in this part of the Pays des Écrins are Vallouise, Pelvoux and Puy-Saint-Vincent.

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 10 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.1 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
mattdel
mattdel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It was a rainy day, so we opted for this short walk and we have absolutely no regrets: the village of Vallouise is truly magnificent, full of old converted farms, and then there's a little loop above the village for the view, it was really lovely!

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mbabi
mbabi

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short semi-urban circuit for a morning warm-up. No particular difficulties to follow or perform on this ride.

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babi8188
babi8188

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

I did this hike last month. At the start of the route, the path along the stream has been washed away by recent floods, so you have to cross the campsite in the middle and go through a wooden barricade. The rest of the route is uneventful. The walk through the small village of Vallouise is picturesque.

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gser
gser

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I didn't use the description, only the GPS track, which turned out to be poor quality: not enough points, especially when crossing Vallouise. A series of broken lines that pass through the houses!!!
It was already difficult to start from the car park, as the track does not follow the discovery trail.
On the path north of La Gyronde, the track is 50 metres away from the path, whereas it is accurate for the return journey via the south. It's strange!
I recorded my route and can share it with the author.

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desacetdecorde
desacetdecorde

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The description is a little vague, but the markers are there. In LA CASSE, you can follow the path coming from the cemetery, following the signs for Parcher, Zone de Loisir. Leave the tennis courts on your left, follow the small path that runs alongside this area through the pine trees, arrive at the hairpin bend, descend 50 m (south) and immediately follow the track to the left (SE) (signposted Parcher, Les Vigneaux), cross the Champarie stream, continue along the track towards Petit Parcher...

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desacetdecorde
desacetdecorde
• Edited:

The general spirit of the walk is there, and the schedule seems well planned. Best done in the cool of the morning or late afternoon on hot days. The section on the right bank of the Gyronde is shaded in the afternoon. There are many variations possible to reduce the amount of walking on tarmac or extend the walk depending on your fitness and preferences. Beautiful views of the Onde valley and the chapels of Puy St Vincent to the west, and the Tête d'Amont and Montbrison cliffs to the south-east (the highest limestone cliffs in the Alps!). There are a few typical houses at Petit and Grand Parcher. Admire the old house in ruins on the left at Grand Parcher from afar, take a look at the chapel on the left at Grand Parcher and admire its two sundials.

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BAMX
BAMX

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The description was rather vague at the start and throughout the hike, even though there are plenty of landmarks in place that would have made the route easier to follow.

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Mère de famille
Mère de famille

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 03, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb hike.

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jofid
jofid

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Easy hike for the whole family

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gillesmo
gillesmo
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A pleasant walk when the clouds clinging to the peaks prevent you from going higher up. In Vallouise, with a slight detour, you can visit the Pissette waterfall by walking up the right bank of the Onde river. The waterfall is signposted.

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