Maljasset - Ceillac

The passage between the two departments of Alpes de Haute Provence and Hautes Alpes is via the famous^GR®5, which supports the^GRP® of the Tour de la Font Sancte on this section.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Tour de la Font Sancte

Details

n°87595

Creation:
08 Nov 2014

Last update:
27 Dec 2018

Last review:
11 Aug 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 15.96 km
Average duration: 7h 25
Difficulty: Difficult
Back to start: No
Ascent: + 1,012 m
Descent: - 1,293 m
Highest point: 2,863 m
Lowest point: 1,630 m

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Queyras, Ubaye Valley, Dauphiné
District: Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye (04530)
Start: N 44.593243° / E 6.84263°
End: N 44.666481° / E 6.77551°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3537ET, 3537ETR, 3637OT, 3637OTR
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Description of the walk

(S) Head west along the path overlooking Maljasset.

(1) Cross the mountain pasture and then quickly cross the scree slope, which after a steep climb joins the^GR®5, shared with the^GRP® of the Tour de la Font Sancte.

(2) Take the^GR® on the right and, heading steadily north-west, you will easily reach Col Girardin.

(3) Turn right onto the ridge to reach first the optical post and then, further on, the Tête de Girardin.

(4) Return to the pass.

(3) Begin the descent via the path on the right (north). Reach Lac Sainte-Anne and its eponymous chapel.

(5) Continuing north, cross the slopes of the Ceillac ski resort. Enter the woods and continue almost horizontally to Lac Miroir.

(6) Stay on the hillside for a few hundred metres before starting the descent, which ends at the Pied du Mélezet ski resort.

(7) Continue north-west along the left bank of the Torrent du Mélezet to reach the footbridge you took at the start of the walk from Ceillac.

(8) Cross over and return to the car park (E).

Waypoints

S : km 0 - alt. 1,913 m - Refuge de Maljasset
1 : km 0.16 - alt. 1,934 m - Departure from Maljasset
2 : km 1.56 - alt. 2,376 m - GR5 crossroads
3 : km 3.3 - alt. 2,695 m - Col Girardin
4 : km 4.81 - alt. 2,863 m - Tête de Girardin
5 : km 8.02 - alt. 2,409 m - Sainte Anne Chapel - Lac Sainte-Anne
6 : km 10.56 - alt. 2,213 m - Lac Miroir
7 : km 13.36 - alt. 1,687 m - Foot of the Mélezet
8 : km 15.65 - alt. 1,643 m - Cristillan footbridge
E : km 15.96 - alt. 1,634 m - Ceillac car park

Notes

Shelter at the optical station.
Water in the streams should be used with caution.

Worth a visit

Optical station. This station on the Girardin ridge was connected to the one on the Crête des Grangettes above Ceillac, and also communicated with another optical station to the south to exchange optical signals between Briançon and Nice. This was, of course, before the invention of modern communications.

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5

Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5

Ease of following the route
5 / 5

Route interest
4.7 / 5

Jean-François Goemare

11 Aug 2025 at 11:12 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful itinerary

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FlDv

29 Jul 2025 at 23:53 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Of the three stages of the Tour de la Font Sancte, this was the one I liked the least.
Perhaps because I had the two previous stages under my belt
Perhaps also because this one is less wild and much busier, especially between Lake Sainte-Anne and the foot of the Mélezet.
But everything is relative, it's still very beautiful, and Lake Sainte-Anne is worth the effort.

You can shorten the stage by taking the shuttle bus from the foot of the Mélezet or even from Chaurionde.

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mdblache

20 Aug 2023 at 18:16 7200 • Edited: 20 Aug 2023 at 18:17 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We set off from Ceillac from the Chaurionde car park, which reduced the elevation gain and distance to be covered.
There were a few hikers up to the Col de Girardin, then no one else until Ceillac, where we descended following the GR5 to La Barge.
After spending the night in Maljasset at the Auberge de la Cure, we returned via the Col Tronchet. There was hardly anyone on the way back, until we got close to the car park.
A circular and very pleasant route, we didn't know the Maljasset valley, which is very beautiful and green.

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Tatoo13

04 Jul 2022 at 16:41 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 04, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike done in reverse circular fashion Ceillac//Maljasset AR. Ascent from Ceillac via the Girardin Pass after a bivouac at Lake Miroir and descent to Maljasset via La Barge, which is easier although still quite difficult. We returned from Maljasset to Ceillac via the Tronchet Pass: the ascent and descent are easier than via the Girardin Pass, less crowded (we didn't meet anyone on the way up to the pass) and the view is magnificent. On the way up via the Tronchet Pass after the shepherd's hut, you have to go up on the right and not follow the visible tracks to the left.
We had checked the Queyras Park website about the possible presence of herds and patous (shepherd dogs), which replied that there would be none at this time of year!
A very beautiful hike.

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petitg

21 Sep 2020 at 23:24 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Lake Miroir is the most beautiful spot on the route and seems to be a little less crowded than Lake Ste Anne.

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ROUVIER

04 Jul 2018 at 14:43 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

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jms49

30 Dec 2016 at 10:48 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A beautiful hike, with the only downside being the section that crosses part of the Ceillac ski area, between Lake Sainte Anne and Lake Miroir. Superb views and reasonable visitor numbers. Highly recommended.

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