Monêtier - Les Boussardes

A short, peaceful walk along the banks of the Guisane on the tracks leading to the hamlets of Le Casset and Les Boussardes.

Details

n°95214

Creation:
07 Jan 2015

Last update:
16 Sep 2017

Last review:
13 Jul 2025

Activity: Snowshoeing
Distance: 6.46 mi
Duration according to the author: 4 hrs
Difficulty: Easy
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 440 ft
Descent: - 443 ft
Highest point: 5,259 ft
Lowest point: 4,816 ft

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Ecrins, Dauphiné
City: Le Monêtier-les-Bains (05220)
Start/End: N 44.974136° / E 6.503935°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3436ET, 3436ETR, 3535OT, 3535OTR, 3536OT, 3536OTR
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Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the large car park at the Monêtier-les-Bains ski resort.
(S/E) Take the snowshoe trail opposite, running along the right bank of the Guisane. Reach the Pont des Granges.

(1) Do not cross, but continue along the right bank until you reach the hamlet of Le Casset.

(2) Continue along the right bank to the bridge opposite the sheepfold, cross the Guisane and the road, then continue almost due north.
(3) Cross the road again opposite the Chirouzas chalet and, just before Les Boussardes, after crossing the Guisane once more, reach the Fontenil chalets.

(4) You will then come to a wide path and, heading south, pass the Chirouzas chalet.

(5). Continue south to reach Le Casset

(2). Cross the Guisane once more, join the D30, and leave it just before the two lakes.

(6) Walk alongside them, then keep to the left bank to easily reach Monêtier and the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : mi 0 - alt. 4,820 ft - Monetier car park
1 : mi 0.6 - alt. 4,862 ft - Pont des Granges
2 : mi 1.51 - alt. 4,961 ft - Le Casset
3 : mi 2.52 - alt. 5,108 ft - Crossing the road
4 : mi 3.28 - alt. 5,259 ft - Le Fontenil
5 : mi 3.94 - alt. 5,154 ft - Chirouzas
6 : mi 5.7 - alt. 4,885 ft - The Two Lakes
S/E : mi 6.46 - alt. 4,816 ft - Monetier car park

Notes

Water points are available at the Fontenil chalets and at the Casset fountains.
In winter, this hike requires snowshoes or, as today (lack of snow but ice and black ice), crampons. Walking poles are, of course, essential.

Worth a visit

Monêtier-les-Bains offers winter holidaymakers the ski slopes of the Serre Chevalier Vallée ski area.
And also an interesting spa area.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5

Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5

Route interest
4.3 / 5

POULIN Gérard

13 Jul 2025 at 20:35 7200

Hello,
This hike is listed under the ‘snowshoeing’ section, so it may not be suitable for walking.

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User 26527298

13 Jul 2025 at 17:28 7200

Overall rating : 2 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

It’s certainly an easy walk, but it’s not feasible because of too many errors in the route description. In one place, the bridge is no longer there; in another, the path is closed to pedestrians; in yet another, the path leads through the forest, ends up on private land, and the route to follow doesn’t exist in summer. This walk should only be done in winter – and even then! We had to turn back halfway, otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to get back to Monetiers. In short, a useless hike – it should be removed as soon as possible!

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Paccou

06 Mar 2025 at 12:56 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A snowshoe hike undertaken on 5 February 2025 in the late afternoon, with perfect snow conditions. No particular difficulties; the route is pleasant along the Guisane and accessible to most people.

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Falves

20 Jan 2025 at 09:53 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Great app

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tcheuma

10 Aug 2024 at 22:36 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant walk that we followed using the Visorando GPS app, though we didn’t follow the route description. We took the path back, thus avoiding the road.
There were lots of people at the start, but the numbers thinned out after Le Casset.

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mauricejeannine

14 Sep 2017 at 12:02 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely walk along the Guisane. Very easy, with a 131-metre elevation gain, so it’s very relaxing and you can enjoy the views all the way. Ideal for a short jog!

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chadid

17 Sep 2016 at 23:38 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very interesting, easy and varied route.
The route is disrupted by the ‘recommended’ path intended to protect the hay meadows.
At Casset, visit the restored mill, with its horizontal water wheels, and the miller’s heritage on display.
You can take a detour to Lac de la Douche, fed by a torrent flowing down from the Casset Glacier...
An easy and pleasant hike

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