Couspeau mountain: the Grand Delmas

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely hike with a 360° panorama at the summit and a superb view, particularly of the 3 Becs. We followed the recommended route and didn’t regret it. The path climbs steadily, gradually revealing the panoramic view. The descent is steep, with a section through the forest. The view of the 3 Becs stayed with us for a while. At the summit, we found bunches of daffodils 🤩.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful landscape... more of an incline than expected; the descent was slippery, with a bit of snow and ice still about.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : May 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The climb up the path is long, uninteresting and very sunny. Don't do it if it's very hot.
In the end, it's better to make a round trip leaving from the other side.
Woodland tulips at the top in May!

Machine-translated

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

There are some signs that need to be revised.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : May 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk with a 360° view at the highest point, another way of seeing the three beaks.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Apr 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Don't forget, as I did, the trekking poles, which are very useful for the start of the descent after the summit, particularly if the ground is wet. The slope is steep and it can be a bit tricky without the poles!

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jan 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice route, splendid views, even in winter! But unfortunately the snow covered the path or track described. Although I could walk at sight because the summit was well clear, I wanted to stay on the ridge, but the last 100 metres were too steep, I was certainly no longer on the indicated track, it was too dangerous with the snow, and I was alone... I should have stayed a little below the rocky heaps. As I didn't have enough time, I turned back, which made the hike longer! Preferably done when the snow cover is lighter, and in any case, this path is forbidden from June to October inclusive (warning sign at the start of the path) for reasons of alpine pasture and to warn off the patous!

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Dec 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk with enough explanations to follow the itinerary, really worth doing out of the grazing season.

Machine-translated

I wasn't able to reach the summit of Grand Delmas because I found the last section too exposed and had to turn back. There was nothing in the description to suggest that access to the summit was exposed.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : May 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Fortunately, we did this circuit in the opposite direction as the final descent in the direction suggested by visorando is very steep and even dangerous. The long stony track between points 3 and 4 can be discouraging, especially if you do it in the direction suggested by visorando. The ridges immediately after Grand Delmas are aerial. The small orange flags helped us to find our way around the ridges.
The view from the top of Grand Delmas is magnificent. This difficult hike is well worth doing.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Mar 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It's still a beautiful walk, with a gradual ascent to reach the plateau. The descent is steep and best done in dry weather (bayons are useful).

Machine-translated

Date of your route : May 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Did the route in the opposite direction on 30 April: challenging but fast ascent. Beautiful variety of landscapes. No herds so far (a few goats at the summit). Superb viewpoints.
Many thanks to the author.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Oct 16, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

I did this walk on 16 October in the direction indicated in the description, which allowed me to take advantage of the sunshine. The ridge and descent path were iced over, so we had to take a few precautions.
This walk should be done in good weather to enjoy the scenery.
In my opinion, spring is best for the flowers and autumn for the colours.
Below the summit we came across a few goats that had returned to the wild.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Nov 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It is possible to do this hike outside the mountain pastures, even if the prohibition signs do not specify the period. It's difficult to avoid the herds (and the patous...) because the mountain pasture is at the top of the Couspeau mountain (with some fairly steep slopes). So don't do it when the herd is there. I would also recommend doing this magnificent hike clockwise (i.e. anticlockwise), especially if there's a bit of snow or after a rainy spell (it's easier on the way up). In this case, on the way back, cross the entire mountain pasture as far as the sheepfold to find the forest track leading down to Les Tonils. This route can also be done on the return journey (with young children) from the last hairpin bend in the Col de la Chaudière road (there are a few parking spaces).

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Oct 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route is clockwise because it's in the shade in the morning.
The climb is steep but not long, so it can be done in about 1 hour.)
The return journey is languid on the forest path, so it's better to come back that way rather than start there.
The scenery is sublime at the top (360° view).
Watch out for the patous!

Machine-translated