Access:
- From Gap, take the D994 departmental road towards Veynes. 4km after La Roche-des-Arnauds, turn right onto the small road (D937A) leading to the village of Montmaur.
- From Veynes, follow the D994 road towards Gap. About 3 km further on, after passing the Col du Festre junction (D937), turn left onto the small road (D937A) leading to the village of Montmaur.
Then in Montmaur, opposite the castle, take the small road (D320) heading north. Follow the signs for "La Montagne" and "Les Sauvas". Continue along the winding road to the hamlet of La Montagne. At the hamlet, turn right, heading east, onto the Sauvas forest road (easily passable) and park in the large shaded car park (signposted "Parking Pic de Bure") above the refuge just after the picnic area.
(S/E) From the Les Sauvas car park, take theGR®® de Pays du Tour du Dévoluy, which starts on a wide track ascending north-northeast through the undergrowth. Regular yellow and red markings. After about 350m, the track turns into a good path.
(1) After about 800m, ignore a path on the left (blue markings) and continue straight ahead, staying on theGRP®® du Tour du Dévoluy. The route continues through the undergrowth.
After 600 metres, you will emerge from the woods and cross a ravine. The trail then continues for a short distance under the canopy.
Then, about 300 metres after the ravine, the trail curves slightly towards the north-northeast.
(2) Pass close to a discreet path on the left, marked by a small cairn.
Continue on the main trail via the GRP®®. The trail turns completely east (Rocher des Hirondelles). There are several switchbacks on stony ground, and the vegetation begins to disappear. After crossing to the west, you will reach an intersection just before the Fontaine du Vallon (signs; altitude 1806m).
(3) Take the path on the left towards the spring. Descend to cross the spring, then continue along a path through the grass.
(4) After 200m, ignore the cairn and the path on the right (leading towards Combe de Mai) and continue westwards through a short section of vegetation.
Off-trail route with no markings or signposts until you reach the Plateau de Bure
At the exit of this area, cross the scree (on your right) heading west, aiming for the first ridge dotted with pine trees. Climb up the scree, trying to follow the tracks made by animals. Shortly before the top, a clearer track joins the ridge. Quickly cross a small ravine heading west.
Then continue along the right-hand wall to go around the side of the mountain, heading west. Climb up the ramp through the grassy, stony terraces, going around the sides. Continue going around until you reach the edge of a small cliff
(5). You will find yourself above the Ravin de Côte Belle. Climb north-northwest on fairly steep grassy and rocky slopes, with some scree areas.
Climb until you reach the first steps of the Pas de Paul. Cross the first ledge. Keep to the right.
Then reach the Pas de Paul couloir, which is easy to climb thanks to the famous "Devoulard stairs" (limestone steps).
Cross the various ledges , systematically testing the holds (significant risk of slipping). A little searching is required to find the most suitable passages for easy climbing.
Towards the end of the couloir, stay in the centre and aim for a notch (narrow couloir). Exit the couloir on the left via a small, easy climb. Escape via a large breach, from where you can see the observatory.
Continue left over a small ledge (there is a small cairn above it) and then finish the climb westwards by stepping onto the Plateau de Bure.
(6) After reaching the Plateau de Bure, continue west for about 150m on almost flat terrain. Reach the summit of the Tête des Pras Arnaud, marked by a cairn (altitude 2617m). The entire western barrier of the Dévoluy is now visible.
Continue north-northwest for about 1.3km (slightly uphill) along the western flank of the Plateau de Bure, directly below the cliffs, while observing the immense scree slopes below. Reach the large wooden summit cross of the Tête de la Cluse (altitude 2687m). On a clear day, this summit offers a beautiful view of the Grand Ferrand and Grande Tête de l'Obiou peaks.
(7) Then descend towards the large satellite dishes of the Bure interferometer, crossing the entire plateau from west to east. You will reach the "big ears" and the observatory after about 1.3km.
(8) Immediately below the radio telescopes, look to your right for the start of the Combe de Mai heading south. Continue along the long concrete slab (staying outside the marked construction zone) where the radio telescopes are located.
Join theGR®® de Pays Tour du Dévoluy. Yellow/red markings. The path is slightly offset due to ongoing work on the plateau. The new trail is well marked with cairns and visible. Continue east.
(9) Then join the start of the Combe d'Aurouze (cairn). Continue the ascent east-southeast towards the Pic de Bure. Reach the summit and its large cairn where there is an orientation table (part of which is damaged). Pic de Bure offers a wide view of the whole of Dévoluy, part of Vercors (Glandasse, etc.) and the great peaks of Écrins.
(10) Descend the comfortable path taken on the way up to the junction withthe GR®® de Pays Tour du Dévoluy.
(9) Turn left into the Combe d'Aurouze. Take the path heading south-west and quickly begin the descent. The first part of the descent is on a path through a small scree slope or slightly rocky terrain. There are a few small steps to negotiate. Reach the wooded area of the Fontaine du Vallon.
(3) Turn left and continue downhill on the markedGR®® de Pays Tour du Dévoluy trail (the same trail you took on the way up) until you reach the Sauvas car park (S/E).
WARNING 