Pic de Bure via Pas de Paul and Tête des Pras Arnaud

1 November 2025: a user reports => this concerns the route between the wps (6), (7), and (8).
Geoportal (Biotope protection decrees)

(!) WARNING (!)
This hike crosses the perimeter of the prefectural decree for the protection of the Plateau de Bure biotope, in which it is STRICTLY FORBIDDEN to leave the marked trails, under penalty of a 4th class fine of €750. For the time being, the agents of the French Office for Biodiversity, responsible for enforcing this decree, are taking a preventive approach, but they will surely soon move on to enforcement.

Access to the Plateau de Bure off the beaten track. This alpine hike via the Pas de Paul offers an unusual and wild setting, through devolved steps, vertical corridors marked by large staircases. This variant allows you to reach the westernmost peaks of the Bure plateau, the Tête des Pras Arnaud and the Tête de la Cluse, before the Pic de Bure.

Details

2538610
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.93 km
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 5 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Extremely difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,568 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,562 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,692 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,365 m

Photos

Description of the walk

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).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,365 m - Les Sauvas car park
  2. 1 : km 0.77 - alt. 1,490 m - At the trail intersection, continue on the GRP.
  3. 2 : km 1.78 - alt. 1,612 m - At the trail intersection, continue on the GRP.
  4. 3 : km 2.64 - alt. 1,803 m - Fontaine du Vallon
  5. 4 : km 2.92 - alt. 1,864 m - Pied Combe de Mai
  6. 5 : km 3.62 - alt. 2,079 m - Pas de Paul
  7. 6 : km 4.59 - alt. 2,579 m - Tête de Pras Arnaud (2618m)
  8. 7 : km 5.88 - alt. 2,666 m - Tête de la Cluse (2680m)
  9. 8 : km 7.36 - alt. 2,548 m - Observatory on the Plateau de Bure
  10. 9 : km 8.78 - alt. 2,510 m - Combe d'Aurouze
  11. 10 : km 9.74 - alt. 2,680 m - Pic de Bure
  12. S/E : km 15.93 - alt. 1,365 m - Les Sauvas car park

Notes

?️ Parking:
Large dirt car park. Camping is possible, or you can come with a camper van.
Picnic table below at the Refuge des Sauvas with water supply.

? Water points:
The only water source on the route is the Fontaine du Vallon (altitude 1,806 m), which flows all year round.

? Pas de Paul:
The Pas de Paul corridor is frequented by chamois and the risk of rock falls cannot be ruled out. Helmets are recommended.
The "dévoluards" steps are fairly stable, but when crossing the ledges, it is necessary to watch out for loose rocks.
Shoes with rigid soles are a plus.

Orientation:
A good sense of direction and the ability to read the terrain are essential, as there is a nearly 800m elevation gain with no trail or markings, fairly steep slopes, scree... and the need to use your hands several times (to cross ledges).

? Alternative route:
It is possible to descend via the Combe de Mai (8) and then, once at the bottom (4), reach the Fontaine du Vallon.

?️ Weather:
The Plateau de Bure can be disorienting when fog sets in. In addition, the Pic de Bure easily traps clouds. The weather can change quickly. Check the weather conditions before setting out.

Crossing the numerous ledges can be dangerous if the couloir is wet. It is therefore best to tackle this route in dry weather.

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Worth a visit

? Montmaur Castle (14th century).

? Plateau de Bure observatory and interferometer.

 Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
lemarcheur65
lemarcheur65 ★

Hello Sterimberg
Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
It does indeed appear that part of the route is in this area.
Message sent to the author.

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Sterimberg
Sterimberg

WARNING
This hike crosses the perimeter of the prefectural decree protecting the biotope of the Plateau de Bure, where it is STRICTLY FORBIDDEN to leave the marked trails, under penalty of a 4th class offence, punishable by a fine of €750. For the time being, the agents of the French Office for Biodiversity, responsible for enforcing this decree, are taking a preventive approach, but they will surely soon move on to enforcement.
You know what you are exposing yourself to if you take this route anyway.

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Carusoflo
Carusoflo
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

I went camping with a friend. It was our first hike, and we had 15 kg backpacks. It was very hard for both of us, but it was worth it. The first climb took us an hour and a half, and then we ended up in a forest where there were two paths. The path on the left is very difficult. I put my walking sticks in squeak mode and climbed on my knees for about two hours. The path on the right is much less extreme, but you have to be extremely focused. In fact, the path on the left is clearly a 30% slope of pebbles, so you sink in easily, and on the right, there are smooth, fragile stones that give way. Enjoy yourselves, guys, and if you have any questions, my Instagram is florent13.c. I've posted some videos for you.

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Charlie 38
Charlie 38

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike, but quite exposed to the void.

The climb up to Pas de Paul is fairly easy despite the significant elevation gain.
There are lots of small ledges to climb over, which form a nice staircase.

There are several 3b and 3c climbing sections, so you need to stay alert throughout, especially if you are in a group.
There is a risk of falling rocks if there are several of you climbing.

However, it is less significant than in the chimneys of Petit Obiou, which are somewhat similar.
Don't let your guard down, though, as one false move can quickly lead to a slip.
The same applies if you are not comfortable with the few climbing sections.
Your hands will often be on the rock face.

Once on the plateau, you will discover this sublime lunar plain.
The peak is not far away, just another hour or so.

The descent is easy along the scree all the way.
It takes 7 hours to complete the circular 16 km loop, and I counted 1604m of elevation gain.

I highly recommend this really nice spot.

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RickyH5
RickyH5

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This was done two years ago now, in July 2022 to be precise, with the author himself. He added the Heroic Crossing to the route, which is very dangerous and risky. We are in extremely difficult terrain, but he and I have the experience and, above all, the skill level to do it. Obviously, we exceeded the elevation gain with this additional option...
Just completing this route requires a level above that of a good hiker, or else you need to be accompanied by someone who is.
Thank you, Kcnarf, and I hope to see you again someday.

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olivier_75015
olivier_75015
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

You need to be sure-footed to climb the grassy slopes from Fontaine du Vallon to the foot of Pas de Paul. This section is not at all easy, with gradients of around 35% in places; slipping is strictly forbidden!

Pas de Paul is already a reward in itself, as the rock is more solid and the climb is easier and less exposed due to the numerous small ledges.

Some speed climbers, clearly familiar with the area, overtook me in the upper part of the Pas de Paul, some in the centre, some on the right, and myself further to the left. It seems that in this section, all variations are good.

The reward at last: the extraordinary view of the interferometer from the arrival breach and the 360° view once you set foot on the Plateau de Bure.

This is more of a mountain run than a hike! Don't take on the challenge! The view from the Pic de Bure is just as beautiful via the Combe de Mai or the Combe d'Aurouze!

Thank you for this route!
Have a good trip!

Note: good weather is essential!

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urikane
urikane
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A splendid route that justifies its extreme rating due to thefirst climb:
- Unmarked trail (occasionally some cairn remains...)
- 2 or 3 climbing steps (4/5m block, 3B/3C)
- A few slightly dizzying passages (but no ridges)
- Very physically demanding climb (slope >30%, often requiring the use of hands).

The plateau is peaceful and the descent is along well-marked paths.

I did this with my dog (border collie) but I wouldn't recommend it, as it's not easy to climb with one arm while carrying the dog in the other.

Once you reach the natural "stairs", if it was too hard for you up to that point, don't go any further. It's hard to turn back afterwards.

Finally, the rating is accurate. As someone who is used to doing extreme routes on Visorando, this route is not the hardest/most dangerous I have done, and is about average. However, it should definitely not be done in rainy weather.

In summary, it's a very beautiful route, unique in its kind, combining technique, physical fitness and orientation. Many thanks for this route and this discovery!

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Florent Ribail
Florent Ribail

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 1998
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I am a keen hiker and I did this climb quite some time ago when I was in great shape, alone with my cocker spaniel (at the time, you were allowed to walk your dog there). Looking back, I was very reckless!
It's superb, magnificent and adrenaline-fuelled, but I don't recommend it on a hiking website, given its technical difficulty.
It may be that the start of the climb has since been marked, but even finding it is difficult.
What's more, halfway up, you can take another path (to the right) and find yourself facing a drop, so you have to climb back down, which I had to do, scared stiff, for a few metres.
Visorando is a hiking website and, although you have clearly indicated the level of difficulty, some people think they are clever enough to attempt anything.
Personally, I would leave this route to experienced climbers and would not recommend it on a website aimed at the general public. It is really dangerous, both because of the "stairs" and the frequent rock falls. Let's not forget that the mountaineer Couzy died from a rock fall in Aurouze.
There are chamois roaming around and they won't miss you!
Helmets are mandatory.

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ugodf
ugodf

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very enjoyable hike but quite challenging at the Pas de Paul; be careful when crossing the numerous rocky outcrops.
A helmet is recommended in case of rock falls caused by hikers or animals.
There are no trails (no cairns or markings), so you will need to find the best places to climb. There are many climbing sections.
During the descent via the Combe d'Aurouze, there are a few snowfields.

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