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Access to the start of the walk:
From Embrun or Savines-le-Lac: take the N94, then the D568 (between Crots and Savines-le-Lac) towards Boscodon Abbey. At the abbey (in front of which there is a car park), you’ll see signs for the Grand Clot car park – go uphill and then turn right (as well as for La Fontaine de l’Ours, go uphill and then turn left).
Please note that the forest track leading from the abbey is unpaved, though this won’t prevent a small city car from making its way up at (very) low speed.
(S/E) This is why I chose to park before reaching the car park (see GPS track). I quickly made my way to the car park by following the forest track on foot.
(1) The path starts immediately at the far end of the car park. It’s very easy to follow as it’s clearly marked and wide enough for vehicles to pass (though these are, of course, prohibited for the general public).
On several occasions, the path splits, allowing you to take small shortcuts that quickly rejoin the main path.
The climb takes you partly through the forest and partly along sections offering increasingly unobstructed views of the lake.
A few dozen metres after passing a descending path on the right for the first time (towards the ladder), you reach the Portes de Morgon without too much difficulty, revealing all around you the magnificent Morgon cirque, bordered to the west by the Pic de Morgon and to the east by the Pic de Charance (Parpaillon massif).
(2) At the junction, where we’ll take the path opposite and follow it, keeping the bottom of the valley on our left at all times.
(3) The path turns right, then takes a wide bend to the left; after a series of small hairpin bends, we reach a fork.
(4) We turn right and begin the final ascent, which will first take us to a peak offering a stunning panoramic view of the lake and the surrounding villages, then on to the Pic de Morgon, from where the panorama widens further, offering a 360° view of both the lake and the Cirque de Morgon.
(5) After taking in the view, it’s impossible to miss the path following the ridges south-eastwards towards the Tête de la Vieille. We’ll follow this path, taking care not to slip on the first downhill section, whilst admiring the many edelweiss.
The path is very well marked.
Take care on the two tricky sections – rocky ridges that can be slippery in wet weather and require you to use your hands for support (not recommended for those prone to vertigo).
We then reach the point where we descend into the Cirque de Morgon towards Lac Saint-Pierre. The descent takes us without any particular difficulty to the small lake overlooked by the Pic de Charance (Parpaillon massif).
(6) We’ll take the second path on the left heading north to rejoin the original path just before we reach the forest.
(2) We continue to the right, following the same route back down as we took on the way up, until we reach the car park (S/E).
... However, the change in route (well signposted) is a little confusing when trying to follow the original trail.
Visorando Member
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