Pont des Oules du Diable and Cascade de Buchardet

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Magnificent walk between the Pont des Oules du Diable and the Cascade du Buchardet waterfall.

Details

n°2306628
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.70 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 161 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 158 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,394 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,246 m
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Photos

Buchardet waterfall
Oules du Diable bridge

Description of the walk

Start: From La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar, take a small, winding road towards the village of Les Portes. Park in the Oules car park before the village.

(S/E) Continue on foot along the road through the village of Les Portes.

(1) On leaving the village, turn left onto the path leading down to the bridge. Cross the Ruisseau de Navette on the Pont des Oules.

(2) At the end of the bridge, take the path on the right. Go South; South-Southeast and follow the stream on your right.

(3) Ignore a bridge over the stream and continue straight ahead on Chemin de Navette. Ignore a path on the left, cross a stream and pass through the old village of Chapelle (ruins; forest house).

(4) Ignore a path on the left and continue south on the Chemin de Navette. This leads to the Cascade de Buchardet, where the path ends in a cul de sac (do not use the footbridge before the waterfall).

Return along the same path to the Oules car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,263 m - Parking des Oules
  2. 1 : km 0.4 - alt. 1,265 m - Trailhead
  3. 2 : km 0.51 - alt. 1,246 m - Pont des Oules
  4. 3 : km 1.83 - alt. 1,306 m - Bridge over torrent Shuttle
  5. 4 : km 2.16 - alt. 1,334 m - Old village of Chapelle
  6. 5 : km 3.35 - alt. 1,394 m - Buchardet waterfall
  7. S/E : km 6.7 - alt. 1,263 m - Parking des Oules

Notes

Start & Parking: From La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar, take a small, winding road towards the village of Les Portes. Park in the Oules car park before the village.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 10 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
GARCIA4
GARCIA4

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very pretty walk, following the stream on the way there, then a very pleasant forest before arriving at the magnificent waterfall. On the way back, we didn't take the track as it was very sunny. At the Pont des Houles, we took the GR on the right, which climbs up and then descends to the chapel, a little over 11 kilometres in total

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domiro
domiro

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

It was very difficult to park on that Saturday in July, as the village of La Chapelle was very busy, so we ended up parking at the end of the road in a large car park, but the track is difficult to follow. Given the circumstances, we did the cascade, which is magnificent, and continued on to L'Aup, following the signs. In the second part, there is a steep descent, and we returned to the car park via another path.

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jolo07
jolo07

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

nice fun hike

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doudou05+
doudou05+

Lovely family outing

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christophe.penel@gmail.com
christophe.penel@gmail.com

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very nice hike in the Parc des Ecrins. The access road to the Portes car park is narrow but the car park made it easy for us to park. As we hiked on, we discovered a second, larger car park just beyond the village of Les Portes in the park.
The path leading to the waterfall runs alongside the torrent, so you can cool off as you climb... The Cascade du Buchardet is magnificent. On the way back we discovered the gorges, which are extraordinary and not to be missed!
Personally, we did the walk in the early afternoon and we didn't meet too many people, and the route is quite shady.

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doudou05+
doudou05+

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

At the end of the path, the waterfall is accessible by buggy (carossable path).

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Mauro38
Mauro38
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A short, easy and pleasant hike, to be done early to avoid the crowds.
We took a variation that avoids doing the whole return journey on the same path;
On leaving the hamlet of Des Portes, do not go down to the Oulles bridge, which you will cross on the way back.
Continue along the forest track as far as the large Fouronniere car park (the river is on the left of the track).
Cross the bridge (point 3 on the map) and continue as described in the information sheet as far as the waterfall.
Return as described in the information sheet.

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Olflo
Olflo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lovely, pleasant walk along the stream, not very long, not difficult at all and a pretty waterfall at the finish.

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Juli
Juli
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Well shaded walk, not steep, beautiful waterfall, very good for my 84 year old father!

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celinecouteux
celinecouteux

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

To be repeated out of season

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Jojojojo74
Jojojojo74

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A fun walk for the whole family. Not too steep and shady.

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