Port de la Glère and Ibón de Gorgutes via the Hospice de France

de fr

A demanding hike through the Cirque de la Glère to the Port de la Glère, via the family-friendly Chemin de l’Impératrice. Magnificent views from the pass over Aneto and the Maladeta massif. Option to descend to Ibón de Gorgutes to cool off after the climb.

Details

n°25049925
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.54 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 8h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 4,514 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 4,475 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 7,776 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 4,495 ft
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Photos

Ibón de Gorgutes and Aneto in the background

Description of the walk

Park at the Hospice de France car park.

(S/E) In front of the Hospice de France building, take the path that climbs towards the Port de Vénasque.

(1) Once past the Pont de Penjat, turn right onto the Chemin de l’Impératrice, which winds through the woods. The path is fairly flat, but watch out for slippery rocks.

(2) When you reach the Cirque de la Glère, ignore the path branching off to the right and stay on the path that climbs gradually. Watch out for stream crossings, which can be slippery.

(3) At the junction, turn left, ignoring the path on the right which climbs to the Col de Sacroux. The path climbs steeper and steeper and turns into a series of hairpin bends.

(4) A strenuous climb through scree. The path is very steep towards the end: follow the yellow dot markings on the rocks.

(5) Arrival at Port de la Glère: view of Aneto. You can then descend to Ibón de Gorgutes to cool off.

(6) Climb back up to Port de la Glère and return via the same route, in the opposite direction, to the Hospice de France (S/E). Take care of potentially slippery rocks during the descent from the cirque.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 4,495 ft - Hospice de France. Cross the - Pique (rivière)
  2. 1 : mi 0.5 - alt. 4,715 ft - Pont de Penjat, on the right.
  3. 2 : mi 3.21 - alt. 5,203 ft - Cirque de la Glère, straight ahead
  4. 3 : mi 3.94 - alt. 5,938 ft - Junction, turn left.
  5. 4 : mi 4.65 - alt. 6,745 ft - Steep climb up the scree slope
  6. 5 : mi 5.12 - alt. 7,776 ft - View of Aneto. - Col de la Glère (2367m)
  7. 6 : mi 5.32 - alt. 7,595 ft - Ibón de Gorgutes
  8. S/E : mi 10.54 - alt. 4,531 ft - Hospice de France

Notes

Approximately 6 or 7 hours depending on fitness level and breaks taken. The final climb up the scree slope is very steep, physically demanding and exposed to the sun. This hike should only be undertaken in summer to avoid snow. Bring plenty of water. Avoid if rain is forecast for the day.

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 5 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.8 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
CAVAGNA
CAVAGNA

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

As regular hikers in the Alps, or here in the Drôme-Ardèche region, we are disappointed by the lack of signposting on the routes: there are no signs pointing out points of interest, nor any indication of the altitude. To make our way up to the Port de La Glère, we had to take off our shoes and wade across the stream. In the Alps, there are always footbridges on popular routes. Given the state of the path and its signposting, we stopped our ascent at the shepherd’s hut.

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goeland111151
goeland111151

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

An easy walk through woodland with gentle slopes and a wide path for most of the route.
We didn’t go all the way to Port de la Glère.
This part of the route up to the cirque is ideal for family walks.
Ségolène and Jean-Joseph

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O2
O2
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

OK, it’s busy all the way to the cirque during the holiday season, but after that it’s just you on your own and the climb gets more technical (though straightforward for an experienced hiker). A good hiker should allow an average of 1½ to 2 hours to climb to the pass from the cirque
I did the descent from the pass to the hospice in 2 hours, but I’m a fairly experienced hiker… Allow a bit longer if you don’t have many hours of hiking under your belt and in your legs!

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Thierry DESCONNETS
Thierry DESCONNETS

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It had been several years since I’d last walked in this area.
I found everything just as I remembered along the route: blueberries and chamois in the valley below the Sacroux.
After a short break at the Port de la Glère, I climbed up to the Pic de Sacroux.
In my opinion, the Port de la Glère is to this area what the Sauvegarde is to the Port de Venasque.
The descent seems very long, especially the section on the Chemin de l’Impératrice.
It’s worth leaving a car at Jouéou and heading straight down there. I’ve done it before, but this time I was on my own.
Otherwise, it’s a lovely hike.
Be careful in snowy conditions; the final section before the pass can be tricky (ice axe and crampons compulsory).

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Vanvan31
Vanvan31

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Provide a more comprehensive and detailed itinerary, including estimated arrival times.

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