Refuge Buffère via the Bois Noir and Côte Rouge

There is a small car park at the start of the Fort Ville bridge. If necessary, you can park near the tourist office in Névache-Ville Haute and walk to the Fort Ville bridge via the Chemin du Marais and then along the roadside.

(S/E) Cross the Clarée via the road bridge and head left along the river. Pass the two footbridges over the Clarée and continue along the path until you reach the second footbridge on the right.

(1) Cross a footbridge over a small tributary of the Clarée before continuing to the left to reach the Pont Sergent Jean Tane bridge over the Clarée.

(2) Pass the bridge and continue along the (less visible) path that runs alongside the Clarée, keeping to the right bank.
At the campsite (visible on the other side of the Clarée), turn right to join the Route Forestière du Bois Noir.

(3) Carry on to the right along this forest track until you reach the^GR®57and 5C. Continue slightly downhill after the forest track ends to find the somewhat hidden junction.

(4) At the junction with the^GR®57and 5C, turn left and head uphill towards Lac de Cristol. The climb is quite steep on this section, but the route is shaded. You’ll come to a fork where the^GR® trails split^.

(5) Continue straight ahead on the^GR®5Ctowards the Cristol footbridge.

(6) Leave the^GR®5Cand turn right, cross the stream, then follow the signs for the Refuge Buffère via Côte Rouge.

(7) Cross the footbridge over the Ruisseau de Buffère and head right (no sign) to join the^GR®57, which climbs directly to the refuge from the Pont du Rately.

(8) At the junction with this path, turn left to climb up to the Refuge de Buffère. Make sure you close the gate behind you.

(9) At the refuge, it’s time to relax a little and enjoy the exhibitions, either outdoors or inside the refuge, or any activities on offer there.
Continue towards the Chapelle Saint-Ignace.

(10) Turn round and head back to the original junction.

(8) Head straight down to the Pont du Rately. Be careful: the path is quite steep and you could easily slip.

(11) Do not cross the Pont du Rately but continue along the right bank towards Névache on the^GR®57. On this section, the signposting is not very visible but the path is easy to follow.

(12) Along the way, you’ll pass the Débaret Waterfall and other smaller waterfalls. Shortly afterwards, the path may deviate from the usual route shown on the IGN map, due to rockfalls that make the path impassable or dangerous. You may therefore need to head slightly back up into the forest to avoid this difficulty. (It is this modified route that is attached to this guide). Head towards the Pont de l’Outre.

(13) Cross the Clarée via this bridge to enter the village of Névache.

(14) If the Church of Saint-Marcellin is open, do take the opportunity to visit this Baroque site. The wooden doors bear the date 1498!
Then walk down through the village along Rue du Pied de Ville to join the D994g towards the tourist office.

(15) Head to the Fort Ville car park (S/E) via this road, or take the Chemin du Marais first, which starts at the far right-hand end of the tourist office car park.