Allos Mountain Hut – Petit Col du Talon – Bayasse

The third stage is very difficult due to its length of nearly 26 km, with a few technical sections – particularly when carrying a rucksack – which will put your body to the test. This is why I have classified this stage as ‘very difficult’. However, this stage is one of the most beautiful on this route: wild, technical, with stunning panoramic views.
You’ll cross pastures, wooded areas, mountain pastures and very rocky high-mountain sections between the two highest peaks of the Mercantour: Mont Pelat (3,051 m) and Le Cimet (3,020 m).
You’ll be crossing the northern part of the Mercantour National Park.
Allow between 8 and 10 hours for this challenging stage.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Tour de l'Ubaye avec des variantes en 10 jours

Details

n°37501365
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.80 mi
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 10 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Very difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 3,504 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 4,836 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 8,780 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5,866 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

(S) From the refuge, head right along the road towards the pass and take the wide path on the left which climbs gradually until you reach the first junction.

(1) Ignore the path branching off to the right towards La Foux and continue along theGR® to the left until you reach another junction at the 2,356-metre point, known as the Baisse de Prenier.

(2) Ignore the path branching off to the right towards the summit of the Rochegrand, and continue left on theGR®, which descends to another junction.

(3) Ignore theGR® 56 B which branches off to the right towards Lac d’Allos – a variant of thisGR® route. Take theGR® 56 on the left.

(4) Pass through the Ravin de la Clapiére and continue along the path, which runs along a ledge at the foot of the Grand Cheval de Bois. Some very narrow sections on the mountainside, with very crumbly rock, require the utmost care. Landslides have made the path loose.
Carry on and pass the Ravin de Rivachasse, then the Ravin du Pichs.

(5) Begin a lovely descent, pass through a wooded area above the Waterfall du Pich and continue to the Cabane du Talon, where there is a junction.

(6) A path descends towards Allos. Follow theGR® straight on.
From this point, the gradient increases rapidly, leading to the foot of a rocky outcrop and the Cimet waterfalls.

(7) Take care in this section as you walk past the base of the waterfalls on very slippery slabs.
Reach the plateau at the top of the waterfalls, with a superb view over the whole valley, towards Allos and the peaks of the Cimet and the Pelat. The landscape becomes increasingly rocky.
Pass a path that climbs to the left towards the Pas de l’Âne. Continue the ascent towards the Petit Col du Talon. You’ll emerge onto a plateau with wild, unspoilt scenery, with Lac Cimet in your sights. To the right is Mont Pelat and, to the left, the Cimet, with the Petit Col du Talon in the background.

(8) Pass a scree slope at the foot of the Cimet, above the lake, to reach the pass at an altitude of 2,678 metres, offering a beautiful panorama of the Grande Cayolle to the east and the valley leading down to Allos to the west.
You will have covered 17 km and completed the day’s challenges.

(9) After this long and tiring climb, begin the descent through a very rocky landscape to a junction at the 2,461-metre mark.

(10) Leave the path that climbs to the left towards the Col des Esbéliousses and continue along theGR® as it descends through mountain pastures and streams. Pass above the Grande Cayolle ravine on a ledge, then past La Cayolle farm.

(11) Carry on until you reach the D902, which climbs to the right towards the Col de la Cayolle and its eponymous refuge.

(12) Turn left, following the road for about a hundred metres, until you reach the first bridge on the right.

(13) Leave the road which descends to the right, turn left onto theGR® and, a little further on, cross the departmental road again.

(14) Cross it and rejoin the path opposite. Follow the Bachelard stream along the left bank. TheGR® sometimes passes through beautiful meadows, sometimes through woodland. You’ll come to a lovely footbridge.

(15) Cross over to the right bank of the stream and follow theGR® to the hamlet of Bayasse.

(16) Turn left at the bottom of the village, pass the first junction and take the road leading uphill to the right. Walk past the lodge/hotel, then round a bend to the right and reach Les Cordiers, with the Bayasse stopover lodge on your left (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : mi 0 - alt. 7,310 ft - Allos Mountain Hut - Col d'Allos
  2. 1 : mi 0.76 - alt. 7,533 ft - Junction
  3. 2 : mi 1.19 - alt. 7,710 ft - Baisse de Prenier
  4. 3 : mi 2.26 - alt. 7,070 ft - Junction - Cascade du Pich
  5. 4 : mi 3.16 - alt. 7,228 ft - Clapière Ravine
  6. 5 : mi 5.83 - alt. 6,729 ft - Pichs Ravine - Cascade du Pich
  7. 6 : mi 6.87 - alt. 6,302 ft - Cabane du Talon
  8. 7 : mi 7.74 - alt. 6,831 ft - Cimet Waterfalls
  9. 8 : mi 9.89 - alt. 8,573 ft - Scree slope above Lac du Cimet
  10. 9 : mi 10.2 - alt. 8,776 ft - Summit of the Petit Col de Talon - Petit col de Talon
  11. 10 : mi 11.16 - alt. 8,048 ft - Junction at elevation 2461 - Col des Esbéliousses (2498 m)
  12. 11 : mi 12.44 - alt. 7,149 ft - Cayolle Farm
  13. 12 : mi 13.02 - alt. 6,765 ft - D902 - Bachelard (rivière)
  14. 13 : mi 13.17 - alt. 6,696 ft - Bridge
  15. 14 : mi 13.4 - alt. 6,450 ft - Crossing the D901 - Bachelard (rivière)
  16. 15 : mi 14.62 - alt. 6,001 ft - Footbridge
  17. 16 : mi 15.43 - alt. 5,879 ft - Bayasse hamlet - Bayasse
  18. E : mi 15.8 - alt. 5,981 ft - You’ll arrive at the Bayasse stopover lodge on the left. - Bayasse

Notes

A very beautiful stage with 1,084 metres of elevation gain and a distance of nearly 26 km.
You’ll find water along the entire route, provided you have a filter flask.

Arrival at the Bayasse stopover lodge, a 17th-century house, with a warm welcome from the managers. Camping is an option, but for my part, after such a long stage, I opted for a bit of comfort and booked a room.
A typical regional lodge with all the mod cons.

The food – from dinner to the picnic, not to mention breakfast – was perfect and very generous (especially the picnic). I had a brilliant time and, above all, a restful night’s sleep.

At the Bayasse stopover lodge, the owners bake their own bread: it’s excellent!

As with all mountain hikes, make sure to take your binoculars, camera, IGN map and/or guidebook.

Useful addresses and links:
Mountainrefuge:
Cédric MONASSE and Stéphanie
LES CORDIERS
04400 UVERNET-FOURS

Email:
bayasse@caramail.com

Website:
http://www.gite-bayasse.com/

Telephone:
04 92 81 28 96

The place is magical

Please note: many flocks are guarded by Patou sheepdogs. Hikers are therefore strongly advised not to stray from the path. If you encounter a guard dog, remain calm and passive to reassure it.

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

Worth a visit

Pich Waterfall
Cimet Waterfall
The Waterfall Bridges
The hamlet of Bayasse

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

5 / 5
Based on 1 review

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
Daniel Thin
Daniel Thin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 13, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A hike undertaken as part of the Tour de l’Ubaye. The most challenging stage of the tour, in terms of both distance and elevation gain. We walked for nearly 10 hours (it was very hot).
A very beautiful route, very well described in the app. But a route for fit and experienced walkers. Several sections require great caution and experience on paths cutting across steep and potentially slippery slopes.
The section past the waterfalls is magnificent.

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