Estrop refuge

Well done, you've earned the title of "head of the estrop"!

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful two-day hike combining the climb to the refuge and the climb to the summit of Estrop. The sunny, windless weather helped us a lot, especially at the summit of Estrop, which is very exposed and high up.

day 1: The climb to the refuge was easy, but the section with hairpin bends was steep, long and in full sun. The cirque was spectacular and the view of the refuge after passing the Piche waterfall was magnificent, a great reward for the day's efforts. We received a warm welcome at the refuge. In the evening, there was a concert by the band TZILLA from DIGNE LES BAINS, who came up to the refuge especially to play, bringing all their equipment (instruments, amplifiers and microphones). And to round off the day, we had a delicious meal (excellent vegetarian chilli con carne)

day 2, summit of the Estrop. We left the refuge at 8 a.m. The 3½-hour climb crossed several areas of huge boulders. It was very steep. Follow the cairns and yellow markings carefully (there are very few red markings left. The red markings have probably been replaced by yellow ones). The climb is very challenging and technical, and not recommended in bad weather. On arrival, there is a superb 360° panorama on a clear day. You can see countless peaks and mountain ranges: Dévoluy, Ecrins, Viso, Vanoise, etc. It's extraordinary.
Return to the refuge via the same route, in 2½ hours. You need to be very careful. The markings are easier to follow than on the way up.
We arrived at the refuge at around 2.30pm. We stopped for a refreshing snack. Then we descended back to the car park near the Lac des Eaux Chaudes in 3 hours. The descent seemed endless given that we had climbed to the summit of Estrop and back on the same day.
On this day, we walked for 9 hours and descended a little over 1,800 metres.
We had a magical weekend.
Next time, I'll stay at the refuge for two days to enjoy this magnificent site even more.

Machine-translated

correction made

Machine-translated

Date of your route : May 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, done on a sunny Saturday, but without a doubt the best part of this route is that it is mostly shaded. We only encountered a few other hikers. We didn't start at the "starting point" but 300 m before it (just after the fork and the bridge), which is better for a low car. It's physically demanding for me, but the scenery is definitely worth the effort. Some sections can seem difficult or even vertiginous, such as crossing the first large valley and the two secure ledges with a cable running along the entire length. The sound of the water flowing and falling is deafening, making it difficult to talk to anyone less than 3 metres away. The "hairpin bend" section is long and very challenging, especially after completing a large part of the route. We didn't see a single animal, not even a marmot, but there were lots of flowers. When we arrived at the refuge, it was very windy and cold (10°C?) (no information as the refuge's thermometer wasn't working), so we put our jackets back on. The welcome at the refuge was superb. We had a delicious pasta dish with local wild garlic pesto. We did the round trip in a day, taking 9 hours and stopping to take lots of photos and straying from the route twice. There were a few claps of thunder in the distance at around 4pm, the sky clouded over and then the clouds moved eastwards. No problem for us, the weather stayed beautiful. On the way back, just before reaching the footbridge, we had a moment of doubt, but stayed on the well-marked yellow trail (do not head towards Favière). Staying at least one night at the refuge is still an option, with a climb to the top of the Estrop (3 hours) the next day.

Machine-translated

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

A very beautiful hike with magnificent views of the valley, the waterfall and a spectacular cirque at the end.
Easy to do as a day trip.
In fact, you can go a little further along the track with a large car park, which is probably very full on summer days, reducing the hike by a welcome kilometre at the end of the day.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb half-day hike with lunch at the refuge
Very warm welcome and a delicious, original meal made with local produce
Thank you to the refuge wardens for their kindness.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The refuge wardens are very welcoming. We enjoyed a delicious meal made with local produce.
Very beautiful hike
BTTg

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Great hike, no major difficulties

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike, not very busy for the season, completed in 7.5 hours with a leisurely climb and a picnic break at the Piche waterfall, where there is still plenty of water despite the time of year.Departure from the Eaux Chaudes car park (driveable track, done with a Golf), don't hesitate to take a look at the small lake below the car park. Then a long, almost flat stony track to La Combe, which you'll curse on the way down after 16 km in your legs After La Combe, the climb begins in the shade of the woods. Next comes the steep Revaux climb, which is quite challenging but cooled by a nice breeze that provides some relief during the effort. After skirting a rocky outcrop equipped with handrails but posing no danger, you finally arrive on the plateau, with the refuge in sight. And then... WOW! The landscape is magnificent, grandiose, even better than the postcards! A large grassy meadow dotted with flowers where sheep graze, guarded by very friendly sheepdogs, the refuge nestled in the hollow of this magical valley, surrounded by mineral-rich peaks. The Bléone, still a stream at this point, winds its way through this heavenly spot. An exceptional site that sweeps away the fatigue of the climb and leaves you marvelling at this dazzling spectacle of beauty.Hoël, Lisa and Noëmie gave us a very warm welcome and were happy to provide us with all the information about the place and the surrounding area, sharing their love for this majestic spot. It was a magical moment when we were able to go and see the source of the Bléone nestled in a mossy setting, without getting too close as it is protected to prevent contamination and keep the water drinkable. Then we came back down with our heads full of beautiful images and the scents of the mountain pastures, accompanied by the cries of marmots, which we unfortunately didn't see. To sum up, an exceptional setting and a FANTASTIC hike that we will do again as soon as possible.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Good route from the hot springs lake to the Estrop refuge. I came to check out the route and see how difficult it was. I think it's best to do what most people do: climb up the day before and reach the summit the next day.
I spotted some chamois, but it's difficult to take photos.
Well done to the author

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The first part of the trail is a bit long and monotonous, especially on the way back. The hike becomes more interesting once you cross the stream. Don't forget your binoculars for wildlife watching.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

a very beautiful hike in the sunshine.
We left the car at the Resistance Memorial car park because the track up to the lake didn't look very passable, which added 800 metres to the walk.
There was a fairly long stretch of hairpin bends in full sun, but we took advantage of the breaks to spot ibex among the rocks on the opposite bank.
We arrived at the magnificent plateau with the refuge in the background, although there weren't many marmots.
We opted for a quiet picnic by the stream to enjoy the scenery.
The descent on the track is a bit long, but overall it was a lovely day out.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike, I highly recommend it. It's true that it's a bit physically demanding, but the scenery is definitely worth the effort. The welcome at the refuge is excellent. Our only regret today was that we had to descend fairly quickly because a storm was brewing, but that wasn't a problem for us. I plan to do the hike again and will definitely stay at least one night at the refuge!

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful walk after a rainy day, so the temperature was very pleasant. It was less difficult than I had expected (I'm a novice hiker), and the scenery was superb. It really is a little corner of paradise!
A stop for raspberries was mandatory... so it took four hours to climb up at a leisurely pace. When we arrived at the cirque, there were no marmots or chamois, but a dozen vultures had come from Verdon to picnic on the ridge (L'Auriac?) on the side where the observatory chairlift arrives!
After a nice picnic sitting in the grass with a superb view, the terrace being full, I climbed up to the ridge to see the vultures more closely... which of course had left when I got there...!
But I was happy despite everything after this unexpected climb! Back at the refuge, Johanna and Olivier gave us a particularly warm and friendly welcome.
I'll be back soon for a night and to climb to the summit of L'Estrop... then other walks, as it's not far from Digne for me.
In short, a beautiful hike that I recommend, with more "mountainous" scenery than the previous walks around Digne.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A magnificent hike, you don't feel the elevation gain because the scenery is so beautiful
The Estrop refuge is a real little corner of paradise! Olivier and Johanna are very welcoming and friendly.
You have to eat on the terrace... the view is magical!
I'll be back to spend a night there and climb up to the Tête de l'Estrop

Machine-translated