Refuge des Mouterres - La Grave

(S) Set off from the Refuge des Mouterres, taking the wide track towards the Refuge du Fay, until you reach the^first junction. Turn right, then a few metres further on, level with the Refuge du Fay, continue on the^GR® 54C to the right, which descends towards the Rif Tort stream until you reach a crossroads with several paths.

(1) Leave the^GR® here, veering sharply right onto the^first path. Climb towards the top of the Emparis plateau. After passing a few rocks, you’ll reach the^first lake, Lac Cristallin, which is unfortunately almost dry.

(2) Continue due south and, at a small pond, you can turn right towards the edge of the cliff to enjoy the view above the Refuge de la Mouterres.

(3) Return to the crossroads by the pond and turn right to reach Lac Noir quickly.

(4) Go round it and, via a circular loop to the left, reach its neighbour, Lac Lérié.

(5) Continue northwards, leaving the path on your right at the next junction to reach the^GR®54at a further junction. Continue left to reach the Col du Souchet.

(6) Turn back and rejoin the^GR® 54. Keep to the left, passing the nearby Souchet hut. Reach the Rif de Galan.

(7) Cross it and continue the gentle descent. Pass beneath the Plateau d’Emparis ski lift to reach a junction a few metres further on.

(8) Continue to the right on the^GR® and begin a descent via tight hairpin bends. Reach the ski lift stations before the hamlet of Chazelet. Continue along the^GR® to the right and enter the hamlet of Chazelet.

(9) Continue straight through the village, past a fountain, then past the wayside shrines to a viewpoint over the Combe de Malaval, with a footbridge over the drop.

(10) After the footbridge, take the path on the right and head downhill to reach the road. Cross it and rejoin the^GR® to reach the hamlet of Les Terrasses.

(11) Continue along the^GR® on a beautiful path that winds through the fields to La Grave. Pass a chapel and walk down through the village to the D1091. Turn right onto it, taking great care with the traffic, and follow the road round a large bend to reach the Hôtel le Castillan (E), today’s stop.

To protect the local flora and fauna, swimming is prohibited, fires are prohibited, all rubbish must be collected (even biodegradable items) and dogs must be kept on a lead.

A section with an elevation gain of nearly 400 m and a descent of 1,200 m.
(S) Departure from the Refuge des Mouterres.
(E) Arrival in La Grave, at the Hôtel le Castillan, where we spent two nights to recharge our batteries after these first seven stages.
The hotel is very comfortable and has a swimming pool, which is excellent for relaxing the muscles. The food is of a very high standard. We had a room with a view of the Meije massif and its glaciers.
Useful addresses and links:
Hôtel le Castillan
Email: castillan.hotel@orange.fr
Telephone: 04 76 79 90 04

As with all mountain hikes, bring binoculars, a camera, an IGN map and/or a guidebook.
There are plenty of streams, so you won’t have any trouble finding water.
Note: Many herds are guarded by sheepdogs, known as ‘patous’. Hikers are therefore strongly advised not to stray from the path. If you encounter a guard dog, remain calm and passive to reassure it.

Between (3) and (6) along the edge of the path, enjoy:
- extraordinary landscapes, with views of La Meije and the plateau; thousands of photos of La Meije taken from Lac Lérié have been published in numerous magazines:
- the particularly abundant mountain flora: edelweiss, asters, joubardes, alpine carnations, alpine gentians, etc.
(4) and (5) Lakes Lérié and Lac Noir, nestled on the Emparis plateau, offer magnificent views of the ridges on the north face of La Meije and Le Râteau (3,809 m), two peaks in the Oisans. The Emparis plateau, a listed site, is reached via the^GR®54.
(E) The village of La Grave.
(E) The La Grave cable car brings you as close as possible to the glaciers.

Emparis Plateau
Lakes of the Emparis Plateau
La Grave