Saint-Julien-en-Champsaur walks

A short, easy circular loop around Chaillol, starting from Chaillol village, suitable for families. Passes over the Canal Malcros.

A hike mostly along a balcony path in a sort of cirque, before reaching the foot of the Vieux Chaillol with a lovely panorama. This hike also offers the chance to discover the remains of the Malcros Canal. A somewhat crazy project which, from 1881 to 1923, ensured the water supply to the valleys from a... glacier! Despite the elevation gain, the route involves ascending and descending fairly gentle and very even slopes.

Hike along the remains of the Mal Cros Canal, starting from Chaillol 1600. This canal supplied water for irrigation in the area from a glacier above the Champoleon valley (Drac Blanc).

This hike will allow you to discover all the contrasts of the Champsaur mountains, from the pleasant fields of Chaillol and the mountain forests with deciduous and coniferous trees to the high-altitude pastures and the stony summit at over 2,700m.

A balcony walk offering magnificent views of the plain at the entrance to the Champsaur.

On this hike, nature is the artist, offering us geological formations carved into the sandstone, each one as astonishing as the next. Not to mention Pic Queyrel with its extensive panorama from the horizontal ridge line that connects the two high points. At the end of the hike, you can discover the remains of the Malcros Canal. A somewhat crazy project which, from 1881 to 1923, supplied water to the valleys from a... glacier.

This is a long hike to reach the Pic du Vieux Chaillol (3,163 m), a landmark peak in the southern Hautes-Alpes landscape. Please note that the elevation gain is only 1,530m and not 1,706m as stated on the information sheet.

Climb one of the Champsaur peaks from the Laye ski resort, enjoying the cool forest, rocky ravines and earthy slopes. The initial loop gives way to a round-trip climb. The final section is on a beautiful ridge with steep slopes on either side.

A small summit with a 360° view over the Champsaur countryside and the surrounding peaks. Editor’s note added on 12/09/2021: there is an issue in the second half of the walk; a round trip seems preferable: see the comments at the bottom of the page

This hike in the Champsaur is marked by curious geological formations in the sandstone. It is worth taking your time and looking up. The double arch is a little off the main route, so you have to go out of your way to find it, but it's well worth the detour.

A beautiful circular loop around the Col Bayard oxygenation centre, very varied and without any significant elevation gain, offering 360-degree views and breathtaking vistas of the Champsaur.

This refreshing walk on the Col Bayard takes you into the heart of a plateau dedicated to sports enthusiasts at an altitude of 1,300 metres! A fairly gentle and varied route, with paths through the woodland, shaded trails and small hills with a slight elevation gain. Breathtaking views over the Champsaur.

A lovely circular route offering a varied 360° view, with little elevation gain.

A walk in the Notre-Dame de Bois-Vert forest, on the mountainside with a magnificent view of the Champsaur valley and its typical bocage landscape.The Notre-Dame de Bois-Vert sanctuary is a true haven of peace!

In my opinion, this is one of the most beautiful hikes in the area. It offers views of the Champsaur and Gapençais valleys.

A short walk around the hamlet of Les Faix, starting in the Ancelle valley. You cross the village and then climb to the higher ground for superb panoramic views of the Dévoluy, the Champsaur and the Rouanne valley.

In the heart of Champsaur, this hike is beautiful but also very exotic, as it climbs up the wooden roof tile torrent valley in an atmosphere reminiscent of a Spanish canyon.

A varied countryside walk with spectacular views over the Champsaur and the Dévoluy. Unfortunately, there are a few tarmac sections, but these roads are very quiet. The route passes the Trois Croix viewpoint and the curious Chapelle des Pétètes, also known as the Chapelle Saint-Grégoire.

At the gateway to the Massif des Écrins, near Saint-Bonnet-en-Champsaur, this superb loop hike begins with a gentle ascent through a magnificent larch forest. Along the way, the lush green vegetation accompanies you to the foot of the Col du Cendrier, where the slope gradually levels out. The effort is rewarded by a wide panoramic view of the Massif des Écrins.The traverse of the Crêtes du Barry adds a welcome technical touch, giving the route an extra touch of character. The return, via the Pas and then the Col de l'Escalier, is on a pleasant, flowing path.A beautiful hike, where the spring flora comes into its own with every step.

A hike mainly through woodland, becoming steep towards the end, offering views of the Champsaur valley and Vieux Chaillol.

A lovely walk along the Gap balconies. From the Lac des Jaussauds picnic area, the route descends along the route of the old (and never completed) Gap–La Mure railway line, including a crossing of the Buzon viaduct, recently converted into a cycle route.It then climbs back up to the Réserve des Manes, passes the Peyre Ossel boulder, and follows the Canal de Gap to the Réserve Georges Serres, offering beautiful panoramic views of the Gap region.

A snowshoe hike over varied terrain, starting in the Pré Matheron meadow, followed by a route through the undergrowth where you create your own path by weaving through the forest until you reach the junction with the ridge line. There, the landscape opens up towards the south.

An iconic cliff and viewpoint in the Gap area, the Chapeau de Napoléon is easily accessible and offers breathtaking views of the Avance valley and the Gap basin.

A classic hike in Ancelle, starting near the village centre and climbing up the north side, through cool woodland. Can easily be done in reverse to enjoy the cool air on the way back.

Route around Pic de Gleize, passing by Pic de Gleize to reach the mountain pastures, offering beautiful views of Champsaur, Dévoluy and Bassin Gapençais.

A short circular loop that leads to the second part, on the ridges of La Greysinière, with some tricky sections. Can be done in addition to another walk from the Col de Gleize car park.

Pic de Gleize, Pic de Chaudin and Pic de l'Aiguille: three peaks and three panoramas with beautiful views of Dévoluy, with the forgotten domain of Chaudin at its feet, Les Écrins, Champsaur and the Gap conurbation.

A short circular loop to reach a very wide viewpoint over Champsaur, Dévoluy and Gapençais.

Much of this hike takes place on a ridge with aerial passages, offering numerous panoramic views.

A circular route leading to the ridges of La Greysinière with exposed sections, but offering exceptional views of the Ceüze, Bure, Dévoluy, Écrins, Embrunais, Blanche and Monges mountains. Starting at Col de Gleize helps to minimise the elevation gain.

From the Col de Gleize, climb towards the Pic de Gleize, then descend towards the ruins of the village of Chaudun and climb back up to the Col de Gleize.

A climb to the Pic de Gleize from the pass of the same name and a descent via the Chaudun circular trail to enjoy a beautiful route with little elevation gain but lots of rockfall.

Discover the village of Chaudun and its history. Walking along the patrol path, you realise how difficult it must have been for the inhabitants to survive there at the time, in a village isolated from everything else in a hostile environment, especially in winter.

A round trip to this village at the foot of the Montagne de Chaudun.

A circular route leading to the Guizière ridges whilst avoiding the overly exposed sections of the Greysinière ridges.Starting at the Col de Gleize keeps the elevation gain to a minimum, whilst offering exceptional views of the Ceüze, Bure, Dévoluy, Écrins, Embrunais, Ubaye (Montagne de la Blanche) and Monges mountain ranges.

A walk that allows you to appreciate the lovely setting of the village of Ancelle, nestled at the end of the Plaine de Lachaup, with beautiful views over the village. You start by following the Rouanne (or Ancelle torrent), then follow a lovely ridge path overlooking Ancelle before tackling the only difficult part of the walk: the climb to the antennas before reaching the Plateau de Libouze and its lake. You then descend back into the Plaine de Lachaup via the Ancelle leisure centre and return to the village.

A family walk in the forest in the middle of Champsaur, offering beautiful views of the neighbouring mountains.

A climb to the summit overlooking the village of Wooden Roof Tile and the ski resort of Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes. The circular offers beautiful panoramic views of Dévoluy, Champsaur and the Rouanne valley.

This summit is a classic in the village of wooden roof tile in Champsaur.

This peak overlooks the Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes ski resort. It is home to the top stations of the resort’s ski lifts. However, the ascent described here starts from Ancelle.A snowshoe hike following the summer trail, which is marked in yellow. These markings are visible on the trees in winter, but not on the rocks.

A lovely circular route on the north-facing slope, mostly through woodland; allow 1 hour 15 minutes for the ascent and 2 hours 30 minutes for the gentle descent.

A lovely, easy snowshoe walk with very little elevation gain, which makes it very pleasant. You walk along the Rouanne stream, often through woodland, but are regularly treated to lovely views.

An easy walk starting from the hamlet of Collet d’Ancelle, taking you to the Saint-Philippe promontory (a former fortified site) via Lac de Faudon, a veritable treasure trove of Alpine biodiversity, and close to the ruins of the village of Faudon. This summit, situated above the resort of Ancelle, offers a beautiful panoramic view of the Gap basin, the Champsaur and the Écrins massif.

A lovely hike to discover an ancient village in ruins, offering panoramic views of the Champsaur valley.

This is a lovely, very pleasant snowshoe circular route, particularly along the stream. You walk partly through the undergrowth but still enjoy lovely views, especially around the mountain pasture. We did it in early March and there was still plenty of snow.

A lovely hike in the hills above Ancelle offering views of the Dévoluy and the Petite and Grande Autane mountains. For walkers, this is a good warm-up walk at the start of the week to prepare for longer routes.

A gentle walk along a narrow path beside a torrent, then the view opens up onto snowfields. Once on the ridges, you can admire the Gap and Champsaur valleys dominated by beautiful peaks and, further away, the Écrins.

This is a beautiful little loop on the north side below the Autane and Petite Autane, ideal for hot summer days when you want to stay cool. If you set off early, you can see chamois in the ravines and birds. The crossing trail does not always seem to be maintained during the summer, which makes it more difficult (the trail slopes on some steep sections) and it is now classified as difficult, requiring good experience of this type of trail.

A wild hike between Ecrins and Dévoluy. Off-trail highlights include pastures, mouflons and a 360° view stretching from the Obiou to the Parpaillon, taking in the great massifs of the Écrins. You’ll look down over the Chaudun cirque and its history.

A pleasant circuit in Champsaur, allowing you to discover a small peak overlooking the Drac valley.

An ascent through mountain pastures and alpine meadows to the pass and then the summit of the Palastre, a renowned viewpoint over the Champsaur valley. The rest of the loop towards the pass between the Pic du Clot Lamiande and the Pointe Prouveyrat is not well marked, but the view of the Vallon du Tourrond is worth the detour. Note that the southern exposure of the slope is offset on the descent by streams and waterfalls that refresh this long route, which is best suited to experienced walkers.

A lovely walk through mountain pastures and along the ridge, from where you can admire the whole southern part of the Écrins Massif and much more besides.

A refreshing route leading to the Cabane des Pierres, entirely through a beautiful coniferous forest: the Grand Bois de Poligny. This charming little spot allows you to discover the Champsaur, sheltered at the foot of the great peaks.

This route takes you from vegetation (the first part is through a beautiful coniferous forest) to rock (the final ascent is over scree). At the pass, you look out over the Cirque de Chaudun (south side) where the Petit Buëch river has its source, but although you can see Ceuze, the view is mainly towards the Écrins peaks.

A short, scenic and refreshing countryside route on the outskirts of Gap. From the V64 cycle route, you’ll discover the Peyre Ossel boulder and cross the Buzon viaduct. This easy route then returns via the refreshing streams of the Oursatas and the Buzon, and is suitable for children. Magnificent views of the Gapençais region and picturesque paths through woods and fields round off this pleasant route.

A hike in the hills above Gap offering exceptional panoramic views. Montagne de Ceüze, Massif de Bure, Dévoluy, Écrins, Embrunais, Blanche, Monges... A rollercoaster ride along the ridge. Flowers and mushrooms abound! A tricky section between (3) and (4).

This is the ascent to the Brèche de Charance with the least elevation gain (less than 300 m), allowing you to enjoy the views via the Col de Guizière, then the Col de Gleize, whilst walking mainly through woodland. An ideal route for the summer months.

The Pic de Guizière from the Serrigues quarry.

Starting from the hamlet of Moissière, a beautiful hike that begins in the forest before ending on the ridges and the summit, offering an unforgettable panorama of Lake Serre Ponçon, Gap and the Champsaur Valley.

Family hike through the woods to the beautiful Peyron Roux forest cabin. When you arrive, you'll feel like you're standing in front of the seven dwarfs' house... the dark larch forest has a lot to do with it!

The steep slope on the right bank of the Séveraissette valley is home to the trail crossing the Col de l'Ardouère, which winds boldly through the rugged terrain of a complex and grandiose landscape. Be careful! While the climb up the eastern slope is accessible, the descent down the western slope has some exposed, even vertiginous sections where the slightest slip could be fatal.

The final destination of this almost round-trip itinerary, the Col de Font Froide offers an exceptional view of the Écrins massif. In the distance: Barre des Écrins, Pic Coolidge, Ailefroide, Les Bans... And nearby: Pic de Colle Blanche, Brèche de l'Homme Étroit, Tête de Mal Cros, Pointe des Moutières, Pic de Parières, Aiguille de Morges. Far below: the Navette valley in Valgaudemar. A high mountain atmosphere is guaranteed on this pass, which is accessible via a footpath!

Starting from Molines-en-Champsaur, this circular route takes you to the Cabane de Londonnière via a mountain trail, then ends with a gentle descent along a forest path beside the Muande torrent.

Following in the footsteps of botanist Dominique Villars, this trail, marked with information panels, allows you to discover the incredible diversity of the Champsaur vegetation.

A challenging loop that allows you to climb an easy and very popular summit in the most beautiful way and away from the crowds. The difficulty lies mainly in the return via the balcony, which has some aerial and exposed sections.

This is a short, half-day hike without any major difficulties, which takes us back to the difficult past of the mountain dwellers of yesteryear who lived in the village of Faudon, now in ruins, overlooked by the medieval fort of Saint-Philippe.

A challenging hike in the hills above Ancelle. A very pretty hike with an initial climb through the woods, then the vegetation thins out to reveal breathtaking views of Lake Serre-Ponçon, the Gapençais basin and even Mont Ventoux. 360° view from the summit.

Climb up to the Brèche de Charance to enjoy the panoramic view from the ridge to the Col de Guizière, then descend through the forest. An ideal route for the summer months, just above the town of Gap.

Climb up to the breach to enjoy the view from the ridges of the Charance mountain (including the Col and Tête de Guizière), before descending via the Col de la Côte Gelée. Although most of the climb is through forest, the ridges and descent are more exposed to the sun.

A splendid hike starting from Domaine de Charance, with an ascent of the eponymous peak, then Cuchon, followed by a route along the ridge of Montagne de Charance. A hike with exceptional views of Ceüze, Pic de Bure, the village of Rabou to the north, Gap and Serre Ponçon to the south, the mountains around Dignes with Cheval Blanc, Écrins to the east, and the Ubaye mountains to the south. A physically demanding hike, but without any real technical sections.

Starting from Charance, the climb up the breach and to the peak offers breathtaking views of the Gapençais basin, the Durance valley and the Pic de Bure.

Most of the walk is along the Canal du Drac, which allows you to discover many of the structures designed to channel and distribute water to the surrounding farms, and also offers sections with panoramic views.

A fairly wild trail that generally follows the bank of the torrent, offering a beautiful natural atmosphere and views of small waterfalls. The outward route is accessible to families with children, mostly in the shade with the coolness of the torrent.

This rural and exotic circuit, on the outskirts of the town, takes you to the Buzon Viaduct. A short and easy walk that can be done with young children.

A pleasant walk in the Sapet National Forest, at the foot of Piolit (2,464 m), which marks the end of the Embrunais transport layers. The Piolit ridge offers superb views of the Embrunais, Lake Serre-Ponçon, the Gap valley, Dévoluy, Champsaur and the Écrins massif.

A balcony walk with views of the Champsaurin bocage, the Chaîne du Faraut, the Banc du Peyron and the Petit Chaillol mountain.

A challenging and rugged hike beneath the ridges of Banc du Peyron and Moussière.

This circular walk allows you to discover one of the Champsaur’s treasures: one of the few remaining preserved bocage landscapes. As you follow the educational information boards, the trail winds its way through hedgerows, canals and sunken lanes…

Very long, wild and challenging alpine hike. The first part is on a trail up the Val Estrèche, where you may see chamois and ibex. The second part is wild and off-trail, climbing up to the Col de Val Estrèche and then crossing over to the Col des Lauzières. Descent via Cros de la Casse to the Lacs de Crupillouse, where you finally find a good winding trail that descends southwards under the Aiguille de Crupillouse, crossing streams and waterfalls.

We’re making the most of the August holidays to head up to the Crupillouse Lakes and then continue on to the Col de Parières. The route crosses several streams, but once you reach the first lakes, the view is superb. We continue on to the Col de Parières, where we can admire all the lakes below. We’ll do the round trip in a single day.

In July, head for the Crupillouse lakes: small high-altitude lakes that are still frozen, alternating between earth and stone. The trail crosses three streams and snowfields and sometimes climbs in tight switchbacks from 1,400 to 2,600 metres. Watched over by chamois, the arrival at the lakes is a reward for the fairly long climb. The thawed sections were magnificent colours.

A hike through the wild Estrèche valley which, as you ascend, allows you to spot chamois on the left bank, in the pastures of the Upper Estrèche Valley, and ibex in the area known as Les Vallons. It continues with a short circular loop at around 2,200 m offering a panoramic view of the cirque: what remains of the Mourre la Mine Glacier, the Pointe des Moutières, the Tête Virante, the Choucières Vertes, the Puy des Baumes, etc. Comment from a user on 19 June 2025:>The Champoléontown council has issued a municipal by-law prohibiting hikers from accessing the Valestreche trail from 1 June to 25 July and from 5 September to 30 October. This by-law has apparently been in force every year since 2024. Presence of a herd with guard dogs.