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Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes walks
Around the hamlet of Les Faix, starting from Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes
Visorando Member
4.90 mi
+991 ft
-991 ft
3h 05
Moderate
Departure from Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes (Hautes-Alpes)
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.
The wooden roof tile torrent from Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes
8.17 mi
+942 ft
-961 ft
4h 35
Moderate
Departure from Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes (Hautes-Alpes)
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.
Le Cuchon from the Auches campsite
8.74 mi
+2,874 ft
-2,877 ft
6h 30
Difficult
Departure from Ancelle (Hautes-Alpes)
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.
Circular route around Ancelle
7.52 mi
+932 ft
-928 ft
4h 15
Moderate
Departure from Ancelle (Hautes-Alpes)
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.
Tour du Cuchon d'Ancelle
7.83 mi
+2,169 ft
-2,165 ft
5h 30
Moderate
Departure from Ancelle (Hautes-Alpes)
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.
Le Cuchon
8.16 mi
+2,136 ft
-2,133 ft
5h 35
Moderate
Departure from Ancelle (Hautes-Alpes)
This summit is a classic in the village of wooden roof tile in Champsaur.
The summit of Le Cuchon
7.91 mi
+2,129 ft
-2,136 ft
7 hrs
Difficult
Departure from Ancelle (Hautes-Alpes)
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.
Loop from L'Aiguille to Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes
4.43 mi
+2,421 ft
-2,421 ft
4h 10
Difficult
Departure from Saint-Jean-Saint-Nicolas (Hautes-Alpes)
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.
Rouanne Valley
2.61 mi
+636 ft
-843 ft
2 hrs
Easy
Departure from Ancelle (Hautes-Alpes)
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.
Circular route via Moissière from Ancelle
2.54 mi
+627 ft
-633 ft
2.5 hrs
Moderate
Departure from Ancelle (Hautes-Alpes)
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.
La Pinouse
4.65 mi
+1,211 ft
-1,224 ft
3h 10
Moderate
Departure from Ancelle (Hautes-Alpes)
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.
Circular snowshoe loop around the Ancelle resort.
4.92 mi
+1,217 ft
-1,247 ft
5 hrs
Moderate
Departure from Ancelle (Hautes-Alpes)
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.
The Grand Tour of Coste Belle
6.11 mi
+1,601 ft
-1,608 ft
4h 10
Moderate
Departure from Saint-Jean-Saint-Nicolas (Hautes-Alpes)
A lovely hike to discover an ancient village in ruins, offering panoramic views of the Champsaur valley.
A circular walk via Coste Belle and Les Ricoux, starting from Pont du Fossé
5.81 mi
+1,227 ft
-1,201 ft
3h 45
Moderate
Departure from Saint-Jean-Saint-Nicolas (Hautes-Alpes)
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.
Saint-Philippe, starting from Ancelle Castle
4.09 mi
+1,309 ft
-1,286 ft
4 hrs
Moderate
Departure from Ancelle (Hautes-Alpes)
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.
Puy de Manse with return via Manse Vieille
Association / Club / Walk leader
3.77 mi
+1,306 ft
-1,306 ft
2h 50
Moderate
Departure from Forest-Saint-Julien (Hautes-Alpes)
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
The summit of the Arche
4.65 mi
+2,454 ft
-2,457 ft
4h 15
Difficult
Departure from Ancelle (Hautes-Alpes)
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.
Short tour of Chaillol
4.68 mi
+965 ft
-945 ft
3h 00
Moderate
Departure from Saint-Michel-de-Chaillol (Hautes-Alpes)
A short, easy circular loop around Chaillol, starting from Chaillol village, suitable for families. Passes over the Canal Malcros.
Le Piolit
9.60 mi
+3,793 ft
-3,793 ft
7h 45
Difficult
Departure from Ancelle (Hautes-Alpes)
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.
Le Piolit via the ridges from the Col de Moissière and return via the balcony
8.17 mi
+3,960 ft
-3,950 ft
7h 10
Very difficult
Departure from Ancelle (Hautes-Alpes)
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.
The tour of Faudon via Saint-Philippe and its ruined village
3.69 mi
+630 ft
-630 ft
2h 15
Moderate
Departure from Ancelle (Hautes-Alpes)
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.
Lake Faudon and the summit of Saint-Philippe, seen from the small pass of Collet d’Ancelle
5.02 mi
+1,050 ft
-1,037 ft
3h 15
Moderate
Departure from Ancelle (Hautes-Alpes)
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.
The Col du Palastre
6.90 mi
+3,074 ft
-3,012 ft
5h 50
Moderate
Departure from Saint-Jean-Saint-Nicolas (Hautes-Alpes)
A pleasant circuit in Champsaur, allowing you to discover a small peak overlooking the Drac valley.
The Palastre loop
6.91 mi
+2,595 ft
-2,572 ft
5h 25
Moderate
Departure from Saint-Jean-Saint-Nicolas (Hautes-Alpes)
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.
Crossing the southern tip of the Vénasque
6.40 mi
+3,445 ft
-3,442 ft
4 hrs
Extremely difficult
Departure from Saint-Jean-Saint-Nicolas (Hautes-Alpes)
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.
Mal Cros Canal starting from Chaillol 1600
4.40 mi
+814 ft
-781 ft
2h 45
Moderate
Departure from Saint-Michel-de-Chaillol (Hautes-Alpes)
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).
Pic Queyrel via the Col du Viallet
10.95 mi
+3,176 ft
-3,153 ft
7h 50
Difficult
Departure from Saint-Michel-de-Chaillol (Hautes-Alpes)
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.
Le Vieux Chaillol from Chaillol 1600
14.63 mi
+5,338 ft
-5,338 ft
8 hrs
Very difficult
Departure from Saint-Michel-de-Chaillol (Hautes-Alpes)
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.
The Pic du Tourond
8.69 mi
+3,894 ft
-3,898 ft
7h 25
Difficult
Departure from Saint-Michel-de-Chaillol (Hautes-Alpes)
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.
The Balcony of Champsaur
6.14 mi
+1,572 ft
-1,558 ft
4h 10
Moderate
Departure from Saint-Michel-de-Chaillol (Hautes-Alpes)
A balcony walk offering magnificent views of the plain at the entrance to the Champsaur.
Col de la Pisse from Chaillol 1600
9.42 mi
+2,766 ft
-2,743 ft
6h 45
Difficult
Departure from Saint-Michel-de-Chaillol (Hautes-Alpes)
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.
La forêt profonde du côté de Pélissier
3.14 mi
+899 ft
-889 ft
2h 15
Moderate
Departure from Saint-Jean-Saint-Nicolas (Hautes-Alpes)
Hors des chemin battus, cette boucle fraîche est à découvrir.
La montée est un peu raide, elle permet de prendre le temps de découvrir cette belle forêt de hêtres. Le chemin n'est pas du tout fréquenté entre les points (1) et (4).
Route du Pic Queyrel and double arch route
8.28 mi
+3,117 ft
-3,100 ft
6 hrs
Very difficult
Departure from Saint-Michel-de-Chaillol (Hautes-Alpes)
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.
The Piolit ridge from the Sapet road
3.76 mi
+1,650 ft
-1,654 ft
3h 10
Moderate
Departure from Ancelle (Hautes-Alpes)
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.
