The Bucher Summit

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In Queyras, at this time of year (late October), the ubiquitous larch forests colour the mountain landscapes with shades ranging from yellow to red, and the snow-capped peaks further enhance this feeling of fulfilment.
The proposed hike takes place in this atmosphere above the highest village in Europe: Saint-Véran.

Details

n°43443
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.41 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 657 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 654 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,252 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,704 m
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Photos

Col des Prés de Fromage
View of Rochebrune
St-Simon Chapel
Aigue Blanche

Description of the walk

Leave your car in the small car park next to the Sainte-Agathe Chapel on the edge of the D5.

(S/E) From the car park, cross the Aigue Blanche via the footbridge and head towards the valley opposite (Rif de Rouart) via the red and yellow marked trail, which is theGRP® (Grande Randonnée de Pays) of the Dent du Ratier.
The trail, through the larch trees, quickly takes you above the hamlet of La Chalp and then the Saint-Véran valley, which you can see when you turn around.
Continuing on, you pass Lac des Clots (more of a large pond) and soon reach the Saint-Simon Chapel.

(1) TheGRP® continues towards the Col des Près de Fromage at the crossroads of numerous trails.

(2) Continue straight ahead northwards on theGRP® towards the Sommet Bucher, which you will reach 30 minutes later.

(3) The descent, to complete the loop, is via the valley opposite the village of Molines (towards La Seiche). Take the yellow marked trail (PR®) that leads to La Seiche. (As foresters have recently been working in this area, I advise you to follow the attached gpx file carefully).

(2) At the Col des Près de Fromage, turn left towards the Bois de l'Eyssard.
At a crossroads, head south-east along thePR® to reach the Torrent de l'Aigue Blanche, which you cross via a wide footbridge.

(4) Immediately afterwards, turn south to follow the stream for a while on its right bank, then cross back to the left bank and follow it to the hamlet of La Chalp to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,761 m - Car park, Sainte-Agathe Chapel - Aigue blanche
  2. 1 : km 3.52 - alt. 2,191 m - Saint-Simon Chapel
  3. 2 : km 4.45 - alt. 2,146 m - Col des Prés de Fromage (2150m)
  4. 3 : km 5.43 - alt. 2,238 m - Bucher Summit - Sommet Bucher (2254m)
  5. 4 : km 9.28 - alt. 1,705 m - Torrent de l' - Aigue Agelle (rivière) - Affluent du Guil
  6. S/E : km 11.41 - alt. 1,761 m - Car park, Sainte-Agathe Chapel

Notes

At the Chapelle Saint-Simon chapel, there are benches where you can stop for a snack. Next to it stands one of the many crosses of the Passion of Christ found in the area. It is decorated with symbols illustrating the stories of the Gospels.
At the summit of Le Bucher: a stone shelter has been built and two orientation tables on either side allow you to identify the many peaks of the Queyras that surround us.

If you are starting from Saint-Véran, you will need to add an extra 5km and approximately 200m of elevation gain.

From the car park at the end of the walk, if you wish to continue to Saint-Véran, stay on the left bank after La Chalp.
The trail will take you to the Moulin bridge to cross the Aigue Blanche again. The climb back up to Saint-Véran at the end of the hike, although relatively short, may seem a little difficult.

Worth a visit

Saint-Véran.

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.

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Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 18 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
pujervie
pujervie

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very pleasant walk. Only the refreshment stop at Molines is a little less interesting

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Pasnog
Pasnog
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We did this route on a Sunday in August and felt like we were on a Sunday stroll...
A very pleasant loop, with a slightly tough climb (it was our first hike), best done early in the morning to avoid the heat.

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contemple
contemple
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

hike undertaken after heavy rainfall (...period of the destruction of La Bérarde) and therefore very muddy, especially on the return to altitude 2034, where we did not take the forest path "on the right" suggested by the guidebook because it was completely impassable at that time (and advised against by signs on the way up, as we saw later) and simply returned to La Rua, "straight ahead" (there is a good quality path), following the advice of hikers coming in the opposite direction.
I see that another hiker (Utzf) has left a comment and was not as fortunate as we were on the same day...

note:
magnificent field of flowers at the start; very beautiful view from the summit of Buchet (Mont Viso, etc.); chamois encountered at Lac des Clôts

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Utzf
Utzf

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I can confirm that the path back from the summit has been completely ravaged by forestry machinery. There is muddy slush where your feet sink in so deep that it is difficult to pull them out. There are also ruts that are over 60 cm deep in places. It is a real ordeal and it is totally irresponsible to allow hikers to use this path.

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mireille bordas
mireille bordas

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Please note that there is tree felling on this route, particularly on the climb from Molines-en-Queyras. Therefore, pay close attention to the signs, as very large machines are transporting tree trunks downhill and this is dangerous

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mendes2744
mendes2744

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

As pleasant and enjoyable as the climb to the summit is, the descent is disappointing, even painful. Most of the way back is on forest tracks that have been devastated by loggers. I recommend returning by the same route you took on the way up.
The 360° panorama from the summit is superb. We also liked the little chapel.

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Flo N
Flo N

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The difficulty of the route lies in the first part, with a climb right from the start, but it's fine if you take it slowly. Varied landscapes: a magnificent view from the summit.
There was still snow in some places and the path was sometimes difficult to find: snowshoes would have prevented us from sinking in.
For the return trip, I descended via the Demoiselle Coiffée, which considerably lengthens the hike.

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visorandojpp
visorandojpp

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

nice climb with a break at Clos d'Henry
the return trip was a bit long, but it was worth it...!

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emmaamandine
emmaamandine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

the first 400 metres of elevation gain are very steep. It is a beautiful hike through the forest with magnificent views at the summit. There are two orientation tables. It is slightly difficult to find the start of the trail back to the summit. We encountered two diggers on the forest track, which is being repaired at the SEICHE

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Loutren
Loutren

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Long, steep climb in the first part.
Magnificent view at the summit. It would be a shame not to do it, especially as the climb is easy.
At the top, be sure to follow the GR trail
There are few signs for the descent (few yellow markings)

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Icare38
Icare38

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An undisguised pleasure on such a route, the climb is superb, the path is pleasant and varied... and there are always marmots to greet you. Surprise on reaching the summit (I hadn't consulted a map before the hike): the road comes close to the summit and there were quite a few vehicles there. Very beautiful 360° view with orientation tables.
The descent is a little less enjoyable, but I really recommend this hike.
Thanks to its author

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bernbla
bernbla

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, a bit steep at the beginning but very pleasant afterwards.
However, it is important to specify which hamlet of La Chalp you are referring to for people who are not from the area, like me, as there are four or five hamlets with the same name. In this case, it is La Chalp de Molines in Queyras.
To avoid the road at the end, you can take the path on the right bank at Molines station, which runs alongside the stream to the starting point.

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migar
migar

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The climb is a little steep but it doesn't last long. Very pleasant loop, beautiful view of St-Véran on the climb. The larch forests are soothing. Very beautiful St Simon chapel and a panoramic view from the Bucher summit.
From point 4 on the way back, the section is not very pleasant, especially along the roadside. I wonder if it wouldn't be better to descend via the Ribo Martino and Clot la Chalpe woods rather than La Seiche. Perhaps the author can tell us.
(The GPS indicated a distance of 13 km and an elevation gain of 720 m)
Thank you for this short hike.

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mizjeff
mizjeff

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

The Bucher summit itself is not particularly interesting (there is a relay antenna and vegetation that partially blocks the view), but the surrounding area is very nice and the circular uphill-downhill route through the forest is very pleasant. The end of the hike on the road to La Chalp is a bit tedious.

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Geono60
Geono60

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely, easy and enjoyable walk. Perhaps a little busy...
Thank you for this walk

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