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Sommet Central du Pic de Rochebrune walks
Pic de Rochebrune circular walk
A spectacular alternative route up the Pic de Rochebrune, which explores the wild Casse des Clausins – home to golden eagles and edelweiss – and returns to the Col de l’Izoard via the Casse Déserte and the monoliths of l’Agnel.
The peak, the highest in the Briançonnais region, offers panoramic views of the French, Swiss and Italian peaks.
A good quarter of the walk takes place off the marked trail, and reaching the summit requires a single grade 3 climbing move on very good rock.
Moderator’s note: access to the Pic de Rochebrune has been authorised again since 22 July 2024 following the rockfalls of 2023. However, it is advisable to consult the guidelines provided via this link
Walks near Sommet Central du Pic de Rochebrune
From La Chalp to the Cime du Mélezet mountain hut
This fourteenth stage completes the crossing of the Queyras Massif. From La Chalp, the GR® 5 climbs along the left bank of the Torrent de l’Izoard above Arvieux, then reaches the hamlet of Les Maisons. From there, it heads towards Lac de Roue before descending to Château-Queyras. The route climbs the steep slope on the opposite side, on the right bank of the Torrent de Bramousse, joins a road at a hairpin bend and leaves it at the next one. It continues through the torrent’s valley, reaches the ridge separating the Bramousse and Riou Vert valleys, and, hugging the hillside beneath the peaks of La Selle and Rasis, reaches the Col Fromage. The path descends along the right bank of the Ravin de Rasis to reach Le Villard before arriving at Ceillac, from where it follows the Torrent du Mélezet, alternating between the left and right banks, before reaching the Refuge de la Cime du Mélezet.
Chateau Queyras - Montbardon
This is the first stage of the tour and is an adaptation as the route is not on theGR®58, but it allows you to visit the castle that dominates the Guil pass.
(Please note) The Montbardon stopover lodge (Le Cadran Solaire) has been closed since 2018, so the best option from Château Queyras is to go directly to Ceillac via the Col Fromage.
(Important note): See this website mentioning the reopening of this lodge for summer 2023.
Tour du Queyras
The Tour du Queyras, labelledGR®58, is adaptable. The route described, starting from Château Queyras and completed in a group in September 2008, will take you through this natural park, skirting and climbing some 3,000 metres. You will discover the beautiful villages of this park with their well-known names: Ceillac, Saint Véran, Abriés... What's more, in summer the weather is almost always fine. The bright blue sky the next day will quickly make you forget the storm of the previous evening.
Montbardon - Ceillac
The second stage allows you to discover the observation post on the Crête des Grangettes.
Abriés - Aiguilles
The seventh and final stage takes you past the Malrif lakes under the ridge separating Queyras and Briançonnais.
From Val des Prés to La Chalp
This thirteenth stage marks the start of the crossing of the Queyras Massif. From La Vachette, the previous day’s trail joins the GR®5. After a flat start, the forest path winds its way along the banks of the Durance as it descends towards the hamlet of L’Envers du Fontenil, before climbing up to a fortification at the foot of the Fort des Trois Têtes and then crossing the remarkable Pont d’Asfeld. The GR®5 climbs to the Cité Vauban in Briançon, one of France’s finest fortified towns, and descends via the Portes d’Embrun to the Parc de la Schappe. It heads south towards Villar-Saint-Pancrace, then veers off towards Les Ayes via the hamlets of La Mourande, Sachas and Soubeyran, from where it climbs to the Chapelle Saint-Laurent, then on to Le Lauzin, before reaching the Chalets des Ayes. It reaches the Col des Ayes, descends the opposite slope, joins a track at L’Eychaillon and turns left onto it, running alongside the Torrent de la Rivière as far as Brunissard and then La Chalp.
Valpréveyre - Lago Verde
First stage of Circuit Franco-Italian border "Queyras in Val Pellice" punctuated by passages through three interesting passes: Malaure, Bouchet and Vampréveyre.
The Lacs de l’Ascension and the Pic de Haut Mouriare
A hike with some very steep and vertiginous sections! This hike is a variation on the one marked as PR®.
Le Cros - Refuge de la Blanche
This is the first stage of this journey, half in Queyras and half in Ubaye. Follow the right bank of the Aigue Blanche, then continue along the Col de Saint-Véran trail, before enjoying a beautiful descent that leads to the lake and the Refuge de la Blanche.
Saint Véran – Refuge de la Blanche
This serves as an introduction to a cross-border trek between Saint-Véran and Larche. We set off from the mountain pastures for a gentle approach to the border, through a rocky and colourful landscape that can at times be quite disorientating. There are no real difficulties, but a good understanding of how to read the terrain is sometimes necessary to avoid losing your way.