On the heights above Lake Pelleautier

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An easy walk starting from Lake Pelleautier, with stunning views over the Gap region and the surrounding mountains.

Details

n°28484127
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.93 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 528 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 525 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 3,684 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,179 ft
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Photos

Panoramic view of the Champsaur mountains
The Céüze cliff
Chapelle des Pons (La Freissinouse)

Description of the walk

The starting point is at Lake Pelleautier. Park in the car park by the lake, near the beach and the bar at La Motte Llottante campsite.
Note: you can reach La Freissinouse and Pelleautier via the Gap urban area bus service.

(S/E) Head north-west along the small road leading up to the Les Pons district. Leave the road on your right and continue towards the hamlet. Walk up through the hamlet, between the houses, following the main road to the junction with the wooden signpost. Turn left onto the road leading down towards the south.
Stop for a short break at the Chapelle des Pons on the right, where there is a picnic table. Join the GRP® Entre Céüse et Durance trail, follow the red and yellow markings, then head towards the Chapelle des Pons.
Continue until you reach an oratory.

(1) Carry on until you reach a wayside shrine, then turn right onto the track heading due west and find the smallGRP® path (whose orange and red markings are not very visible at the start). This path winds along the left bank of the stream. You will then reach a flat area with a reservoir. Continue along the GRP® for another hundred metres or so until you reach a crossroads.

(2) Leave theGRP® here and turn left onto the path. Enter a wood, quickly complete the climb, then begin the descent and join the small road to L’Aumie. Leave the wood and continue along the road to the junction with the road leading to the orientation table.

(3) Turn left to reach the Pelleautier orientation table.

(4) Return to the previous junction.

(3) Continue down to the left on the small road towards the D319. Turn left and head down to the Col du Vilar road. Take care here: this road is quite busy. Carry on to reach the hamlet of Le Ventol.

(5) Head now towards the village of Pelleautier and the end of the lake. Reach the junction at Pelleautier.

(6) Turn left and you’ll soon reach Lake Pelleautier, then follow the lakeside path (with the lake on your left) alongside the D19. Pass by a wayside shrine, then continue along a wide verge. Walk along the lake, then return to the D19 and follow it down, following the GR®93 signposts to reach the lake car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,186 ft - Car park at the beach - Lac de Pelleautier
  2. 1 : mi 0.64 - alt. 3,346 ft - Chapelle des Pons
  3. 2 : mi 1.21 - alt. 3,665 ft - Reservoir
  4. 3 : mi 1.89 - alt. 3,461 ft - Crossroads with orientation table
  5. 4 : mi 1.98 - alt. 3,514 ft - Pelleautier orientation point - Table d'orientation de Pelleautier
  6. 5 : mi 2.84 - alt. 3,241 ft - Le Ventol
  7. 6 : mi 3.29 - alt. 3,186 ft - Pelleautier junction
  8. S/E : mi 3.93 - alt. 3,186 ft - Car park at the beach - Lac de Pelleautier

Notes

The walk takes place on the hills above the lake. You start by climbing along small roads before joining the GRP® Entre Céüse et Durance trail, which offers stunning views. You then descend around Lake Pelleautier.
Water is available at the campsite bar.
(1) and (4) Picnic tables at the Chapelle des Pons and the Pelleautier orientation point.

Worth a visit

(1) Chapelle des Pons.
(4) Pelleautier orientation point: situated on a flat area offering a stunning panoramic view (with picnic table).
(6) Lake Pelleautier, the floating mound: created on a former marsh by the construction of a dam during the extension of the Gap Canal. Its distinctive feature was the ‘trembling mound’ or ‘floating mound’, a mass of peat and earth drifting at will across the marsh. When it dried out, the farmers would come to mow it and share the hay they had harvested. Today, for safety reasons, the mound has been moored. It remains, however, a favourite spot for many species of birds. (source: Wikipedia).

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

4.1 / 5
Based on 5 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
User 29187596

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

An easy walk to do in wet weather, when it’s difficult to find routes that are more exposed to the elements.
We took a path uphill to avoid the busy road.
And took the path to the lake.

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yannvmc
yannvmc

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 05, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

No worries about trail closures during this period.

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Jalevic
Jalevic

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The small path at stage 1 is difficult to find

The path between stages 2 and 3 is currently closed (most likely due to livestock)

So it’s impossible to complete the circular route

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Coccinelle05
Coccinelle05

Thank you very much.
It will make things easier for future hikers.

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diggi
diggi

Thank you for pointing that out. I’ve added the details to the description.

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Coccinelle05
Coccinelle05

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk on the outskirts of Gap, offering stunning 360-degree views of all the surrounding mountains.
Take care, however, at point 1: at the oratory, make sure you take the track that climbs to the right and find the small GRP path, whose orange and red markings are not very visible at first; this path winds along the left bank of the stream.

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Laurent 05
Laurent 05

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A hike suitable for all ages. Near GAP. A lovely viewpoint halfway along the route. It’s a shame there’s a 15-minute stretch on the main road towards the end…

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miluni
miluni

I haven't done that hike yet

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