Tête de la Maye

On the D109, after leaving Bourg d’Oisans, heading towards the Col du Lautaret, turn right onto the D530 towards La Bérarde.
Park in the car park at the entrance to the hamlet, on the right-hand side of the road before the Vénéon bridge.

(S/E) From the car park, walk down the road for a few metres, then turn left onto the very well-signposted Tête de la Maye path. Follow this path as it winds its way up above the hamlet and on to the first junction.

(1) Ignore the path on the left leading to the climbing routes and take the right-hand branch towards the Tête de la Maye. Climb up the north-north-eastern slope above the Étançons valley until you reach a second junction.

(2) Pass the path to the Chatelleret refuge on your right and turn left towards the Tête de la Maye. Follow this path, which passes through sections secured with cables, to reach the foot of the north-western cliff face, then head westwards towards a gap. Climb up the notch towards the north until you reach a vast grassy plateau overlooked by the summit bastion.

(3) Follow an almost horizontal path across the slope towards the west to go round the bastion on the left. After a steep climb to cross a few slabs to the north, reach the wide summit area featuring its orientation table.

(4) Return in the opposite direction via the same route to your car park (S/E).

Alternative return route:
(2) Turn right at the sign pointing to the Chatelleret refuge and the Etançons valley.
Cross a bridge. Turn right towards the south and the village of La Bérarde. Leave the Bonne Pierre path on your right and continue down towards La Bérarde.
Do not follow the old wooden sign for La Bérarde, but turn right onto the small path running alongside the stream to reach the starting car park (S/E).

I’ve made a video, complete with the names of the peaks, which shows the route and the atmosphere of this walk.
This route includes some fairly steep sections fitted with handrails, which require caution. Watch the video.

You’ll be hiking in the heart of the Écrins National Park.

The Écrins massif is an exceptional area, open to all, with a natural, cultural and scenic heritage that is truly unique. To protect these treasures, the heart of the park is marked by blue, white and red flags, and regulations must be observed in this area. Please familiarise yourself with these regulations when planning your hike, to help preserve this shared heritage, at https://www.ecrins-parcnational.fr.