Tête de la Plane and Dent de Gigors

From Sisteron, take the D951 towards La-Motte-du-Caire, continue over the Col de Sarrault, then head to the village of Gigors 3 km further on. Park at Place de l’Église.

(S/E) With your back to the church, turn right and head west along the Grand Rue D951 towards Sisteron for 700 m, until you reach the junction with the Gigors forest track, where you will find the Les Aires signpost.

(1) Take this track to the left, heading west, and follow it to the first hairpin bend.

(2) A few metres past the gate, leave the track and take the path on the right which climbs through the woods until it rejoins the track. Cross it again at the Gaudissart signpost.

(3) Take the path on the right, which continues its ascent through the woods to the Refuge du Jas and the Source du Jas signpost.

(4) Pass the refuge on the left, and just after, a new small forest track starts on the right. Climb up to reach, in a short while, an old track which you should take on the left. 300 m further on, it turns into a path that narrows and climbs through the woods to the Carrefour de la Plane signpost.
Caution: a few narrow and tricky sections on this stretch require some care, but the route is made easier by handrails and, in places, wooden steps.

(5) Head right towards the Tête de la Plane, the highest point of the hike. Climb the rocks at the summit to enjoy the orientation table offering a superb panorama of the Turriers plain and the Alpine peaks.

(6) Return to the previous junction.
Turn right towards La Dent de Gigors (view of the village of Gigors). In front of it, turn right and continue to quickly reach the signpost for the Ubac de Gigors.

(7) Take the path opposite to descend via Le Bosquet. Note that the path on the left also leads to Gigors, but via the long forest track.

(8) Cross the forest track to continue the descent along the path. Then cross the Riou-Clair stream via a wooden footbridge, and join the Chemin des Champs, which leads to Rue de la Fontaine (village centre).
Take the passageway under the houses (Traverse de l'Androne) to reach the car park at Place de l'Église (S/E).

During the warmer months, the beech forest, carpeted with leaves and grass, is appreciated for its shade.

(4) Water point at the fountain near the Refuge du Jas, and dry toilets (the Jas hole).
The Refuge du Jas (forest hut at the Source du Jas) is a fee-paying refuge owned by Gigors Town Council, which has around 16 beds, a fireplace, wood nearby and a spring nearby.

Grocery shop and bakery in Turriers; supermarket and petrol station in Remollon.

Alternative route: for those wishing to avoid the somewhat steep descents through the undergrowth, it is possible to join the Ubac forest track at points (7) or (8), turning left to return to point (2) and follow the same route back as on the outward journey.

In addition to lily of the valley and spring flowers, several varieties of orchids can be seen along the route, including the most iconic, the Lady’s Slipper, which has three sepals and three petals, one of which is extremely large and forms the labellum (or slipper). They are mainly found near the spot known as ‘Le Bosquet’ (8). Orchids have adapted to the presence of insects to ensure pollination, offering shape, colour, pattern, scent and other traps. Some of them, such as the Lady’s Slipper, trap the visiting insect that has fallen into the slipper, forcing it to exit via a path that compels it to come into contact with the flower’s reproductive parts. Later, once the seeds have formed, they are released by the thousands. These seeds can only germinate thanks to the presence of a microscopic fungus found in the soil, which provides them with an external source of nourishment until the plant is able to develop independently.
Please note: this species is protected; picking them is strictly prohibited.

(6) The Tête de la Plane orientation table marks the highest point of the hike (1,446 m). Installed in 2017, it offers a panoramic view of over 180° across the peaks of the Dévoluy, Écrins, Embrunais, Ubaye and Dignois mountain ranges.