Val-des-Prés walks

Lovely loop above Val-des-Prés providing a bird's eye view of the famous Clarée Valley.

A very pleasant route along the banks of the Clarée with the discovery of a historic cave. (Please note: the path through the Ravin des Sables is currently completely destroyed, so it is advisable to reverse the direction of the hike to reach the cave.)

Hike to one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the Écrins, from Sirac to Meije and Cerces. Panoramic view of the Italian peaks of Piedmont and some of the peaks of Queyras.

This summit overlooks Montgenèvre, as well as the entire Petite Durance valley and Briançon in particular. A fort with eight turrets supporting eight cannons was built here. This colossal work, carried out by the Italian army and intended to fire heavy shells at Briançon, was useless because, at the start of the war, French artillery fire destroyed this magnificent structure. But today, the ruins, now French, stand the test of time and offer a surprising view.

This circuit has two attractions: a high point and a beautiful mountain lake. Close to the Serre-Chevalier resort. Family-friendly circuit.

A family hike starting from the Col du Granon, which allows you to discover a beautiful lake and, on the way back, magnificent views of the Ecrins.

Hike to one of the most beautiful ridges in the Briançonnais region, starting from the Col du Granon, allowing you to visit four peaks and revealing a beautiful panorama of the Écrins and the Cerces. The route follows a trail with some sections that may be daunting for hikers who are prone to vertigo.

For those who love aerial views, the Croix de Toulouse offers a spectacular view of Briançon.

A very pleasant route through a pine forest. Panoramic views of the Serre Chevalier valley, the village of Saint-Chaffrey and the Écrins mountain range.

Visit one of the many forts covering the Briançonnais region, unfortunately now in ruins. This fort overlooks the Clarée Valley and in particular the Cols de l'Échelle and Cols des Acles passes on the Italian border.

This lovely walk showcases two remarkable features of Saint-Chaffrey: a cool path along the Torrent de la Guisane and its canal, followed by a tour of the hamlets of Chantemerle, Villard Laté and La Villette. Beautiful views of the valley and surrounding mountains complete this walk.

This section corresponds to the second stage of the crossing of France, following the 45th parallel. This stage is magnificent and can be a hike in its own right. You follow the Clarée valley and discover beautiful waterfalls before climbing up to the Refuge du Chardonnet.

An easy hike between Vauban fortifications and the turquoise waters of Lake Pont Baldy.

In summer, when the Montgenèvre ski lifts are open, there is an easy walk to the Fort de l'Infernet, which offers exceptional views of the Briançon valleys from the top station of the Gondrans chairlift.

In the footsteps of the military constructions of the Briançonnais region.

Almost perfectly pyramid-shaped when viewed from Briançon, the summit of the Grand Aréa attracts all the tourists in the valley. This means that we are never alone at the top.

Visit a chapel overlooking Briançon, offering remarkable views of the Durance valley.

Visit two pretty lakes located on the link between the Névache Valley and the Vallée Etroite. The Lac de Chavillon is located at the Col des Thures, the crossing point between the two valleys mentioned above. The Lac Bellety above is on the border between the former provinces of Dauphiné and Savoie.

A beautiful hike offering views of the Rois Mages massif and Mont Thabor, with most of the climb taking place in the forest.

A beautiful hike that takes you from a larch forest to a mineral world. We tackle the summit of the Aiguille Rouge with its splendid panorama, then the vast mountain pasture of the Col des Thures and Lake Chavillon, under the watchful eye of the three Wise Men of the Vallée Étroite. We extend the hike to Lake Bellety, which is less frequented but well worth the detour.

Visit a particularly pleasant lake nestled in the large cirque at the foot of the Gardiole.

Visit a summit renowned for ski touring, but also in summer for the historical heritage associated with this place.

Circuit opposite the magnificent peak of Rochebrune with an exceptional view of the road of the Col d'Izoard. And besides, there are chamois here!

A beautiful, not very difficult walk starting from Névache. It will take you from the larch forest to the very mineral landscape that forms the setting for this lake. The place is quiet and imbued with a great serenity, which is lacking in most of the lakes in the region, which are often very busy.

Route along the right and left banks of the Clarée, to discover the hamlet of Fontcouverte, in the heart of the Cerces Massif.

This beautiful loop allows you to see Lac des Sarailles, the customs officers' hut, Lac Gignoux and Lac Noir in succession, ending at the ruined hamlet of Les Fraches. The summit of Le Chenaillet, particularly popular for its geological features, can be seen throughout this loop.

Between forest, mountain pastures and the banks of the Clarée, this walk takes you gently from Névache to the upper Clarée valley. It is also an opportunity to discover the hamlets and isolated chalets scattered throughout the valley. Don't forget to admire the pretty Fontcouverte waterfall on the way! Please note that if you do this hike outside the shuttle bus operating period (information available from the tourist office), you will have to walk back to the starting point along the same route!

A Franco-Italian hike to a summit offering a beautiful panorama of the Fonts and Piedmont, enhanced by the discovery of numerous lakes. As this route has several intersections, I recommend supplementing the description with the Visorando app. See also the video where I show the different intersections.

Le Chenaillet, an ancient volcano located under the ocean, is of exceptional geological interest. It is an easy hike with two lakes to discover and a 360° panoramic view of Italy, the Écrins, the Briançonnais and some of the peaks of the Queyras.

Discover La Clarée from the right and left banks. A pleasant walk, sometimes a little difficult but so enjoyable in the cool air. A route close to the river, with flowers and vegetation depending on the season. And, of course, the beautiful and impressive Débaret waterfall. You start by walking through part of an authentic village, with its weathered, exposed timber houses. Then, get up close and personal with nature at its most charming.

Loop starting from Pierre Feu. This circuit will take you to the chapels and hamlets around Puy-Saint-André, sundials and the "Décoiffées" fairy chimneys. An easy circuit, except for the descent to Pierre Feu, which has a few sections where you need to take care not to slip.

Discover the Oules waterfall at the bottom of the Blétonnet valley, starting from Laus de Cervières.

This route straddles two countries, offering lakes, military heritage, pastoralism and views of the high peaks of Pic de Rochebrune on the French side and Mont Chaberton on the Italian side. It is ideal for walking or running.

A very easy circular route via two mountain passes on the border between France and Italy.

For a multi-faceted walk in the Vallée des Fonts de Cervières:- a wide path along the edge of the Cerveyrette,- an arrival point featuring not teepees, but remarkable chalets,- an impressive view of the Pic du Lombard summit,- and above all, a delicious meal at the Refuge des Fonts,this is an interesting idea for a pleasant day out.