Champoléon Valley

de fr

A peaceful exploration of the upper Champoléon valley, on either side of the Drac de Champoléon or Drac Blanc torrent in the heart of the Champsaur Massif, to the Pré de la Chaumette refuge on the edge of the Écrins National Park.

⚠️ 15/09/2025: Left bank impassable due to a landslide. The route is a return trip 1-4-3 to the refuge on the GRP®. Please read the notices carefully.

Technical sheet

n°6005
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.15 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 355 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 350 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,812 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,478 m
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

Start of the hike. Rockfall and broken bridge. Left bank closed
View of the refuge
Prelles Waterfall
pré de la Chaumette refuge

Description of the walk

Access the car park from the Champsaur valley, after Pont du Fossé, on the left, and continue to the end of the road.

(S/E) Continue along the path under the trees until you reach the bridge over the source of the Drac Blanc.

(1) Cross it and continue along the wide track leading to the refuge on the left bank of the torrent.
Climb the path through a moorland (blueberry bushes). Walk along the mountainside, above the river in a rocky landscape. You will reach the Prelles waterfall.

(2) Continue along the track to easily reach the Pré de la Chaumette refuge after crossing the Drac again.

(3) Take the path on the right bank of the torrent, which is theGRP®® du Tour du Vieux Chaillol marked in red and yellow. Walk along the ruins of the hamlet of Chaumeillon.

(4) Continue along the path to easily reach the initial crossroads.

(1) Retrace your steps to return to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,481 m - Parking at the end of the road
  2. 1 : km 0.6 - alt. 1,494 m - Bridge over the Drac at Champoléon or Drac Blanc
  3. 2 : km 3.05 - alt. 1,643 m - Prelles Waterfall
  4. 3 : km 4.96 - alt. 1,801 m - Refuge du Pré de la Chaumette
  5. 4 : km 7.4 - alt. 1,595 m - Ruins of the hamlet of Chaumeillon
  6. S/E : km 9.15 - alt. 1,483 m - Parking at the end of the road

Practical information

Refuge open from June to September.

You are hiking in the heart of the Écrins National Park.

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

In the nearby area

Orcières - Prapic

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 35 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
suzie0405
suzie0405

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Clarity of route map : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

We left at 4:15 p.m. from the Auberts car park, after a picnic on the banks of the Drac Blanc, arriving at 5:45 p.m. We had a quick beer at the Pre de la Chaumette refuge, where there were lots of hikers, and a blueberry tart, which was average.
Nice refuge in the middle of nowhere. I'll be back to climb up to the Pas de la Cavale.

Automatically translated

pfla
pfla

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

the loop can no longer be completed as described, but it is still possible by crossing the stream at a point approximately 100 metres upstream from the rockfall that blocks the trail. This is currently feasible without any problems as the water level is low.
We went up via the GR and came back down via the track, then crossed the stream to rejoin the GR for the last 100 metres of the descent.

Automatically translated

daubram05
daubram05
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

The circuit has not been possible to complete as a loop for two years, as the track has been ravaged by bad weather.
GR not very pleasant in the first part
See here
Video link
https://youtu.be/wNaO_PYscCQ

Automatically translated

RandomUser
RandomUser

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

As already mentioned in previous comments, it is no longer possible to do this route as a loop because a major landslide has washed away the path on the left (south) bank. You therefore have to do this route as a return trip along the same path on the right bank. The municipality of Champoléon should put up signs for hikers to prevent access to the path on the left bank.
The start of the path on the right bank has also been damaged by a landslide, but the CAF (or the municipality?) has done a good job and the passage is easy to navigate through the scree. Once you have passed this small difficulty, the rest of the trail is very easy.

Automatically translated

User 25861883

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very beautiful hike, but the route is a round trip on the same bank because rockslides have destroyed the bridge, preventing you from crossing the Drac.
There is a scree slope to cross at the start, but it's fine, and sticks mark the path to follow.

The Chaumette meadow is well worth a visit!

Automatically translated

JT
JT

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

everything has been washed away at the bottom, so don't try the left bank; only the right bank is passable. The path is a little difficult to follow at the start of the hike where the river has washed everything away. There are practically no markings for the first 600 metres stay as close as possible to the right bank (what's left of it!) then take the well-marked path through the scree. You will then find the very pleasant path to the Pré de la Chaumette refuge, where the autumn colours make for a magnificent landscape!

Automatically translated

YannickV
YannickV

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

How sad, the start of this hike reveals a valley of stone and uprooted trees.
The left bank is now off-limits and impassable, with unstable cliffs and a broken bridge.
Orange markings have been put up on the right bank to guide you carefully through the scree on the first third of the hike.
Then you rejoin the normal path and it becomes magnificent. You arrive at the lodge, where you will receive a warm welcome for lunch or a night's stay. It is particularly clean.
If you continue for another 30 minutes, you arrive in a world lost in the middle of glacial cirques below 3,000 metres.
A few daredevils attempt to descend via the left bank and climb back up after two hours of futile walking, or try to cross the icy torrent. Amusing.
Due to the change in route, allow an extra 30 minutes and a higher level of difficulty.
It's worth it even if you go back the same way.

Automatically translated

DD 42
DD 42

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

For your information!!!
the road is closed at Les Clots, where parking is available.
drive up to the Les Aubert car park via the road, as the path leading up to the car park is impassable due to landslides. We had to turn back.
once at the car park, it is no longer possible to cross the stream to access the Prelles waterfall. The landslides have destroyed the bridge and the path
the only access that has been rebuilt and marked with red signs is to climb up to the pretty refuge at Pré de la Chaumette.

Automatically translated

MagTour
MagTour

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

An easy hike, timeless, far from civilisation, back to basics 😊
A few wild raspberries and a beautiful waterfall at the entrance to the Écrins National Park.
On the way up, you take a wide track, and on the way back, a more bucolic route along a small path on the mountainside, parallel to the ascent but on the other side of the river.
There is a refuge halfway along the route where you can refresh yourself or enjoy a bite to eat with a breathtaking view 🤩
At the refuge, there is a fountain where you can fill your water bottle.

Automatically translated

moonlight79
moonlight79

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Clarity of route map : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A fairly easy route, best done in reverse if you want an easy descent that's gentle on the joints and avoid climbing in direct sunlight ☺️ We loved this route, which isn't too demanding but still offers some beautiful scenery.

Automatically translated

murielle83
murielle83

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

It's a very beautiful hike with beautiful autumn landscapes

Automatically translated

claudeisabelle
claudeisabelle

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Do this in reverse to make it easier to get back along the very wide path on the left bank.
The path on the right bank is nevertheless easy to follow
A lovely, varied "family" route. Friendly refuge.

Automatically translated

did760
did760

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

Hike without any major difficulties apart from the scree at the end.
The valley floor with the refuge is very pleasant

Automatically translated

petite chose
petite chose

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

We did the hike as described on the information sheet
We noticed that the GRP Tour du Vieux Chaillol is now marked on the wide track that leads to the Pré de la Chaumette refuge and no longer on the path on the right bank of the Drac, probably due to rockfalls on this path
Despite this, the trail is very passable

Automatically translated

BAMX
BAMX

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A beautiful hike with a lovely break at the Pré de la Chaumette refuge. There was a slight difficulty with scree towards the end.

Automatically translated

Other walks in the area

Walking Col de Vallonpierrre via Isora

Visorando member
↔13.60 km ↗+1,262 m ↘-1,259 m ◔7h 30 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Champoléon (Hautes-Alpes)
This isa physicallydemanding hike that is not particularly technical. Not suitable for those who suffer from vertigo. Set off early in summer to avoid the heat. This route is much less travelled than the "classic" GR®54.

Walking The Crupillouse Lakes

Visorando member
Les Lacs de Crupillouse
↔13.64 km ↗+1,312 m ↘-1,312 m ◔7h 40 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Champoléon (Hautes-Alpes)
In July, head for the Crupillouse lakes: small high-altitude lakes that are still frozen, alternating between earth and stone. The trail crosses three streams and snowfields and sometimes climbs in tight switchbacks from 1,400 to 2,600 metres. Watched over by chamois, the arrival at the lakes is a reward for the fairly long climb. The thawed sections were magnificent colours.

Walking Tour of Puy des Baumes via the Val Estrèche and Lauzières passes

Visorando member
Tour du Puy des Baumes par les cols de Val Estrèche et de Lauzières
↔15.33 km ↗+1,496 m ↘-1,511 m ◔10 hrs ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from Champoléon (Hautes-Alpes)
Very long, wild and challenging alpine hike. The first part is on a trail up the Val Estrèche, where you may see chamois and ibex. The second part is wild and off-trail, climbing up to the Col de Val Estrèche and then crossing over to the Col des Lauzières. Descent via Cros de la Casse to the Lacs de Crupillouse, where you finally find a good winding trail that descends southwards under the Aiguille de Crupillouse, crossing streams and waterfalls.

Walking Vallonpierre refuge - Sebeyras lakes

Visorando member
Refuge Vallonpierre - Lacs de Sebeyras
↔22.91 km ↗+1,308 m ↘-1,297 m ◔10h 15 ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar (Hautes-Alpes)
From the Vallonpierre refuge, the hike takes you to the Rif du Sap chapel, then to the charming village of La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar, where you can stop for refreshments at a local grocery store. The route then crosses the Valgaudémar National Forest before reaching the magnificent lakes of Pétarel and Sebeyras.

Walking Tour de Planure

Visorando member
Tour de Planure
↔13.07 km ↗+985 m ↘-976 m ◔6h 35 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Champoléon (Hautes-Alpes)
The Tour de Planure is a hike that starts at the bottom of the valley, following the Tourond torrent, and ends in a magnificent cirque where you can discover a pastoral environment in a high mountain atmosphere.

Walking Le Vieux Chaillol from Les Borels

Visorando member
Le Vieux Chaillol depuis les Borels
↔30.47 km ↗+2,370 m ↘-2,370 m ◔15h 30 ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from Champoléon (Hautes-Alpes)
Overlooking the Champsaur valley and the southern Valgaudemar, the Vieux Chaillol offers a fantastic rocky setting and a dazzling panorama of a large group of mountains: Dévoluy, Vercors and Écrins. The view even extends as far as Mont Ventoux and the Lure mountain. The ascent to the Col de Côte Longue is made from the east, starting from the Champoléon valley. This hike is reserved for experienced and trained mountain hikers.

Walking Along the Tourond

Visorando member
Le long du Tourond
↔8.15 km ↗+503 m ↘-502 m ◔3h 45 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Champoléon (Hautes-Alpes)
An easy loop that follows both banks of a pretty torrent, with a possible stop at the Tourond refuge. With a bit of luck, you may be greeted by a few marmots. You can extend the walk to the Pisse waterfall

Walking Lake Cédéra via Méollion and return via Serre Borel

Visorando member
↔17.20 km ↗+1,454 m ↘-1,453 m ◔9h 05 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Champoléon (Hautes-Alpes)
Climb up to this small mountain lake through a beautiful valley in the Champoléon valley. Méollion is a place steeped in history, between the abandonment of the village at the beginning of the century (rural exodus), the Maquis, and its destruction by the Germans on 13 November 1943.The final climb to the lake is steep and seems endless, but the reward is well worth it!

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of the author. Do not copy them without permission.