Vallon d'Âne

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A short hike offering a breathtaking panorama (certainly the most beautiful) of the Pic de Bure and a chance to watch the herds and the marmots at play, much to the delight of young and old alike. The descent, whilst safe, is a little more challenging for tired little legs...

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Kids en Dévoluy

Details

n°3653332
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.02 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 250 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 250 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,778 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,528 m
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Photos

Amidst the fir trees
Têtes de rondes
End of the walk
View at the end of the climb

Description of the walk

To reach the starting point, head to the bottom of the valley to the hamlet of Villard de l'Enclus; immediately after the bridge, turn right onto the Route Forestière du Bois Rond for around 2.5 km to reach a car park (signposted) located near the Cabane de l'Avalanche. Beyond this point, traffic is prohibited.

(S/E) Join theGRP® Tour du Dévoluy (red and yellow markings), which climbs gently along an east-southeast-facing track towards the Col de Rabou.

(1) At the 1619m mark, below the Vallon Froid, leave theGRP® and turn right onto a forest track marked in yellow.

(2) Just after leaving the woods, take the left-hand fork (the path seems to want to go straight on!). A few hairpin bends, amidst the blueberries, above the Bois Rond, will lead you to the shepherd’s hut and the entrance to the Vallon d’Âne (a good spot for a break or a picnic).

(3) Head down towards the sheep troughs near the hut; they are clearly visible. Then take a path marked in yellow on the right.

(4) Just before the sheepfold, stay on the right-hand branch to enter the north-facing valley. The path is well marked and visible; a few hairpin bends in the lower section lead you to the Cabane de l'Avalanche. Then head to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,528 m - Car park – Cabane de l'Avalanche
  2. 1 : km 1.12 - alt. 1,612 m - Junction below Vallon Froid
  3. 2 : km 2.16 - alt. 1,722 m - Crossroads
  4. 3 : km 2.62 - alt. 1,778 m - Cabane du Vallon d'Âne
  5. 4 : km 3.21 - alt. 1,699 m - Junction
  6. S/E : km 4.02 - alt. 1,528 m - Car park – Cabane de l'Avalanche

Notes

Binoculars recommended, no other equipment required.
No water along the route, except for the water flowing in the basins beneath the Chalet Pastoral (but it is often very warm...)

Reviews and comments

5 / 5
Based on 4 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
Surette
Surette

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The track leading to the Avalanche Hut is not very well-maintained and can be difficult to climb.
It would probably be better to set off from the IRAM cable car station and join the GR (Tour du Dévoluy) towards the Avalanche Hut to follow the previous route description. (A route I am not familiar with.)

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Krikri S.
Krikri S.
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We took inspiration from this route, but walked it from the Combe de Corne car park and in the opposite direction. We therefore started with the steepest section through the forest. As soon as we emerged from the forest, we were treated to spectacular views as we made our way towards the Cabane du Vallon d'Âne, between the Pic de Bure and the Vallon d'Âne. From the heights of the sheepfold, panoramic views of all the peaks, from the Obiou to the Gicon and the Montagne de Faraut, via the Crête des Baumes and the resort of Superdévoluy. The route ends with a gentle descent back to the car park. Martagon lilies in the meadows.

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Lamandrine
Lamandrine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk we did with our 5-year-old son, who isn’t used to walking. The path was very well signposted, with a gentle, shaded climb. The descent was a bit trickier with lots of stones on the path, but the prospect of reaching the end helped!
There were sheep pens, which we didn’t approach so as not to disturb the sheepdogs (particularly near the hut). At the start of the descent, a pen ‘forced’ us to leave the path to go round it (signs on boards attached to the pen), so we took a short, easy detour to get back on the right track.
We were delighted with this route!

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Zaza13500
Zaza13500

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent view from the Vallon de l’Âne hut, the highest point of the hike. In May, there are plenty of elder orchids, as well as white and purple crocuses. I did the hike in reverse; the climb is steep, but the descent is gentle.

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