The Beaume Valley from Les Méans

Start: the hamlet of Les Méans (Réallon), with parking spaces near the Oratoire Sainte-Barbe.

(S/E) Take the path on the other side of the road (sign for the Écrins National Park). Join the GR®50, marked in red and white.

(1) Follow it to the right.

(2) At the Torrent de Reyssas bridge,continue straight on for about 200 metres until you reach a junction.

(3) Take the path on the left, leaving the GR®. Please note: immediately follow the small stony path on the right. It soon joins a path climbing up to the left, which you should follow to the Vallon de la Beaume.

(4) Ignore the paths coming in from the right (the IGN map is not up to date in this area; use OSM Rando or the Visorando app instead). Continue along the path through the forest that runs alongside the stream above

(5) Ignore the path leading to the shepherd’s hut on the left and head right towards the bottom of the Vallon de la Beaume.

(6) Admire this beautiful valley, then return to the car park via the reverse route of the outward journey.

Or extend the walk with three options: Col de Reyssas: cross the stream; Lac Brun: continue to the bottom of the valley; Col de Trempa-Latz: same direction as Lac Brun. Allow an extra 2 to 3 hours for each destination (return trip).

A long climb through woods cooled by the stream, pleasant in summer when the heat is intense. Take water with you, as there are no drinking water points.

You can continue the hike to Lac Brun, one of the five lakes considered sacred before the advent of Christianity. The Saint-Guillaume pilgrimage is a tradition dating back several centuries. The most intrepid would continue from Mont-Guillaume, passing through the Col de Trempa-Latz, to reach Lac Brun.