Laverq Valley - Les Eaux Tortes

Date of walk : Aug 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very beautiful hike
We did it "in wet conditions" because it had rained heavily beforehand
Some fords are difficult to cross, but otherwise there are no major difficulties
The numbers on the discovery trail have nothing to do with the numbering on Visiorando
You obviously have to walk, especially on a long track, but there's no question of parking at the bottom of this beautiful valley!
The twisted waters are truly a geological curiosity. A must-see

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Date of walk : Jun 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Hike completed on 19 June 2025.

Due to the risk of thunderstorms, the start of the hike was brought forward to 8:15 a.m. from the Ravin des Vieux car park; we were back at the cars at 3:00 p.m. The weather was sunny then partly cloudy with no significant impact.

The distance was 15 km (round trip and partially circular). The total elevation gain was 685 m (minimum/maximum altitude: 1,638 m/2,284 m).
The Vallon du Laverq is a beautiful green valley surrounded by larch trees. The presence of herds at this time of year means that marmots are rare. The two banks are very different in terms of their geology, which is linked to the history of the Alps and was explained during the walk.
We are a group of three hikers setting off from the car park at the Refuge du Ravin des Vieux. The climb begins on a very comfortable discovery trail with a gentle gradient, the GR 56. We follow it under the watchful eye of the Séolanes (small 2,854 m & large 2,909 m) on the eastern slope of the Riou-de-la-Blanche (a tributary of the Ubaye). At the bottom of the valley, one of the last remaining glaciers in the Alpes de Haute Provence – the Glacier de la Blanche – will guide us along the route, which is dotted with small streams. The Tête de l'Estrop (2,961 m) and the Trois Évêchés will keep us company.
At Plan-Bas (1,839 m), we begin the loop in an anti-clockwise direction through denser larch forest. The climb along the cliff is fairly steep. Then we reach a plateau before the "Eaux-Tortes", a wetland, peat bog and sensitive natural area that we skirt around via a Chemin de Ronde. It is home to many rare, protected and endemic species. The site has a discovery trail. The return journey takes us back to Plan-Bas, where we rejoin our outward route.
Before returning to the refuge to quench our thirst, we stop at "L'Abbaye" (1,580 m) "Église Saint-Antoine."

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Date of walk : Sep 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very beautiful hike in a very wild and protected environment. When we arrived at the Eaux Tortes site, it was raining a little, which was a shame for us as we weren't able to enjoy the scenery as much as we would have liked. The return trip is a bit long. We only came across one other group of hikers. I agree with a previous comment: a must-see in the Ubaye Valley

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Date of walk : Sep 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

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Date of walk : Aug 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

The weather was magnificent on 23 August 2024, not a cloud in the sky all day, and yet we were alone at the Eaux Tortes site. We met a few hikers on the trail and two others on the loop, that's all.
The only slight drawback of this route (especially on the way back) is the length of the trail before you start the loop (a total of 10 km there and back).
Please note, as indicated on the information board at the abbey: there is no mobile phone reception.
Do not do this after heavy storms, as it may be difficult to cross the streams.
The direction of the loop indicated by Visorando allows you to cross these streams on the way up, which may be easier than on the way down.
To conclude, I would say that this is a fairly easy walk in good weather, but it can quickly become much more difficult if it has rained in the previous days. At the end of June, the site of the tortuous waters was flooded.

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Date of walk : Jul 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A superb hike in a magnificent valley!
Only the total distance of the loop may deter some... (beware, you can easily reach 20 km).
The route is well signposted and the paths are clearly marked.
The last car park is just before the hamlet of Lavercq, with drinking water available at the abbey.
The first part of the route is quite pleasant on the way there (a gentle climb under the trees along the river), but endless on the way back, so you have been warned... ;-)
Once you reach the hut, you have two options. You can do the loop clockwise or anticlockwise.
Clockwise, after leaving the forest, the climb becomes more rocky. There is a lot of water, which trickles down majestic flat rocks, at the foot of which you will find small natural pools. Finally, you will reach the "eaux tortes" ("twisted waters" = the meanders of the river), a vast high-altitude plain where a beautiful peat bog nestles. The area is classified as a Natura 2000 site. Continuing along the path, you descend the opposite side of the valley. The descent is not particularly difficult.
Once back at the forest hut, you will have to retrace your steps along the long, long, too long path you took at the start to return to the car park...

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Date of walk : Jul 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very beautiful hike, especially at the beginning of the season when there are flowers and plenty of water. However, this year, due to heavy rainfall, some of the streams on the way there are a little tricky to cross.

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Date of walk : Sep 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

superb hike in a very wild environment.
the return journey is a bit long, especially since the car park is located before the village of Laverq.
A must in the Ubaye Valley

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Date of walk : Aug 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A very varied hike in a superb setting where few hikers venture, especially in the upper part (Tortes waters).

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Date of walk : Aug 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

You can shorten the route by parking 2 km after the abbey at the Ravin des Vieux car park. The track has been completely resurfaced, but it was closed to tourists from 10 July to 31 August 2023. A pleasant climb in the shade of the larch forest with beautiful scree, but the peat bog was completely dry. An ideal spot for a picnic. The descent through flower-filled meadows is a little long at the end of the route (track). Worth doing again in spring...

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Date of walk : Jun 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Hello, a superb hike in a wild and unspoilt landscape. On Friday 23 June, it had rained heavily the day before and the streams were full of water. Once we reached the Eaux Tortes, what a sight to behold with the Estrop massif largely covered in snow. I recommend spending a night in the superb Laverq refuge (2020). The warden is friendly, as is her assistant, and she's a great cook.

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Date of walk : Oct 09, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Did the circuit in reverse on a cloudy day. No problems finding my way around, thanks to the signposts at every intersection. Beautiful autumn colours: yellows, reds, soft greens, dark greens. A few high peaks dusted with the first snow.

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Date of walk : Jun 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very beautiful hike, although I think the difficulty level is overestimated. The slopes are fairly easy for an average hiker, and the descent is super easy.
The scenery is very nice.

The only "flaw" is the access road to the car park/refuge, which is in very poor condition, so low-clearance vehicles should avoid it.

Thank you for this route, which allowed us to discover a very beautiful site.

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Date of walk : Jul 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A magnificent hike with no difficulties apart from its length (approx. 19 km) and the tour of the tortuous waters.
The flora at this time of year is superb, with carpets of rhododendrons at higher altitudes and numerous martagon lilies in the wooded areas.

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Date of walk : Oct 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Less than an hour's hike along a valley trail to "Petit Canada", before climbing (15 minutes) to the forest house at Plan Bas, next to which is an old sheepfold that has been remarkably renovated by the local conservation association. It is open and you can even plan to spend the night there. From there, it's a loop: you set off on one side and come back on the other. The path is very popular in summer and well maintained by the ONF (French National Forestry Office), so it's easy to follow. Just follow the signs! The Eaux Tortes site is magnificent, with its intertwined canals in an old lake that is now filled in, and the large slabs covered by waterfalls below. There is a modern shepherd's hut on the left as you climb up, and another much more rustic one on the right as you descend (La Séléta). In total, from the Abbey, it's a 5-hour walk at a good pace, so with the necessary stops, you should allow around 7 hours for the hike. There are no difficult sections or obstacles to negotiate. A must-see in the Ubaye.

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