Vars walks

A magnificent route along a jagged rocky ridge offering sublime views of Font Sancte and the surrounding peaks. Panoramic views of the Écrins mountains throughout.

A beautiful hike starting from the village of Sainte-Catherine. You will pass from one valley to another. Along the way, you will see a beautiful valley, numerous marmots and an interesting descent along the Chagnon torrent.

A long loop passing through two passes and several ridge crossings, traversing mountain pastures. The Couniets and Selle ridges are wild and rarely visited. Magnificent views of the surrounding mountains.

There is a long crossing before the Col des Houerts, which takes you into the Ubaye Valley.

Visit the lake of the same name as the one below Brec du Chambeyron in Ubaye. It is located at the bottom of Val d'Escreins and at the foot of La Mortice.

A beautiful classic hike that starts from Val d'Escreins (nature reserve) and climbs up to the ridges overlooking the Vars Valley, then descends further down via another pass.

This is a beautiful route with no real difficulties, offering magnificent scenery along most of the way. The 360° view from the Homme de Pierre viewpoint is truly spectacular. The Martinat ridge also offers superb panoramic views.

A beautiful family hike starting from the Vars-les-Claux resort, taking you to the Col de l'Écuelle via the old Combe Froide rock glacier and then the very touristy Col de Vars. There are many variations on this hike, but I suggest the wildest route possible to avoid the human developments on the mountain.

A lovely walk in a green setting with little elevation gain on an easy trail (along the water) to do with the family, keeping a close eye on young children in the more exposed areas or on the ridge. Some sections offer superb views of Guillestre and beyond, then through the trees to the Guil Gorges.

A short hike starting from Guillestre with the added bonus of climbing to a small summit for the view, before returning via a wide forest path, then a path that joins the hamlet of Les Terrasses before taking the Canal Salva path that brings us back to the starting point.

A magnificent hike that takes you along a pleasant ridge to a summit with spectacular views. Breathtaking 360° panorama of the Embrunais, Dévoluy, Écrins, Queyras and Ubaye. The route is on an unmarked trail, so you will need to supplement the description with the Visorando app.

A relatively short and easy walk around the "Vauban" citadel of Mont-Dauphin. From the top of the circuit, there are fine views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, while the section along the river Guil offers a view not only of the Guil, but also of the Chalp canal waterfall. The walk can be followed by a stroll around the citadel.

A very pretty little mountain lake full of freshness.

A short, easy family hike. Two points of interest: an art trail and, at the end, a beautiful waterfall.

A fairly short and very pleasant walk that allows you to visit Mont-Dauphin in a different way. You can see many marmots, which are not very shy, at the bottom of the trail.

A place of pilgrimage on 26 July on the feast day of Anne, this lake at the foot of the Col Girardin is an obligatory stop-off point for pilgrims on the famous GR®5.

This is a challenging hike at the start, which continues along the Cascade de la Pisse waterfall. Lac Miroir, nestled in a pretty valley, reflects the snow-capped peaks all around. The Cascade de la Pisse waterfall, seen from below, is accessible directly from the car park (2 minutes' walk), and the hike follows the tumultuous torrent.

A pleasant visit to two pretty lakes at the foot of Font Sancte.

Mont Orel overlooks Embrun. It can be reached via the Col de la Coche. Walk along the peaks to the crosses. Magnificent view of the Lac de Serre-Ponçon, the surrounding valleys and the Écrins in the distance. A gentler descent via the Pra Leydon chapel. A hike that ends with a contemplative stroll through the Saluces Forest. A very quiet hike apart from a few chamois at the summit. The only slight difficulty is finding the cairns in the mountain pastures.

You'll take the Aiguillettes path up to the two major passes above Ceillac, then join the Col de Fromage via the Souillet path on the Guil valley side, on a beautiful balcony path. ⚠️Caution: the Aiguillettes path crosses 3 ravines that may pose problems for some. If this is the case, you can take the GR® which starts nearby and ends at the same point. Less interesting but quieter.

A very beautiful, easy walk through old hamlets and magnificent landscapes. The path is always fairly wide and without any significant slopes, making it ideal for snowshoeing.

A superb hike with surprising panoramic views despite the low altitude.

An easy circular loop that takes you from Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye to the hamlet of Fouillouse, alternating between river and forest in absolute tranquillity.

Visit two alpine hamlets above Saint Crépin, passing through the famous forest of juniper trees.

This easy and varied circular walk will allow you to discover the landscapes and peaks of the upper Ubaye Valley. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to visit some defence posts, remnants of the Second World War. Before starting the walk, at the entrance to the car park, read the information panel about the Fouillouse stronghold and the battle of June 1940. On the way back, you can take a short break in the hamlet of Fouillouse to enjoy a tartlet and a cold drink.

Hike to a very accessible 3,000-metre peak on the border, offering a beautiful panoramic view of Italy and the high peaks of the Ubaye. The route is enhanced by visits to several lakes, including the Neufs Couleurs lake nestled in its basin at the foot of the Fréma, Brec and Aiguille de Chambeyron.

A loop around Brec de Chambeyron, leaving from the hamlet of Fouillouse.

First stage around the Chambeyron Mountain Range which, after a steady climb, takes you to the shelter with the same name. You'll end up in a breath-taking setting, at the foot of Brec de Chambeyron.

Reaching over 3000 metres in altitude, Aiguilles de Chambeyron and Brec de Chambeyron form an impressive mountain range halfway between Queyras and the Moncantour. This hike offers a trek with no techincal difficulty, with passes over 2700 m in altitude and a summit of over 3000 m. Set in an outstanding landscape and for the most part within a high mountain setting.

Hike leading to the Lac des Neuf Couleurs surrounded by the Aiguille de Chambeyron, the Brec de Chambeyron and the Tête de la Fréma, just a stone's throw from the French-Italian border.The hike includes high-altitude lakes, rivers, waterfalls, animals depending on the time of day and your luck (marmots, chamois, etc.), scree slopes, and more.