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.

Heading towards La Mortice and its three small peaks at over 3,000m. Magnificent views from this ridge after passing the small Lac des Neuf Couleurs on the way up.

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.

An unmissable hike that allows you to explore the Val d’Escreins and make your way up to the source of the Rif Bel stream, alternating between its two banks. Along the way, you may come across some remarkable trees that are hundreds of years old.

La Mortice offers beautiful views over the upper Ubaye valley and is accessible to any hiker accustomed to the mountains.

The Pic d'Escreins is a peak at an altitude of 2,700 m, situated between two slopes. It takes you from the Val d'Escreins Nature Reserve to the Queyras Massif. This route starts from the Val d’Escreins, which is 6 km from the Pic d'Escreins, with a total ascent of 1,200 m. The ascent is steady throughout, with sections featuring steps and cables between points (3) and (4), where you must remain vigilant but which present no major technical difficulty.

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 pleasant and easy walk to the Col de Vars, where you are sure to spot marmots.

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 pleasant trail nestled at the bottom of a gorge running alongside the Rif Bel leads to the heart of a valley. Until 1880, this trail was the only direct access between Guillestre and the hamlets of the Val d'Escreins, before the road from Vars was built.