GR®54 - Tour of L'Oisans and les Écrins starting from La Grave
Sur le chemin du col de l'Eychauda (GR54)
Sur le chemin du col de l'Eychauda (GR54) - Thierry Maillet
La Grave

GR®54 - Tour of L'Oisans and les Écrins starting from La Grave

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Setting off from a mountaineering Mecca, hikers take their place amidst iconic peaks for a remarkable two-week trek in Les Écrins.
The GR®54 - Tour of L'Oisans and Les Écrins is a legendary route taking you on a circuit through the heart of the National Park, the protected area of the Massif des Écrins. On the route: iconic peaks, difficult-to-reach passes, welcoming refuges and exceptional flora and fauna await you as you start out from La Grave. An added bonus on this route? A detour via the L'Olan alpine variant leading to the heights overlooking the Valgaudemar valley, to enjoy a spectacular view.

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Description

The Tour of L'Oisans and les Écrins sets off on its grand tour from La Grave, at the foot of the majestic peak of La Meije, tracing the Romanche river back up to its source among the alpine pastures of Villar d'Arène. When you reach the Col d’Arsine, the scene is stunning. The surrounding realm of high peaks invites a visit to the glacial Lac d’Arsine before embarking on a long descent following the mountain stream Le Petit Tabuc, down to the valley of La Guisane and Monêtier-les-Bains. Objective: La Vallouise via the Col de l'Eychauda and the tranquil chalets of Chambran. Eight kilometres of motor road following the mountain stream L'Onde brings you to the alpine pastures of Jas Lacroix. Crossing the Col de l'Aup Martin, the highest pass on the route, is always a high point of the adventure, and the descent to the Pré de la Chaumette is equally exhilarating. To reach Lac de Vallonpierre, no fewer than three passes cut through the shale have to be negotiated with care. Following the Séveraisse river, the path comes to La Chapelle en Valgaudemar where you leave the main path to take to the heights above the valley via a variant of the GR®54. From the Refuge de l'Olan, there is an unrivalled view over the peaks of Valgaudemar and their glaciers. You rejoin the route at the Refuge des Souffles and then come to the impressive Col de la Caurze. Equally impressive is the descent down into the wild Valjouffrey. The verdant Col de Côte Belle contrasts with the shale landscapes encountered previously. In the Béranger valley, Valsenestre makes a restorative stopping point before setting off again for the final meandering stretches. You reach the vertical Col de la Muzelle, the gateway to the Vénéon valley. A long descent down towards Vénosc constitutes the second variant of the GR®, where the route runs close to the famous Les Deux-Alpes resort on the two slopes (Vénosc and Mont-de-Lans) and leads to the pretty village of Mizoen. The path continues, rising in altitude up the mountain side and shadowing the shore of the large Lac du Chambon below, before it reaches the refuges at the foot of the Emparis plateau. Above, the Col de Souchet offers a five-star view over La Meije. A descent of almost 1,000 metres brings you to La Grave, the culmination of this remarkable looped circuit.
  • Departure : La Grave
  • Towns crossed : La Grave, Villar-d'Arêne, Le Monêtier-les-Bains, Vallouise-Pelvoux, L'Argentière-la-Bessée, Champoléon, La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar, Villar-Loubière, Valjouffrey, Les Deux Alpes, and Mizoën

Altimetric profile


Recommandations

The best period for undertaking this tour is from late June to mid-September.
Find out about weather and snow conditions on the passes in early summer.
Some stretches, in the upper reaches of the mountains, pass through tricky terrain.
It is possible to bivouac along the route of the Tour (see the regulations for the heart of the National Park) or to overnight at campsites, hotels, gîtes or refuges.
The Stages require that you carry your own food.

Herd protection dogs

In mountain pastures, protection dogs are there to protect the herds from predators (wolves, etc.).

When I hike I adapt my behavior by going around the herd and pausing for the dog to identify me.

Find out more about the actions to adopt with the article "Protection dogs: a context and actions to adopt".
Tell us about your meeting by answering this survey.
Is in the midst of the park
The national park is an unrestricted natural area but subjected to regulations which must be known by all visitors.


Transport

By train : www.voyages-sncf.com   

By bus : 
Bus lines in Région Sud : https://zou.maregionsud.fr/  
Bus lines in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes : https://carsisere.auvergnerhonealpes.fr/   
Bus lines in Isère : https://www.itinisere.fr/


Access and parking

From Grenoble:
80 km along the RD1091, following signs for the resorts of L'Oisans / La Grave / Briançon
From Gap:
120 Km along the RN94, following signs for Briançon; then the RD1091 following signs for Grenoble via the Col du Lauteret

Parking :

Car park close to the cablecars

More information


Source

Parc national des Ecrinshttps://www.ecrins-parcnational.fr

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