Balcon de l'Oussella and Quille du Laus

Description

A route through the Quille du Laus, where you can enjoy the panoramic views it offers towards Réallon and Serre-Ponçon. From cool beech and larch woods, past ancient hay meadows and the ruins of old mountain chalets, the path then climbs up to a balcony overlooking the Réallon valley. The final ascent to the Quille du Laus, a large cairn built on a high point, overlooks the deep gorge of the Chargès torrent on one side and the small Laus lake nestling in a valley on the other. From the car park, cross the bridge, and at the crossroads at the entrance to the hamlet, follow signs for Chargès up the road to the last house. - Take the path on the right towards Oussella. - After the Marmite de Géant and the bridge continue left towards L’Oussella. Cross the waterfall stream and keep to the main path through the beech forest. After a few hairpin bends, at the end of the larch grove, cross the old hay meadows and a stream. Cross the ravine and the stream of La Pissarotte to reach the foot of another area of old meadows that you will need to ascend (cairns and arrow). - At the crossroads, turn left towards Le Laus. - Take a left. - At the entrance sign in the heart of the Ecrins National Park at a grassy shoulder, take a left on the ridge to the large cairn. - Turn 180 degrees and head back down to the crossroads on the Oussella loop . - Head towards les Gourniers via le Villard. Pass the old alpine chalets of Les Fuents (viewpoint) and descend towards Le Villard. Head along the edge of the ravine to the post (right arrow). After the series of hairpin bends, turn right in the field before the drinking troughs, then left 50 metres further down (small arrow post). Head alongside the “rock hutch” and continue along small hairpins (cairns). Cross the coombe and join the Sentier du Fort. - Take the path on the right towards Les Gourniers. - Once you reach the track, follow Les Gourniers to the right (red and white GR markings). - At the top of a rise, leave the track by continuing straight ahead (post with arrow). Stay on the GR until you reach the road back to the car park.

Difficulty

Official rating: moderate, by Parc national des Écrins.

Getting there

Start: Parking des Gourniers, Réallon, Réallon (05).

Sources

• Track: Parc national des Écrins, Licence Ouverte 2.0, Licence Ouverte 2.0 (Etalab) (destination.ecrins-parcnational.fr/trek/980024-Balcon-de-l-Oussella-et-Quille-du-Laus). Time estimated by GPX Path with the Mac app rule, breaks not included.
• Official elevation gain: 900 m, Parc national des Écrins