Châtellerat Cabin

Description

A route through the mountain valley of La Bonne through low-lying, sub-Alpine vegetation: juniper bushes, heather, rhododendrons... The landscapes of the Bonne valley are remarkable for the lushness of the vegetation and the shapes of the reliefs inherited from the major glacial eras. Here, the glaciers have worked like powerful rebate planes, digging out and shaping the most vulnerable rocks. The mountain cliffs, glacial barriers and waterfalls bear witness to the natural erosion in the Valbonnais valleys. From the car park at the entrance of Le Désert-en-Valjouffrey, cross the village, heading east. Cut across the GR 54, by crossing the stream of La Laisse - it leads to the left to Côte Belle and to the right to Col de la Vaurze. Follow the path on the right bank of La Bonne which leads you to the entrance of the Ecrins National Park. The entrance to this protected area is shown by three information panels. After crossing a footbridge near the Pisse waterfall, continue along the rising path, still following the bottom of the valley through fairly low-lying vegetation. You arrive at the Châtellerat cabin. Come back the same way.

Difficulty

Official rating: moderate, by Parc national des Écrins.

Before you go

• No transport services to the start of the trail.

Getting there

Start: Le-Désert-en-Valjouffrey, Valjouffrey (38).

Sources

• Track: Parc national des Écrins, Licence Ouverte 2.0, Licence Ouverte 2.0 (Etalab) (destination.ecrins-parcnational.fr/trek/903947-La-Cabane-de-Chatellerat). Time estimated by GPX Path with the Mac app rule, breaks not included.
• Official elevation gain: 468 m, Parc national des Écrins