Combe Oursière

Description

A hike with the colours of the larch, taking you to the small hanging valley of Combe Oursière. ”Early in the morning, everything is quiet in the Combe Oursière valley. After making our way through a larch forest with its shimmering colours, and then crossing calluna heaths that turn red in autumn, we arrive in a stonier world. At the bottom of the corrie, chamois graze peacefully on the scree herbs." Marion Digier, regional park keeper in Valbonnais From the car park, take the track up to the Béranger valley as far as the edge of the Ecrins Park. At the National Park entrance panel is a place where tree trunks are kept, which is the starting point for a path running parallel with the track. Follow the path for about a hundred metres, then take the right-hand fork to cross Bot wood. The path runs under a rocky bar and twists and turns its way up to the Draire river gorge. The landscape then opens up, the forest giving way little by little to more isolated trees and lower-lying vegetation. At the crossroads with the Echarennes valley, turn right onto the path taking you up to the top of the Combe Oursière valley. After the half-barrel cabin, you can continue on across the valley along a small path that keeps to the same level. The path leads to the panorama over Pré Chrétien. You follow the same route on the way back.

Difficulty

Official rating: moderate, by Parc national des Écrins.

Before you go

• Bivouac area for hikers 500 m upstream from the village of Valsenestre. Camping is forbidden by local decree in the rest of the Valjouffrey area.

Getting there

Start: Hameau de Valsenestre, Valjouffrey, Valjouffrey (38).

Sources

• Track: Parc national des Écrins, Licence Ouverte 2.0, Licence Ouverte 2.0 (Etalab) (destination.ecrins-parcnational.fr/trek/921546-Combe-Oursiere). Time estimated by GPX Path with the Mac app rule, breaks not included.
• Official elevation gain: 742 m, Parc national des Écrins