Le col de Freissinières

Description

A varied route through forest, prairie, moraine and cliffs striped with waterfalls up to 2782m to reach the Fressinières pass, which is also known as the Orcières pass. "Whilst coming down from the Fressinières pass one July morning, where there were still névés on the the slopes that had the least sun, two animals were running in the snow. Two roe deer at 2500 metres in altitude! What fantastic adaptability! » Blandine Delenatte and Jean-Philippe Telmon, wardens From the Cascades Car Park, take the path to the left, where you will find the entrance to the National Park, indicated by three explanatory panels (Leave the bridge that leads to the winter trail to the right). Cross the footbridge over the Oules stream and follow bends in the path along a large waterfall before crossing a zone of scree. As this 'summer' trail crosses an avalanche zone, it is not used in the winter. It has a gentle slope and is wide, enabling the inhabitants of Dormillouse to restock with the help of tracked wheelbarrows. - At the following junction, stay on the track to the right (the one to the left leads to the Fangeas lake and the Terres Blanches pass). - Follow the trail towards Dormillouse and before the footbridge, turn left following the signs for lac Faravel, lac Palluel, Fressinières pass. - When you come to the next fork in the road, take the footpath to the right towards the Fressinières pass. - When you arrive on the Arduin plateau, carry straight on at the 4 roads crossroads towards the Fressinières pass. The trail enters the forest of larch and follows the right bank of the Biaysse climbing up to the Chichin valley. It crosses the Chichin glacial cross-cliff by means of a small footbridge, reaches the pastoral hut, continues along the edge of the Lauzeron lake then weaves in and out of the moraines until it reaches the pass. - The return trip is made by the same route. It is also possible to reach Prapic and return via the Terres Blanches over 2 days.

Difficulty

Official rating: difficult, by Parc national des Écrins.

Before you go

• No camping in the Cascades Car Park (including inside a vehicule), bivouac permitted at least an hour's walk away from the park boundaries. No campfires in the heart of the Park.

Getting there

Start: Parking des Cascades, Freissinières, Freissinières (05).

Sources

• Track: Parc national des Écrins, Licence Ouverte 2.0, Licence Ouverte 2.0 (Etalab) (destination.ecrins-parcnational.fr/trek/926388-Le-col-de-Freissinieres). Time estimated by GPX Path with the Mac app rule, breaks not included.
• Official elevation gain: 1,345 m, Parc national des Écrins