Les Claux circuit (no. 4)

Description

An easy circuit along narrow roads and forest tracks, starting from the family resort of Pelvoux-Vallouise. This easy route leads to the river Gyr, fed by glaciers, running alongside the snow front of the ski resort. You will climb up the right-hand bank of this water course to the gorges of the Gyr. Provided with a via ferrata, this rocky outcrop also looks over the museum of the Les Claux hydroelectric power station. The trail starts at the car park at the Pelvoux-Vallouise resort, heading left towards the snow front - Follow the narrow road due south; it runs through the bottom of the ski station to the holiday resort - Where the road turns into a forest track, carry on along this track which leads downhill to the river - At the bridge, stay on the right-hand bank and follow the river along the track leading due north - When you get back to the narrow road, continue straight on until you reach the starting point and then carry on, continuing to follow the right-hand bank of the Gyr - Before the bridge, turn left and then right and join the path with leads to the road and the gorges of the Gyr - After the tunnel, turn back on yourself and follow the same route back to your starting point

Difficulty

Official rating: very easy, by Parc national des Écrins.

Before you go

• Rescue services contact details: Secours Montagne(Mountain Rescue): +33 (0)4 92 22 22 22 or 112
• Take your litter home
• Do not take shortcuts across pastureland

Getting there

Start: Station de Pelvoux-Vallouise, Pelvoux, Vallouise-Pelvoux (05).

Sources

• Track: Parc national des Écrins, Licence Ouverte 2.0, Licence Ouverte 2.0 (Etalab) (destination.ecrins-parcnational.fr/trek/965927-VTT-N04---Circuit-des-Claux). Time estimated by GPX Path with the Mac app rule, breaks not included.
• Official elevation gain: 104 m, Parc national des Écrins