Le Lauzet (no. 11)

Description

A somewhat technical circuit, but one that is pleasant to travel in a totally natural environment offering numerous panoramic views. Running through the municipality of La Roche-de-Rame, this pleasant trail leads through meadows and forests. The ascent is relatively straightforward and offers a panoramic view over the massif of Les Écrins and Mont Pelvoux, while the descent which hugs the Bouchouse mountain stream is much more technical. The circuit starts not far from the La Roche-de-Rame mayor's office ("Mairie") near the Bouchouse mountain stream. First, follow its left-hand bank, going upstream. 430 metres further up, cross the mountain stream and carry on along the right-hand bank. At the crossroads, turn right to cross the mountain stream again and carry on uphill towards Bel Pinet. - Turn left towards Le Lauzet, winding uphill along a stony track - When you come to Bel Pinet, at 1,400 m, head along the track on the right leading to Le Gorgoras, Le Clot du Villaron and Le Lauzet, passing near the pink marble quarry ("Carrière du Marbre Rose"), a marble used in the construction of numerous buildings such as Gap Cathedral - ‌When you reach Le Lauzet, at 1,786 m, head left near the small lake to descend towards Bel Pinet via a different route - ‌Turn right onto a path to avoid the wide, twisting stony track, and follow this, crossing the track (Be sure to follow the waysigns and exercise caution: it is very stony terrain which makes some sections dangerous and technical) - At the end of the path, head left onto the wide track and, after 300 metres, turn right to join a new path. This, too, is very technical. Continue to follow this path downhill, avoiding the wide track, until you come to the paved road at the Bouchouse hydroelectric power station and then on to your starting point

Difficulty

Official rating: moderate, 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: Mairie de La Roche-de-Rame, La Roche-de-Rame (05).

Sources

• Track: Parc national des Écrins, Licence Ouverte 2.0, Licence Ouverte 2.0 (Etalab) (destination.ecrins-parcnational.fr/trek/973921-VTT-N11---Le-Lauzet). Time estimated by GPX Path with the Mac app rule, breaks not included.
• Official elevation gain: 1,005 m, Parc national des Écrins