Loop 48 - The Lookouts of Serre-Ponçon

Description

Take to the heights for more views of Lac de Serre-Ponçon and the Aiguilles de Chabrières. A long, even climb that is symmetrical with the descent, all set on a balcony overlooking the lake and below the Aiguilles de Chabrières: that’s this Gravel loop of the Lookouts of Serre-Ponçon in a nutshell. You can link up with the Réallon route via the Tour de Serre Ponçon signposts. - At Chorges station, at the roundabout, head towards the town centre. Pass the Brasserie des Alpes and go straight through the town centre. Before the N94, continue left on the D9 towards Réallon. - At the farm, turn right towards Les Augiers (GR markings). At the entrance sign to the hamlet, take the track on the left. At the Route des Puy (D109), turn right into the hamlet of L'Eglise. Once there, turn left onto the route de Chabrières. Continue up the main hairpin road. At the viewpoint on the bend, turn right up the Chemin de la Clouisse. - After the farm (watch out for the Patou), turn right. Stay on the level on the main path around the knoll. At the crossroads of the 4 paths, continue straight up the stony track. Continue straight ahead: cross the D9 road, continue on the route des Gourres. At the hamlet of Pomeyret, continue on the main road with its hairpin bends. At the DFCI track F8, continue straight ahead on the GR. - Continue on the Joubelle forest road (Track DFCI F1). At the DFCI marker, continue to the right, past the fountain and stay on the main track (DFCI F1 stony path). - At the DFCI S7 track, go down to the left (GR markings). Go through the hamlet (viewpoint). /!\ Quite a stony descent. After the "Serre du corbeau", continue left on the GR 50, then straight on towards Les Andrieux. - At the bend, continue on the track to the right. Turn left down the hairpin road. At Les Thomassons, descend the road to the left. - At the bus stop (mirror), turn left and then immediately right. Continue straight ahead on the small road. Take the downhill option to the left twice. At the roundabouts, take 2 right turns, following the signs for Gap and then the SNCF station to reach the finish line.

Difficulty

Official rating: moderate, by Parc national des Écrins.

Getting there

Start: Chorges, Chorges (05).

Sources

• Track: Parc national des Écrins, Licence Ouverte 2.0, Licence Ouverte 2.0 (Etalab) (destination.ecrins-parcnational.fr/trek/996148-Boucle-48---Les-Belvederes-de-Serre-Poncon). Time estimated by GPX Path with the Mac app rule, breaks not included.
• Official elevation gain: 819 m, Parc national des Écrins