The slopes of Chorges

Description

A sunny balcony walk in a pastoral setting: sheepfolds and alpine huts, "forests", rock hutches, small high altitude fields... Set between the Ecrins massif and the Val d'Avance, this pleasant hike offers breathtaking panoramic views! - Follow the La Montagne shepherd’s road for 200 m. - Turn right onto a path that cuts two hairpins in the road. - Head uphill towards the Gontards sheepfold. Turn right, cross a pass and descend into a cultivated area. Climb the track on the left, turn right, pass the serre du Corbeau, descend to the Forest des Berthiers and continue on the uphill track to the forest road. - Ascend to the crossroads with the Route de la Montagne at the place known as "Jardin des Gardes". Shorter option (2 hrs): descend to the left, take a left fork and head for Les Gontards. - Pass to the right of the metal gate. Leave the Col de la Gardette path and follow the track to a stone hut on the left in a paddock. Turn left into the paddock and walk down the path that runs alongside the road. At the bottom, cross a cattle assembly yard, cross the stream and then a torrent and climb a stony path. After a balcony walk (the panorama extends as far as Mont Ventoux), at the end of the path, descend to the left into the undergrowth, turn left then right to find a path that leads to a footpath. - Go down it on the left to a path. Head left towards the hut, cross the Réallons stream and climb up to the shepherd’s road. Descend to the Gontards crossroads. Turn right at two bends in the road to reach the car park.

Difficulty

Official rating: moderate, by Parc national des Écrins.

Getting there

Start: A droite, au terminus de la route goudronnée (7 km de Chorges), Chorges (05).

Sources

• Track: Parc national des Écrins, Licence Ouverte 2.0, Licence Ouverte 2.0 (Etalab) (destination.ecrins-parcnational.fr/trek/995373-L-adret-de-Chorges). Time estimated by GPX Path with the Mac app rule, breaks not included.
• Official elevation gain: 375 m, Parc national des Écrins