Hiking in the Ecrins National Park: Self Guided Walking Holiday

Hand-Picked Walks and Hikes in the Écrins National Park

We’ve carefully selected over 20 of our favourite walks and hikes, showcasing the most beautiful parts of the Écrins National Park and its surrounding Champsaur and Valgaudemar valleys. Some of these trails can be accessed directly from your doorstep, while others require a short drive to the start and a pick-up at the end of your walk. To manage transport logistics, we’ve organised these walks into a flexible schedule over the week.

After booking, we’ll provide you with a smartphone app featuring GPX tracks and detailed descriptions of each walk, along with paper maps and personalised advice when you arrive. This allows you to tailor your walking itinerary to suit your preferences and abilities, ensuring the perfect mix of adventure and comfort.

The walks listed here are just a sample to give you an idea of the variety available from each accommodation base, helping you decide if this self-guided walking and hiking holiday in the Écrins National Park is right for you. To make your choice easier, we’ve graded the walks by difficulty:

Walking & Hiking Grades:

• Easy: Up to 4 hours of walking per day on well-marked paths or rolling terrain.
• Moderate: Around 5 hours per day, with 600–800 metres of ascent or up to 15 km.
• Difficult: Up to 6 hours per day on more challenging terrain, with 700–1,000 metres of ascent or 15–18 km. High-altitude passages may be included.
• Very Difficult: Over 6 hours of walking on rough or off-trail terrain, with over 1,000 metres of ascent. High-altitude passages are likely.

Important Notes: Walking times are estimates and can vary depending on factors such as weather, terrain, and individual fitness levels. For safety and smooth organisation, we may need to adjust the programme in response to unforeseen events or local conditions (e.g., weather, trail closures, or authority decisions). Rest assured, any adjustments will prioritise your enjoyment and safety.

This walk begins in the remote village of Prapic, the last inhabited village in the Champsaur Valley before the mountains take over and you enter into the Ecrins National Park. The village preserves traditional Alpine architecture, showcasing the historic lifestyle where animals were housed on the ground floor, people lived above them to benefit from their warmth, and hay was stored in the loft for insulation.

The trail from Prapic leads to a scenic plateau overlooking a rushing mountain stream, eventually arriving at the dramatic Saut du Laire waterfall. Translating to "The Jump of the Thief," the waterfall's name comes with a fascinating local legend your guide will share along the way.

The valley is renowned for its thriving wildlife, including marmots that whistle as you pass and chamois grazing on the cliffs above. Keep your eyes open for these alpine residents as you enjoy the stunning surroundings.

• 3- 4h00 | Easy 
• Distance: 10 km
• Ascent: 496 m 
• Highest Point: 2,059 m 
• Lowest Point: 1,568 m
• Terrain: Forest paths, trails, and alpine meadow tracks

This spectacular hike takes you to the col just below the summit of Vieux Chaillol, the highest peak in the Champsaur Valley. Starting in the charming ski village of Chaillol, the trail winds through lush deciduous and larch forests before opening onto expansive mountainsides. Your first stop is the Col de La Pisse, offering stunning views and a great spot to pause.

The route then passes under the imposing Pic du Tourond and follows the remnants of the historic Canal du Macros, an ambitious water diversion project built by Napoleon's men in the late 1800s to irrigate the Champsaur Valley. The glacier that once fed the canal has since become a lake, but the ruins and the workers’ cabin at Col de Côte Longue remain, serving as a fascinating glimpse into this incredible feat of engineering. This col is also a fantastic picnic spot, with breathtaking panoramic views before descending back the way you came.

• 4h30–5h00 | Difficult
• Starting Altitude: 1,702 metres
• Maximum Altitude: 2,698 metres
• Ascent: 996 metres
• Distance: 16 km
• Terrain: Forest paths, mountain rocky trails

This scenic hike takes you to the stunning Col du Viallet, offering panoramic views of the Champsaur Valley and surrounding peaks. Starting from Chaillol 1600, a charming ski village, the trail begins with a gentle ascent through mixed deciduous and pine forests. As you climb higher, the forest opens up to reveal expansive alpine meadows dotted with wildflowers in the summer, and you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of the valley below.

The final section of the trail leads you to the Col du Viallet, a mountain pass with incredible vistas of the Écrins National Park and beyond. It’s a perfect spot to pause for a picnic or simply take in the tranquillity of the high mountains before heading back down the same way. This walk is ideal for those seeking a rewarding yet accessible hike.

• 4h00–4h30 | Moderate 
• Starting Altitude: 1,600 metres
• Maximum Altitude: 2,456 metres
• Ascent: 856 metres
• Distance: 12 km
• Terrain: Forest paths, alpine meadows, and mountain trails

This scenic hike takes you to the Pic de Gleize, a stunning limestone ridge with panoramic views over the Champsaur, Valgaudemar, Dévoluy, and Gap valleys. Starting with a gentle climb through woodlands, the trail opens onto wildflower-filled meadows before reaching a mountain pass. From here, you can either descend the way you came or tackle the steep, exposed climb to the summit, followed by an adventurous ridge descent. The ridge is what adds to the difficulty of this walk and it should only be attempted if you are comfortable with exposed sections. 

• 2h30–3h00 | Easy with difficult option
• Starting Altitude: 1,694 metres
• Maximum Altitude: 2,161 metres
• Ascent: 437 metres
• Distance: 6 km

This captivating walk begins in La Chapelle, the last inhabited village at the end of the Valgaudemar Valley, and takes you up to the picturesque hamlet of Les Portes. Here, you’ll discover a stunning hanging valley filled with alpine meadows, vibrant wildflowers, and fluttering butterflies.

The trail continues through the valley, offering breathtaking cascades and waterfalls alongside intriguing historical sites, including the abandoned village of Navette. Once a thriving farming community in the early 1900s, Navette’s fate was sealed by a series of hardships: devastating floods in 1914, the flu pandemic of 1918, and losses during World War I. By 1929, the remaining families petitioned the state to purchase their land for reforestation, leading to the community’s gradual abandonment, with its last inhabitant leaving in 1937. Today, remnants of the village and a restored chapel stand as poignant reminders of this once-vibrant settlement. It is possible to extend this walk further up the valley to a stunning waterfall.

The return route is equally dramatic, leading past the Devil's Cauldron—a powerful canyon of gushing waterfalls that showcases the awe-inspiring force of nature.

• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
• Starting Altitude: 1,101 metres
• Maximum Altitude: 1,675 metres
• Ascent: 626 metres
• Distance: 12 km

This stunning circular hike starts at the Gioberney refuge car park and takes you into the heart of the Valgaudemar Valley, offering some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the Écrins National Park. The trail begins with a steady ascent through alpine meadows, leading to the serene Lac du Lauzon, a glacial lake surrounded by rugged peaks and vibrant wildflowers in the summer months—a perfect spot to pause and take in the views.

From the lake, the path climbs further, weaving through steep rocky terrain and offering breathtaking vistas, before reaching the Refuge du Pigeonnier, nestled high in the mountains. Here, you can enjoy a well-deserved break, soak in the incredible panoramas, and perhaps sample some refreshments offered by the refuge.

The return trail descends via a different route, allowing you to experience a variety of landscapes, from high mountain ridges to lush alpine pastures, before arriving back at the Gioberney car park. Note - there are some exposed sections on this route.

• Difficulty: Difficult
• Starting Altitude: 1,660 metres
• Maximum Altitude: 2,426 metres
• Ascent: 766 metres
• Distance: 10 km

This challenging hike takes you to the stunning Lacs des Pétarel, a series of pristine alpine lakes nestled high above the Valgaudemar Valley. Starting from the village of La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar, the trail begins with a steep ascent through dense forests and rugged terrain, offering glimpses of dramatic mountain scenery along the way.

As you climb higher, the forest gives way to open meadows and rocky slopes, where the path becomes steeper and more exposed. The final stretch to the lakes involves navigating scree and uneven terrain, requiring surefootedness and a head for heights. Upon reaching the Lacs des Pétarel, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the shimmering lakes set against a backdrop of jagged peaks—a truly unforgettable sight.

After taking time to explore the area and enjoy the tranquillity, the descent follows the same route back down, demanding careful footing on the steep and rocky sections. This is a rewarding but demanding hike, ideal for experienced walkers seeking an alpine adventure.

• Difficulty: Very Difficult
• Starting Altitude: 1,120 metres
• Maximum Altitude: 2,530 metres
• Ascent: 1,410 metres
• Distance: 12 km
• Terrain: Steep forest trails, rocky alpine slopes, and scree paths