1001 paths for 1001 hikes

I hike, you hike, he hikes, we hike, you hike, they hike… Hiking is an activity for everyone, children, teenagers and adults, the very young and the very old, sportsmen, non-sportsmen and even anti-sportsmen…

In hiking, each to his own rhythm and each to his own pleasure...

The mistake to make is to want to hike for the sake of hiking! Hiking is above all pleasure, and if everyone can take pleasure in hiking, it will probably be a different pleasure for everyone.

One can take pleasure in the effort. You can take pleasure in the discovery of the flora. You can take pleasure in solitude and find yourself, or on the contrary in sharing and finding yourself with your family. You can take pleasure in the outcome, the joy of arriving at the lake, of glimpsing the pass, the refuge or the glacier.

You should therefore choose your hikes according to criteria that you define yourself, such as difficulty, duration, positive altitude difference, theme and outcome (pass, lake, fauna or flora, geology…), route (outward and return journey, loop…)…

In any case, after the effort, the comfort, you will take pleasure in returning to the campsite, stretching by the pool or sipping a refreshment at the snack bar 😊 ! And because you shouldn’t overdo the good things, the next day, you may choose to do some sightseeing and explore other treasures near the campsite, to practice one of the many activities in the water, in the air, on a bike or on the mountainside, or to walk around Briançon and discover the shops, restaurants and services.

Application Rando-ecrins The Pays des Ecrins has a dedicated application, which you must download, that will allow you to select your favourite hikes according to all of its criteria, but also details such as the possible accessibility of pushchairs or whether you wish to practice by walking, running, mountain biking or even horse riding!

See the app Rando-Ecrins

Do you need advice?

Don’t hesitate to come to the campsite reception…

There are also a few hikes and trails that you can do on foot from the campsite.

Some examples of hikes…

In family, accessible to all, really to all, you will fall under the charm of the lake of the Oule, the lake of the Douche, the lake of Orceyrette, the lake Vert or the lake of Pontet. You can also go for a walk in Névache, discover the Fonts de Cervières or drive up to the Pré de Madame Carle, passing through Ailefroide.

A hike in Serre Chevalier, a hike in the Pays des Ecrins, a hike in the Clarée valley, a hike in the Freissinières valley… you choose your playground…

Easy level ★

There are still many lakes to discover, such as Lake Laramon, Lake Long and Lake Rond, Lake Grand Ban, Lake Chavillion and Lake Belty, or simply the Grand Lac! Also worth doing are the Croix de Toulouse and the Croix d’Aquila. You can reach all these points of interest on hikes of between 6 and 10-12 km, with a maximum positive difference in altitude of 600m.

Medium level ★★

More lakes, with the Béraudes lake and the Saint Anne lake, but we go up in altitude and the points of interest start to differentiate, and you will then be able to climb from 600 to 1100m of positive difference in altitude to discover other points of interest such as the Grand Aréa, the Cerces tour, the Peyrolles crests, the Infernet fort or the aiguille Rouge.

Difficult level ★★★

See very difficult, the points of interest correspond to summits… for which you can sometimes border on mountaineering. But your effort will be largely rewarded when you contemplate the landscapes from the top of Mont Thabor, Grand Galibier, Mont Chaberton or Pic de Rochebrune…

Randonnée kilometre vertical de Freissinière

équipements de randonnée

Equipment: safety first

While it is undeniable that “the mountains are good for you…”, it is also true that the mountains can be dangerous. So in the mountains, and especially because the weather conditions can change very quickly, very quickly, we equip ourselves…

Good shoes are essential! By definition, trails are not paved, so even the easiest hike will be on trails and paths where good shoes will save you from nasty injuries.

Plan for the worst! First of all, prepare your itinerary… and even if the sun is shining on the valley and the temperature is pleasant, bring rain gear… You never go hiking without a bottle of water. You should always bring cereal bars, dried fruit or small cakes. Think of a first aid kit, even if it’s minimal. Make sure your mobile phone is charged. Don’t forget sun cream, sunglasses and a cap or hat.

If you’re adventurous, you can take a compass, and if you’re curious, you won’t leave without your binoculars.

And of course, if you’re going for the day… think of your picnic!