The 8 most beautiful hikes to do in the Queyras

At the border between France and Italy, discover the best hikes in the Queyras, the French Alps valley.

Le Queyras, pronounced “quéra”, is a valley of the French Alps but also a regional natural park, where steppes cross, floral carpets, lakes and many summits. This wild nature is preserved, as can be the historical and cultural heritages of the region.

Through these hikes of Queyras we offer you to discover some of the most beautiful alpine secrets. Here we go!

1. The Tower of the Tête des Toillies

Due to the immediate proximity of the park with the Italian border, some hikes from the Queyras cross it. Like this one. First join the path between the Pic de la Farnéiréta (3 133 metres) and the Petite Tête Noire (3 039 metres).

A round-trip path to the Tête des Toillies (3,177 metres), from which you will see a breathtaking view of all the surroundings. Nature is omnipresent and wild, still intact, where only time and elements have an influence.

Go on the way, pass the Italian border! You will follow the Rocca Del Nigro (2,969 metres) and the Rocca Bianca (3,063 metres) before returning to the lake of La Blanche.

2. Chalets de Clapeyto and Cogour lakes

From a car park located north of the Brunissard hill, discover this path with a gradual breakthrough. In a very natural setting, very vegetal and mountainous, evolve on a wooded and sometimes unobstructed path.

You will cross many alpine chalets that bring a certain charm to the surrounding landscapes. With their typical architecture of the region, they nicely punctuate your journey, between two beautiful views of the Queyras valley.

At the end of the road, enjoy the Cogour lakes: several beautiful stretches of water on the edge of which you will enjoy a moment of respite after your efforts.

3. The Col du Longet

The Col du Longet is between two summits: the Pic de Châteaurenard (2,989 metres) and the Pic Traversier (2,882 metres). You will start from the departmental road and start a gentle ascent first before it becomes full.

Up to the pass, few features, a mountain-side path, decorated by tree places, offering also magnificent views of the valleys of Longet or Clausis. Once at the pass, you can see the summits in front of you, such as the Tête de Longet (3,146 metres), the Pointe des Avers (3,089 metres) or the Jacquette Summit (2,909 metres).

4. The Grand Pierron, Acles and Plampinet circuit

This circuit is one of the longest hikes in Queyras. About 22 kilometers, it guides you through sumptuous alpine landscapes, alternating between treed valleys and bare mountain flanks. You can enjoy nature at its fair value, with many wild species. Also, on the way, you will cross a few mountain chalets.

You will start the course in Val-des-Prés and start the climb on the slopes of the Black Head (2,604 meters). Then you will follow the Pic de Lauzin (2 773 metres) before bordering the Pointe de Pécé (2 773 metres) and arriving at the Acles. Finally, you will descend to Plampinet, supervised by Pointe de Pécé and the Guiau Summit (2,654 meters).

So don’t forget to lift your eyes! Then direction your starting point by following the shores of La Clarée.

5. The Old Col

Built by the Crête de l’Eychassier and the Pain de Sucre (3,210 metres), the Col Vieux is not far from the Italian border. Ascension occurs without too much difficulty. You will be surrounded by pretty hilly plains, sometimes inhabited by sheep in pasture.

The views on the road are unbeatable, not to mention the views on the finish. For example, you can see Lake Foréant under the peak of the same name (3,081 metres), as well as La Crête de la Taillante (3,197 metres). Look south, where the Sucre Bread draws... as well as the Italian border!

6. The Buchet Summit and the Esquillère

Here is probably one of the Queyras hikes during which you can observe the largest number of summits. You start this hike in Château-Queyras, where you can first stop a moment to visit Fort Queyras, a former castle dating from the 13th century.

Consider also enjoying the shores of the Guil, river bordering the village. Once ready, gently start ascent to the Bucher Summit, at 2 225 metres above sea level. Then continue, through the hilly plains and the fir forests, to the flank of Pointe de la Selle (2,745 metres), near La Rousse, Pointe de Rasis and Brunet.

Then go down to Montbardon, at the foot of Esquillères (1,892 metres), while enjoying, of course, the breathtaking landscape of the Alps. Finally, you will follow the summit called the Guardian Angel (1,496 metres) where a monument is erected to the Deaths of the Second World War.

7. Lake Roue

In an essentially natural environment, like the Queyras region, discover this little hike. Be aware that it is taking part of its journey to GR5 GTA: the Grand Tour des Alpes!

It will lead you to Lake Roue, a water area close to a plateau west of Château Queyras. On the way, be sure to enjoy unobstructed views of the summits of the Queyras. And once at the lake, the view is breathtaking. Indeed, the lake is formed on a pass, from which the Guardian Angel is visible, just like the Catinat Summit or the Bucher Summit.

To the west, the Pics de Clapouse, Jaillon or Gazon stand as the barrier of the horizon. A breathtaking show to be seen by a beautiful mountain lake...

8. The Col de la Rousse and the Col des Ayes

This hike leads you from Brunissard to the Rousse and Ayes pass. You will start the path along the Torrent de la Rivière before taking a little distance and fork towards the Col de la Rousse (2,515 metres). From this pass, a direct view of many peaks such as Pic Jaillon (2,720 metres) or Esparges Fines (2,706 metres) will catch your breath.

You will then go back to the Clapeyto chalets that you can see here and there. These alpine chalets bring an additional cachet to this very rural area. The beasts of pasture and dense forests are constantly surrounded by them, forming an admirable natural painting.

Your path will continue to the Col des Ayes (2,477 metres), formed by the Pic de Beauduis (2,843 metres) and the Chalanches (2,779 metres).