Hiking and walking
Hiking and walkingDon‘t lose
the south
Some mountains are simply beautiful, while others are deeply moving. In the Hautes-Alpes, walking is never just a stroll: it’s an encounter with the raw light of the peaks, the vibrant silence of the forests, the power of the glaciers and the gentleness of the valleys where the air seems purer than elsewhere. Whatever your level or habits: the adventure begins with the first step.
The
trails that lead beyond the map
From the great classics to secret detours, the Hautes-Alpes boasts one of Europe’s most extensive trail networks. Mythical GR with the Tour des Écrins (GR54) or the Tour du Queyras (GR58), family trails, gourmet walks in hilltop villages: everything is an invitation to marvel. The paths wind their way between meadows and torrents, up to the passes and back down into the valleys. No matter the distance, what counts is the magic of the landscape that changes with every turn.
Dive
into the heart of life
Three jewels shape the region: the wild and grandiose Parc national des Écrins; the gentler but equally luminous Parc naturel régional du Queyras; and the Baronnies provençales, a subtle marriage of mountain and Provence. The guides open doors to unsuspected possibilities: recognizing animal tracks, reading the sky, listening to the mountain. To walk with them is to learn to see differently, to feel fully connected to this unspoilt and protected nature.
Where the mountain
becomes home
At high altitude, the Chamoissières and Chardonnet refuges , for example, are much more than mere stopping-off points: they are beacons in the mountains. After the effort, the warmth of a stove, the smell of a steaming soup, the low-voiced conversations between hikers from all over the world. It’s a suspended moment, out of time. Nights in a refuge in the Hautes-Alpes are one of those that mark a lifetime: a roof under the stars, waking up to glaciers pinked by dawn.
Run
to the rhythm of the summits
For those who want to run the mountain rather than contemplate it step by step, the Hautes-Alpes is an absolute playground. A trail culture has grown up here, where every vertical drop becomes a joyful challenge. Between forests, alpine meadows and crests, the itineraries soar towards vertiginous panoramas. It’s a faster, more intense communion, but always inhabited by the same breath: that of freedom.
Claudie Arechavaleta, President of the Hautes-Alpes mountain guide union
the promise of the Hautes-Alpes
Highlights of walks and hikes
Hautes-Alpes
The trails
In the Alps, trails are a must for mountain lovers and those who enjoy shared effort. Gapen’cimes, la Grande trace, le grand trail de Serre-Ponçon, etc. With them, no frills, just alpine trails, 360° panoramas and a good dose of conviviality.
Serre-Ponçon – Queyras – Champsaur
Mad Jacques
Since 2017, Mad Jacques has been imagining life-size epics by hitchhiking, trekking, biking or canoeing for a community of outdoor enthusiasts. More than 40,000 participants have already explored some twenty French territories thanks to these itinerant adventures. After Serre-Ponçon in 2025, Queyras in 2026 and Champsaur in 2027.
Practical notebook
- Getting ready
- Advice
- Security
- Good plans
See also
IconicsNature Sentinels
