Hikes near La Grave

La Grave (1509 m) sits in Hautes-Alpes, France. MR. ALPS lists 20 waymarked hiking trails starting from or crossing the area, 378 km of marked route in total. They run from 3.7 km to 126.4 km, the longest being Le tour du pays de la Meije. 20 of them record their elevation gain, between 347 m and 6240 m.

• Le Pic du Mas de la Grave

  12 km · +1400 m · ≈ 4 h 44

  From Le Chazelet (1770 m), this snowshoe route threads through snowy alpine pastures and larch forests, passing the hamlets of Les Rivets before arriving at the refuge at the foot of the Pic du Mas de la Grave — with sweeping panoramas over the Meije unfolding along the way.

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• Le Col de Martignare et la Crête de la Buffe

  19.2 km · +1250 m · ≈ 5 h 56

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• Sentier Paul Louis Rousset

  23.3 km · +850 m · ≈ 6 h 05

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• Le Gros Têt

  18.1 km · +1100 m · ≈ 5 h 27

  The loop climbs to the Gros Têt — the highest point on the Emparis plateau at 2613 m, a broad mamelon also known as the cime du Rachas — where a 360° panorama takes in the Grandes Rousses massif, the Goléon, and the entire north face of the Écrins National Park. Starting from Le Chazelet at 1770 m, the summit is a winter classic for ski tourers as well as a summer hiking destination.

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• Les lacs par le bord sud du plateau

  17.1 km · +1000 m · ≈ 5 h 05

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• La Brèche Pacave depuis La Grave

  14.3 km · +1550 m · ≈ 5 h 26

  The route to the Brèche de Pacave cuts through high-mountain mineral and glacial landscapes, with technical sections demanding a solid alpine footing. From the heights, panoramas open over the Emparis plateau, the Aiguille du Goléon, and the Romanche valley below.

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• Tour des Aiguilles d'Arves (étape 4)

  35.3 km · +1900 m · ≈ 10 h 14

  From Refuge du Pic du Mas de la Grave to Refuge du Goléon

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• Les Plagnes par les Clots

  5.8 km · +937 m · ≈ 2 h 43

  A loop through the small ski station of Le Chazelet, this trail delivers an exceptional panorama of the north face of the Meije and the surrounding villages, punctuated by granaries, terraced fields, and oratories that distill the traditional savoir-faire of the Pays de la Meije.

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• Le Bois des Fréaux

  9.4 km · +1391 m · ≈ 4 h 12

  The trail opens in the forest of Le Bois des Fréaux — a north-facing woodland laced with cliff bands — before woodland and valley sections gradually give way to mountain meadows, rocky slopes, and open views within the Écrins National Park.

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• Le Signal de la Grave

  11.5 km · +2210 m · ≈ 5 h 59

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• Le Vallon de Martignare

  7.6 km · +548 m · ≈ 2 h 26

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• Le Sentier des Mules

  7 km · +887 m · ≈ 2 h 53

  The path traces the old working route where mule teams once hauled heavy loads of hay down from the meadows of the Plateau d'Emparis, passing through a landscape still visibly shaped by terraces that, at the start of the last century, were all under cultivation. Shared with GR 54 walkers and recently rerouted to protect its switchbacks, the loop departs from Le Chazelet (1770 m) and climbs the entire eastern flank of the plateau.

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• Le Clot Raffin

  3.7 km · +347 m · ≈ 1 h 19

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• La Boucle de l'Aiguillon

  9.6 km · +643 m · ≈ 3 h

  From the crête de l'Aiguillon, the route delivers a 360° panorama taking in the glaciers of La Meije and the surrounding peaks of the Parc National des Écrins. The loop threads through the village of Les Cours and passes the Chapelle Saint-Antoine, with the high pastures of this glacially dominated landscape unfolding underfoot.

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• Le lac du Pontet

  5.9 km · +733 m · ≈ 2 h 24

  A high-alpine lake at 1982m mirrors the glaciated summits of the Meije and the Agneaux, while a belvedere above the water opens onto a sweeping panorama across the Combeynot massif.

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• Serre Bernard par la Berche

  10.2 km · +921 m · ≈ 3 h 35

  A wilder alternative to the classic Plateau d'Emparis route, this loop passes the ruins of former summer dwellings used by valley inhabitants, with chances to spot chamois, partridge, vultures, and eagles along the way. The trail also offers views of La Meije and traverses terrain rich in alpine flora.

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• Le Lac du Goléon par le Cruq des Aiguilles

  9.9 km · +1354 m · ≈ 4 h 14

  A demanding loop reserved for experienced hikers, this route climbs through alpine terrain via the Col du Cruq des Aiguilles — a more varied, wilder alternative to the straightforward Valfroide ascent — before reaching Lac du Goléon, where the panorama rewards the effort. The descent drops back through Valfroide, rounding out a circuit that touches col, lake, glacier views, and pastoral landscapes.

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• Le Vallon de la Buffe par les Orliers

  10.9 km · +698 m · ≈ 3 h 21

  This loop through the Buffe valley unfolds beneath the Mas de la Grave Peak, where the Gâ stream has its source, and passes through pastures long favored by transhumant herders bringing their flocks up from the south. The route takes in the hamlet of Rivet de la Cime, with the great face of the Meije rising as a backdrop.

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• Le tour du pays de la Meije

  126.4 km · +6240 m · ≈ 6 days at 6 h/day

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• Le tour du plateau d'Emparis

  21.3 km · +1363 m · ≈ 6 h 32

  A high-altitude circuit across the Emparis plateau at around 2,500 metres, where the aroma of wild lavender mingles with the freshness of glaciers and every turn reveals the north faces of La Meije and Le Râteau looming above Lac Lérié and Lac Noir. Mountain pastures, isolated high-altitude villages turned refuges, and a sweeping panorama taking in the Girose glacier and Lake Chambon far below give this traverse its rare depth.

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