TECHNICAL INFORMATION Starting point: La Bérarde Height gain: 670 m Duration: 2 1/2 hours Distance: 7.7 km Level: Difficult
"YOU ARE HIKING IN THE HEART OF THE ECRINS NATIONAL PARK The Écrins massif is an exceptional area, open to all, with a rare natural, cultural and landscape heritage. To protect this wealth, the heart of the park is marked with blue-white-red flags, where regulations must be respected. Please take note of them when preparing your hike in order to preserve this collective asset on the ecrins-parcnational.fr website."
ROUTE Starting from the lower car park in La Bérarde, walk up to the Maison de la Montagne in the village. Continue along the side of the building to the path that starts at the end of the village. From here, you can already see the Meije, Grand Pic and the Glacier Carré. Continue for around one hour, following the Vénéon to the Refuge du Carrelet. This is where the climb starts up to the Refuge de Temple Ecrins as you leave the main path, turning left at the junction. The path goes up through a forest of pine trees and the shape of some of the trunks says a lot about the harsh climate! Once you come out of the forest, you have a magnificent view over the Pilatte glacier and the source of the Vénéon. You then come out onto alpine grassland.
DURING THE HIKE In the Alpine grassland, you can see rhododendrons, gentian violets and many other mountain flowers. There are often chamois and marmots around the mountain hut.
EXTRA INFO The Refuge de Temple Ecrins is the starting point for many wonderful climbs, such as the Traversée des Ecrins and the Pic Coolidge.
Tips
The refuge is guarded from June to September, Don't forget to book.
Ouverture
From 15/05 to 31/10.
Subject to snow conditions.
Tarifs
Free access.
Contact et accès La Bérarde 38520 Saint-Christophe-en-Oisans - La Bérarde Isère (38)
