Puy Saint
Vincent
Pelvoux-Vallouise
Climbing cliffs in the Pays des Écrins
In the Pays des Écrins, there are many climbing spots to discover on your own or with an instructor.
The most famous natural climbing sites in the Pays des Écrins are: Ailefroide, located within the Écrins National Park, is known the world over as one of the most beautiful natural climbing sites, but there is also Le Pouit (Champcella), Le Fournel (L'Argentière-La-Bessée), Les Vignettes and Rocher Baron (Saint-Martin de Queyrières).
Ailefroide is rock climbing and bouldering heaven: the ideal place to learn or improve.
On cliffs, you climb along the cliff faces, secured by a harness and wearing a helmet.
There are easy and more difficult routes. There are also many multi-pitch routes in La Vallouise.
Multi-pitch routes, cliffs, granite, limestone or quartzite: There is the full range, from very safe beginners’ routes to adventure terrain, crevices, slabs and overhangs.
Qualified guides and instructors can teach you the basics or help you progress. In either case, you will discover the lovely routes of these mythical sites with them. You can also hire or buy the necessary equipment in the sports shops across the area.
Natural Climbing Sites (SNE – sites naturels d’escalade)
(Classed by municipality)
Site: Beauregard – L'Argentière-La-Bessée **
Access: Access by public transport.
Opposite the factory in l’Argentière, left bank of the Durance above the RN94 road.
Type of site: Athletic
Number of routes: 35
Grade: French 5a to 7b
Type of rock: Limestone
Level: Advanced
Site: L'Horloge —L'Argentière-La-Bessée *
Access: Access by public transport. Leave the village of l’Argentière to the west by the Fournel road, cross the railway track then three hairpin bends further up, park at the north corner of the cliff below the clock tower.
Type of site: Athletic
Number of routes: 40
Grade: French 4c to 6a
Type of rock: Limestone
Level: Advanced
Site: Le Fournel – L'Argentière-La-Bessée ***
Access: Access by public transport. Valley located above l’Argentière-la-Bessée, to the north-west, the rocks are on the left bank of the glacial cross cliff at the entrance to the valley. Access via the small Fournel Valley road.
Type of site: Athletic
Number of routes: 45
Grade: French 4c to 8a
Type of rock: Limestone
Level: Advanced
Site: Le Lauzet – La-Roche-de-Rame *
Access: Access by public transport. From La Roche-de-Rame, take the Lauzet mountain road (D438), and park along the first bend.
Type of site: Bouldering
Number of routes: 53
Grade: French 5b to 7a
Type of rock: Limestone
Level: Advanced
Site: Le Bathéou – La-Roche-de-Rame **
Access: Access by public transport. Near to the hamlet of Bathéou. In the village of La Roche-de-Rame, follow the right bank of the Bouchouse stream to the end.
Type of site: Athletic/FFME approved
Number of routes: 50
Grade: French 5a to 8c
Type of rock: Limestone
Level: Advanced
Site: Pra Reboul/Le Bathéou / Mas de Queyras — La-Roche-de-Rame *
Access: Access by public transport. Above the RN94 from Briançon to Gap, 1 km south of La Roche-de-Rame.
Type of site: Boulders
Number of routes: 11
Grade: French 5c to 7b
Type of rock: Limestone
Level: Advanced
Site: Val Durance — Géro — La-Roche-de-Rame **
Access: Access by public transport. Leave the RN94 and head towards Géro, the cliff towers over the village.
Type of site: Athletic/FFME approved
Number of routes: 20
Grade: French 4c to 8a
Type of rock: Limestone
Level: Advanced
Site: Val Durance – Le Villard — La-Roche-de-Rame **
Access: Access by public transport. 2 km to the north of La Roche-de-Rame, 300 m from the Géro cliff. Leave the RN94.
Type of site: Athletic/FFME approved
Number of routes: 25
Grade: French 5c to 8b
Type of rock: Limestone
Level: Advanced
Site: Les Traverses/Les Vignettes — Saint-Martin de Queyrières ***
Access: Access by public transport. Via the D4 road Prelles – Les Vigneaux, park 1 km south of Villard-Meyer.
Type of site: Athletic
Number of routes: 70
Grade: French 5c to 8b
Type of rock: Limestone
Level: Advanced
Site: Prelles – Saint-Martin de Queyrières *
Access: Access by public transport. Large grassy area used as a car park. Access via the D4 road from Prelles or Les Vigneaux.
Type of site: Athletic
Number of routes: 15
Grade: French 5b to 7a
Type of rock: Limestone
Level: Advanced
Site: Rocher Baron — Saint-Martin de Queyrières ***
Access: Access by public transport. From Briançon, go towards Le Villaret on the D36 road, 300 m beyond Le Villaret, follow the forest road to the left to marker 1359.
Type of site: Athletic/FFME approved (Suitable for children)
Number of routes: 45
Grade: 3a to 8a
Type of rock: Quartzite
Level: Beginners
Site: Val Durance/Rif d’Oriol – Saint-Martin de Queyrières *
Access: Heading towards Briançon, leave l’Argentière-la-Bessée, turn right and park after the second hairpin bend.
Type of site: Athletic/FFME approved
Number of routes: 7
Grade: French 5b to 7a
Type of rock: Limestone
Level: Advanced
Site: Tournoux – Puy-Saint-Vincent **
Access: Access by public transport. Turn off the RN94 between Gap and Briançon at l’Argentière-la-Bessée and follow the D994E road. In Les Vigneaux, follow the D4 towards Puy-St-Vincent and 1 km before Puy Saint Vincent, near to the lifts, turn left towards Les Prés, Pré d’Aval, Pré d’Amont until you reach the Col de la Pousterle, continue 600 m to the hamlet of Tournoux.
Type of site: Athletic/FFME approved
Number of routes: 25
Grade: French 4b to 8b
Type of rock: Limestone
Level: Advanced
Site: Les Ourmandes — Puy-Saint-Vincent *
Access: Access by public transport. Above the D4 (Les Vigneaux - Puy-St-Vincent), below the 1393 marker.
Type of site: Athletic
Number of routes: 15
Grade: French 5c to 7a
Type of rock: Limestone
Level: Advanced
Site: Vallouise/Barthalay – Les Vigneaux *
Access: Access by public transport. Cliffs overlooking the village of Les Vigneaux to the north.
Type of site: Athletic/FFME approved
Number of routes: 13
Grade: French 3b to 6a
Type of rock: Limestone
Level: Beginners to advanced
Site: Ailefroide – Pelvoux ****
Access: Head towards Pelvoux then continue on the Ailefroide road.
Type of site: Adventure terrain
Number of routes: 150
Grade: French 3a to 7c
Type of rock: Limestone
Level: Beginners to advanced
Site: Barachin – Champcella *
Access: Cliff located 100 m below the D38 between Chanteloube and Champcella.
From the St-Crépin airstrip, take the Champcella road and 1 km before the village, continue on foot along an ancient Roman road below the road.
Type of site: Athletic/FFME approved
Number of routes: 26
Grade: French 5c to 7c
Type of rock: Limestone
Level: Advanced
Site: Gorge de la Byaisse/Gouffre de Gourfouran —Champcella/Freissinières **
Access: Access by public transport
At the start of the Freissinières Valley.
Leave the RN94 1 km north of La Roche-de-Rame and follow the D38 (Freissinières) and immediately after crossing the Durance, follow the small road (no through road) for 1.5 km.
Type of site: Adventure terrain
Number of routes: 10
Grade: French 4b to 6b
Type of rock: Limestone
Level: Advanced
Site: Le Cala – Champcella *
Access: Small valley between Champcella and Chanteloube, 1 km SE of Champcella, 500 m NE of Le Pouit.
Type of site: Athletic
Number of routes: 5
Grade: French 5c to 7c
Type of rock: Limestone
Level: Advanced
Site: Le Ponteil – Champcella ***
Access: Access by public transport. Leave the RN94 in St-Crépin, follow the D38 west towards Freissinières for 4 km, turn left towards Champcella and continue to the first houses in the hamlet of Ponteil.
Type of site: Adventure terrain/FFME approved
Number of routes: 26
Grade: French 5b to 6b
Type of rock: Limestone
Level: Advanced
Site: Le Pouit – Champcella ***
Access: Access by public transport. Leave the RN94 in St-Crépin, follow the D38 west towards Freissinières for 4 km, turn left towards Champcella. At the southern exit of the village, follow the ‘no exit’ road until you come to a descent. The cliff face is visible on the left.
Type of site: Athletic/FFME approved
Number of routes: 66
Grade: French 5a to 7c
Type of rock: Limestone
Level: Advanced
A climbing gym to climb all year round
Climbing gym open to all, members and non-members of the FFCAM.
CONDITIONS FOR ACCESS TO THE SAE
MEMBERS of the FFCAM:
1 - Training course group lodging at the Eychauda = FREE with an agreement to be requested at the Pelvoux services for use outside of opening hours.
2 - children under 6 = FREE
3 - adult lodging at the Eychauda = €3.80
4 - young person (under 25) lodging at the Eychauda = €3.00
5 - Adult session = €6.00
6 - No ropes session only = €3.80
7 - Young person under-25 session = €3.80
8 - Adult 10-session pass not nominative = €45.00
9 - Young person 10-session pass not nominative = €33.00
10 - Guide, BEES instructor, rescue services (PGHM, CRS, Fire Brigade) = €3.80
11 - FFCAM management and supervising pros (min. 4 people) = free
Non-members of the FFCAM:
NON-MEMBERS of the FFCAM:
1 - children under 6 = FREE
2 - adult lodging at the Eychauda = €6.00
3 - young person (under 18) lodging at the Eychauda = € 3.80
4 - Adult session = €8.50
5 - No ropes session only = €5.80
6 - Young person under-18 session = €5.80
7 - Guide, BEES instructor, rescue services (PGHM, CRS, Fire Brigade) = €6.00
For access at other times, particularly for schools, groups or for further details, please contact the service on +33 (0)4 92 44 07 48.
On Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays, the SAE is for FFCAM groups only, who have signed an agreement.
The climbing gym has climbers’ hooks but you must bring your own harness, shoes, ropes and belay system.
Only liquid chalk and eco balls are authorised.
ADDRESS
Le Sarret
05340 VALLOUISE-PELVOUX
Tel.: +33 (0)4 92 23 49 51
http://chaletleychauda.ffcam.fr/
ACCESS
Le Sarret Hamlet in Pelvoux, towards the road leading to Chambran and the Eychauda Lake, then turn up to the right. Parking below alongside the road.
