La Garde-en-Oisans - Hiking from the resort of Auris-en-Oisans

A long hike that winds partly through the Auris spruce forest and past charming little hamlets.

MAP AND HIKING GUIDE
OBP (Oisans au Bout des Pieds) hiking guides/maps Nos. 2 and 3, available for purchase at the tourist office: trails 303 and 270.
IGN Top 25 Bourg d’Oisans and L’Alpe d’Huez 3335 ET.

ITINERARY
You’ll set off directly from the tourist office and cross through the resort before entering the protected Piégut Forest. The downhill trail will take you deep into Europe’s highest spruce forest.
A series of switchbacks will lead you to a ridgeline trail where you can enjoy magnificent views of the Bourg plain—and beyond—until you reach the hamlets of Armentier-le-Haut and Armentier-le-Bas. Shortly after crossing the Sarenne River, you’ll arrive in the town of La Garde-en-Oisans.

Yellow PDIPR signs.

From the Tourist Office, leave Place des Orgières by turning right onto Rue de Piégut. At the curve, across from the basketball court, you’ll find the trailhead, which leads into the forest. A signpost directs you toward Plancet, among other destinations.
Soon after, a second signpost continues to point you in this direction. At the next intersection, keep following the signs for Plancet. Just before reaching the hamlet of Plancet, the dirt trail descends steeply, requiring your full attention. Once in Plancet, a picnic table invites you to take a break, while signs point toward La Balme and Le Cert.
You’ll then take a winding trail to your right, following the direction of L’Armentier-le-Haut. You’ll need to walk briefly along the D211A road before turning right at a yellow sign warning of a tricky section due to possible rockfalls. You’ll follow a trail running along the mountainside until you exit the hazardous area.
In the hamlet of L’Armentier-le-Haut, a sign points you toward L’Armentier-le-Bas. You’ll pass along the edge of the hamlet of L’Armentier-le-Bas before continuing toward La Ville and La Garde–La Meule. You’ll pass through the hamlet until you reach the Sarenne River, continuing in the direction of Bourg-d’Oisans and La Garde–La Meule. After crossing the river, follow the road for a short stretch toward La Garde–La Meule before reaching the town of La Garde-en-Oisans, the destination of this hike.

The return trip follows the same route in the opposite direction.