Refuge du Châtelleret - hike from Combe Noire / la Bérarde

Easily accessible, the Étancons valley opens the doors to the high mountains. A hike with splendid views of the area's two main peaks, the Meije and the Écrins.

YOU ARE HIKING IN THE HEART OF THE ÉCRINS NATIONAL PARK
The Écrins Massif is an exceptional area, open to everyone, with a natural, cultural, and scenic heritage that is truly unique. To protect these treasures, the heart of the park is marked by blue-white-red flags, and certain regulations must be followed within this area. Please familiarize yourself with these rules when planning your hike to help preserve this shared resource at ecrins-parcnational.fr.

ITINERARY
From the shuttle stop, follow the road to the Bérarde sign, then take the trail on your left toward the Chatelleret refuge; the ascent begins amid the old terraces that were once shaped and cultivated. At the Tête de la Maye fork, continue to the Génie footbridge and follow the left bank of the Étançons torrent. To your right, you can see the Bonnepierre valley and the southwest face of the Écrins—a magnificent stone cathedral. Keep your eyes and ears open to spot and hear the marmots and chamois, which are abundant in the Plat des Étançons pasture.
As you round a bend, “Dame Meije” and its square glacier—a veritable wall—come into view, its south face impressive for its verticality and austerity. It was first climbed by Pierre Gaspard and Boileau de Castelnau on August 16, 1877. Upon reaching the Chatelleret refuge—which was closed following a torrential lava flow in 2022—you’ll spot the Promontoire Refuge higher up, perched on the south face of La Meije.
The return trip follows the same route as the outbound hike.

HIGHLIGHTS ALONG THE ROUTE

• La Meije
• The Écrins
• The flora and fauna of the Étançons Valley
• La Bérarde