Vallon des Étages - Hike from Les Étages

A wild valley starting from the hamlet of Les Etages and ending in a glacial cirque.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
Starting point: Les Étages parking lot
Elevation gain: 493 m
Duration: 4 hours
Distance: 7.3 km
Difficulty: Moderate

MAP AND HIKING GUIDE
IGN Top 25 Map No. 3436 ET
OBP Hiking Guide No. 5 (Oisans au Bout des Pieds), Trail 541

YOU’RE HIKING IN THE HEART OF THE ÉCRINS NATIONAL PARK
The Écrins Massif is an exceptional area, open to all, with a natural, cultural, and scenic heritage of rare beauty. To protect these treasures, the heart of the park is marked by blue-white-red flags, and visitors must comply with the regulations in this area. Please familiarize yourself with these regulations while planning your hike to help preserve this shared resource at ecrins-parcnational.fr.

ITINERARY:
Park in the lot at the exit of the hamlet of Les Étages; the trail begins just before the lot, in the middle of Les Étages. Then head down to the bridge that crosses the Vénéon torrent at the foot of the village. Turn left and continue toward the “Vallon des Étages right bank.” Cross the small bridge over the Vallon stream. The ascent then begins, sheltered from the heat in the forest, up to the glacial moraine, where the wild and unspoiled Étages valley opens up before you. In June, the diversity of the flora is a feast for the eyes, and the abundant wildlife in this valley promises some wonderful encounters.
After the pastures, the ascent takes you through the moraine of the Pointe du Vallon glacier, following the cairns placed along the way.

The return trip follows the same trail back to the glacial barrier. From there, you can take the left bank, crossing the bridge further along to return to Les Étages.

HIGHLIGHTS ALONG THE ROUTE:

• Pointe du Vallon des Étages
• The Soreiller Valley and the Dibona
• Le Rouget