Buffère pass

This pretty, easy hike to the magnificent Buffère valley and pass follows the GR57 Tour de la Haute Clarée via the Buffère refuge. A view of part of the Écrins massif will quickly reward your efforts.

This hike generally departs from Pont du Rately
but you can also start from Névache - Ville haute :
From Névache to the Col: approx. 3 hrs 30 mins.
From Névache to the Buffère refuge: approx. 2 hrs.
Pont du Rately to Col: 2h30.

From the Chapelle Saint Anne / rocher de Lacou , you'll need to follow the asphalt Haute Vallée road for a few meters to reach the Pont du Rately. A sign indicates the Refuge de Buffère on the left: a stony track crosses the fields to reach the Pont du Rately.

Cross the bridge to the right, then follow the GR 57 path marked in red and white (same route as to the refuge).

After a steep climb of around 15 minutes, through a magnificent larch forest, you'll discover the hamlet of Le Serre and its ancient chalets, and you'll soon arrive at the refuge.

Once you've passed the refuge, continue straight on towards the Col, following the GR path, for a further 1.5 hrs.