Hiking - Refuge et vallon de la Lavey
Description
Just two hours of easy walking along the Muande mountain stream rewards you with a magnificent panoramic view offering striking contrasts between the high peaks, glaciers and relaxing, green pastureland.
After a "country" climb, you reach the mountain pastures of the upper Lavey valley. The refuge stands as a witness to pastoral life. Today, two flocks of sheep live here, but you can also observe chamois, marmots, foxes and birds around the refuge.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Departure point: St-Christophe-en-Oisans (Champhorent)
Ascent: 400 m
Round trip duration: 2h30 outward, 1h15 return
Distance: 9.4 km
Technical and physical level: easy
MAP AND TOPO
OBP n° 5 (Oisans au Bout des Pieds) trail 531
IGN TOP 25 n°3336 ET
YOU'RE HIKING IN THE HEART OF THE ECRINS NATIONAL PARK
The Écrins massif is an exceptional area, open to all, with a rare natural, cultural and landscape heritage. To protect these treasures, the heart of the park is marked with blue-white-red painted flags, where regulations must be respected. Please take note of them when planning your hike to preserve this collective asset on the ecrins-parcnational.fr website.
ITINERARY
The parking lot is at the entrance to the hamlet of Champhorent (3 km after St Christophe en Oisans), below the road. Take the path at the end of the parking lot down to the Vénéon torrent and its magnificent Pont des Rajas. Cross the pretty stone bridge and climb towards the Rajas houses. Continue uphill to enter the Vallon de la Muande and follow the torrent on the right bank, then on the left bank after a second stone bridge. At the shepherd's hut, cross the gently sloping slabs to reach the refuge hidden behind this small glacial lock.
Return via the hamlet of Souchet (OBP no. 5 - path 566).
THE PARC DES ECRINS, A FRAGILE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT TO PROTECT
When hiking in the Parc des Ecrins, you must respect the regulations that allow you to enjoy this exceptional natural area: do not leave the trails, dogs are forbidden even on a leash, do not pick flowers or collect fossils, minerals, animals..., do not throw anything on the ground (bring your own garbage). Nature thanks you!
NOTES
- The refuge is guarded from mid-June to mid-September and offers snacks during the day.
- The Lac des Fétoules is signposted from the refuge.
- From the refuge, you can hike for several days to Lac des Bêches (2h) and Lac des Rouies (4h).
- You are in the Ecrins National Park, so respect the regulations: don't leave the paths, no picking, no fires... To respect the fauna, dogs are forbidden (even on a leash).
Technical informations
9.4 km
|
max. 1807 m
min. 1421 m
400 m
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Accessibility | ||||
Styles : HikingMountainTerroir Public : Family | ||||
Altimetric profile
Starting point
Steps
Départ du hameau de Champhorent
Le hameau de Champhorent se situe entre St Christophe en Oisans et la Bérarde. Le parking de la Lavey est signalé. Il est en-dessous de la route. Le départ du sentier se trouve au bout du parking.
Pont des Rajas
Depuis le parking, descendre jusqu'au torrent du Vénéon et le traverser sur un trés beau pont en pierre. Suivre ensuite le panneau qui indique le Refuge de la Lavey. On laisse le sentier qui longe le Vénéon jusqu'à la Bérarde pour monter dans le Vallon de Lavey et longer le torrent de la Muande.
Intersection avec le sentier du Lac des Fétoules
Pour aller au Refuge, laisser sur la gauche le sentier qui passe par le petit Lac des Fétoules. Cet itinéraire est plutôt conseillé au retour après être passé par le Refuge de la Lavey.
Refuge de la Lavey
Le Refuge de la Lavey est idéal pour faire une halte ou séjourner. Les enfants sont les bienvenus. Plusieurs options sont ensuite possibles : - Poursuivre jusqu'au Lac des Bêches à 2 heures. - Poursuivre jusqu'au Lac des Rouies à 3 heures. - Redescendre par le Lac des Fétoules.
Points of interest
La Lavey mountain hut
In the heart of Oisans, the Lavey refuge is ideal for discovering mountain pasture life with its sheep, chamois, marmots, and accessing lakes, ridges, or glaciers! Camille & Ludmilla will delight you with their warm welcome and their colorful cuisine!Located at an altitude of 1797 m, a 2-hour walk from the hamlet of Champhorrent on an easy path going up the Muande torrent, you reach a place of privileged exchanges, sharing of emotions between climbers, hikers and people of the mountain. Family refuge and original cuisine. At the refuge you will find everything you need for this particular adventure: - The cover: from refreshments to full meals, including small snacks. Sweet and savory delicacies at any time. - Dormitories: equipped with mattresses, pillows and duvets. - Guardians: to welcome you, inform you, advise and guide you in the choice of your routes. At the foot of glaciers and accessible lakes, fauna, flora, herds meet you and each of you, from the smallest to the largest, from the contemplative to the adventurer, from the climber to the walker, will find satisfaction. Respect the legislation of the Ecrins National Park.
5-day gourmet tour
A self-guided tour exploring the Massif des Écrins. From one day to the next, staying at huts, gîtes and hotels, the wardens and restaurateurs invite you to taste their local specialities. This tour is for walkers with a good level of fitness.1st day: 3h30 walk / 621 m height gain / starting from the Plan du Lac, Lanchatra and night at the Alpe du Pin hut. 2nd day : 5h walk / 607m height gain, into the Vallon de la Mariande, followed by Souchey and La Lavey Night at La Lavey hut. 3rd day: 5h walk / 737m height gain Lac des Fétoules, Les Rajas, Champhorent, Champébran, Pré Clot. Night at the Gîte d'Etape Les Arias in a dorm. 4th day: 5h walk / 1070m height gain Plat de la Selle, St Christophe and museum visit. Night either in a dorm at the Cordée next door (with access to the hammam) or in a comfortable room at the Relais des Écrins gite. 5th day: 5h walk / 677m height gain Les Près, Miroir des Fétoules and the Peyssa orientation table, Le Puy and back to Plan du Lac.
8 days trek
At each stage, whether at mountain huts, overnight gites or hotels, the wardens and restaurant owners invite you to explore the Valley. This circuit is for experienced hikers.1st day: Map of the lake - Alpe du pin 625m D + / 3h30 walk / 5.5 km 2nd day: Alpe du pin - Mariande valley - Lavey 550m D + / 4h30 walk / 7.7 km 3rd day: Lavey - les Etages - la Bérarde 325m D + / 4h walk 4th day: La Bérarde - Etançons valley 730m D + / 3h30 walk / 7 km 5th day: Le Châtelleret - la Bérarde - Écrins Temple 700m D + / 4h30 walk / 12 km 6th day: Écrins Temple - Vallon de la Pilatte 580m D + / 4h walk / 7 km 7th day: Pré Clot - Selle dish - St Christophe 1070m D + / 5h walk Please choose your night in St Christophe: 8th day: Pré Clot - Cuculet - Mirror - le Puy - Lake map 677m D + / 5h walk
Tour Gourmand 4 days
Tour in freedom to discover the Massif des Ecrins. Over the stages between shelters, gite and hotel, keepers and restaurateurs invite you to discover their specialties. This tour is destined to good walkers.1st day: 3h30 walk / 621 m / departure from Le Plan du Lac, Lanchatra and night at the Alpe du Pin hut. 2nd day: 5h walk / D + 607m direction Le Vallon de la Mariande then Souchey and Lavey Night at the Lavey hut. 3rd day: 5h walk / D + 737m Lac des Fétoules, the Rajas, Champhorent, Champébran, Pré Clot Overnight at Gîte d'étape Les Arias in dormitory. 4th day: 5h walk / D + 677 m Departure for St Christophe with visit of the museum then the Pres, Miroir, Puy and return to Le Plan du lac
Tour Gourmand - 3 days
Tour in freedom to discover the Massif des Ecrins. Over the stages between shelters, gite and hotel, keepers and restaurateurs invite you to discover their specialties. This tour is destined to good walkers.1st day: 3h30 walk / 621 m / departure from the lake map, Lanchatra and night at the Alpe du Pin refuge. 2nd day: 5h walk / D + 607m direction Le Vallon de la Mariande then Le Clot, Champhorent, Champébran, Pré Clot Overnight at Gîte d'Etape Les Arias in dormitory. 3rd day: 5h walk / D + 677 m Departure for St Christophe with visit of the museum then the Pres, Miroir, Puy and return Plan du lac
Date and time
- From 15/05/2024 to 31/10/2024
- From 15/05/2025 to 31/10/2025
Additional information
Environments
Mountain location
Updated by
Oisans Tourisme - 08/04/2024
www.oisans.com
Report a problem
Open period
From 15/05 to 31/10.
Subject to favorable snow and weather conditions.
Contact
Phone : 04 76 80 50 01
Email : info-berarde@oisans.com
Website : www.oisans.com/stations-et-villages/saint-christophe-oisans-berarde/
Location complements
Inside the Ecrins National Park boundary; no dogs allowed, even on a lead.
Data author
