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.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Start: Combe Noire / La Bérarde
Height difference: 522 m
Duration: 2 h 30 to go, 2 h 15 to return
Distance: 10 km
Level :
Medium hike

MAP AND TOPO
OBP n° 5 (Oisans au Bout des Pieds) : 553 then 551
IGN TOP 25 n°3436 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
From the shuttle bus stop, follow the road to the La Bérarde signpost, then take the path on your left towards the Chatelleret refuge. The ascent begins amidst ancient terraces once shaped and cultivated. At the Tête de la Maye fork, continue to the Génie footbridge and continue along the left bank of the Étançons torrent. On your right you can see the Bonnepierre valley and the south-west face of the Écrins, a magnificent mineral cathedral. Keep your eyes and ears open to see and hear the marmots and chamois that are very present in this pasture on the Étançons plateau.
As you round a bend, "dame Meije" and its square glacier, a veritable wall, appear before you, the south face impressive in its verticality and austerity. Conquered by Pierre Gaspard and Boileau de Castelnau on August 16, 1877. Once you've reached the Chatelleret refuge, which was closed following a torrential lava flow in 2022, you can see the Promontoire refuge higher up, clinging to the south face of the Meije.
The return journey takes the same route as the outward journey.

TO SEE ON THE WAY
- la Meije
- the Écrins
- the flora and fauna of the Étançons valley
- la Bérarde