The Mélézin on snowshoes

In the heart of a vast forest of snow-covered larches, this snowshoe hike will take you up to discover the hamlet of Mélézin perched at an altitude of 1880 metres. The reward is a unique view of the Durance and Guisane rivers.

By car, park at the Centre Montagne parking lot, at the start of the cross-country ski trails. In winter, the Ayes road is snow-covered and closed to traffic.

From the parking lot, retrace your steps onto the Route des Ayes and put on your snowshoes.

The wide Ayes trail rises to reach the forest. Follow this track to the "Ayes/Melezin" fork.

Take the left-hand track towards Les Ayes. Caution: the right-hand track leads to Mélézin via the summer road, and is much longer (8 km one way).

A little further on - approx. 200 m - take the snow-covered path on the right, marked with a yellow "Le Mélézin" sign.

This relatively well-marked route is easily distinguished in the snow between the larch trees and climbs steeply upwards in the heart of the Bois du Villard .
Soon on the right, a small path leads to the Clairière du Lauzin (a short detour is possible to see the Clairière and then return to the main itinerary).

After passing Le Lauzin, ignore the track on the right and take the one on the left until you reach a wide forest track. Cross it to get back to the itinerary opposite.

The climb then becomes a little steeper until you come to a rocky spur (the Oratoire Saint-Augustin is not visible at this time of year, as it is buried under the snow), with the Mélézin chalets in the background.

The return journey takes the same route.