Pic de Chabriere (another alternative route)

The last of three route suggestions atop everybody's favourite alpine peak...

DISTANCE TO THE TOP: 9km
APPROXIMATE TIME TO THE TOP: 2hrs

START: Lac de Saint Apollinaire
FINISH: Lac de Saint Apollinaire

In two previous posts, I have suggested routes onto the Pic de Chabriere via the ridge to the south east of the peak, namely the Serre de Mouton. This walk offers a new route which does not ascend via this ridge and offers a pleasant alternative. 

Once again park at the Lac de Saint Apollinaire but, rather than heading up the hill, travel back down a short section of the road you have just driven up. You don't have to walk along the road itself as there are small paths which shortcut through the yellow fields. You should pass the secondary parking area to the lac; continue until you come across a bridleway to the left with a white and red horizontal symbol on a post by it.

View the route to the top in a Larger Map


Travel along this undulating track for approximately twenty minutes. The varying amount of tree coverage allows for some views of the scenery on the other side of the Lac de Serre-Ponçon, such as the dominating peak of Mont Morgon. As the track swings round, you will be able to see the wall of mountains to the north, including Mont Guillaume.

At the end of this track you will hit a road close to a ski centre. Walk along the road momentarily; as the road bends back on itself to form a hairpin up the hillside, take the track situated on the bend itself. As the houses begin to disappear, the track becomes a small path through a series of fields.

If you're sharp-eyed and observant, you may be lucky enough to spot a small path off the one you are on already. If not, don't worry: carry along, over the stream, until you reach the chairlift pylons. Ascend up the ride next to the pylons and you'll reach the main track in no time.

Follow this track up to the right and round the bend in the path. At the junction, turn left and carry this track round.

Soon, your track comes to a junction with a ski slope. Either continue the main track up to the chairlift hut at the summit of the peak, or, for a closer view of the craggy Aigiles de Chabriere to the right, take the ski slope up and, at the next junction, take the track round to the right instead. Both routes take you to roughly the same area, except the ski-slope route takes you slightly higher up the ridge, offering better views to the south. 

From the top, on a good day, you can see the Brec de Chamberons at the Italian border to the north east; Mourfroide is the pyramidal peak which you can see beyond the wall of the Mont Guillaume ridge to the north; Mont Seoline is the craggy monster lying to the north of the Ubaye valley to the east; on a crystal clear day, the Provençal peak of Mont Ventoux sits proud 95km to the south. Above all, the Lac de Serre-Ponçon lies shimmering in the sunlight below you.

Regarding descent, there is a wealth of options. Either descend the way you came, or travel back via the Serre de Mouton and use one of the routes detailed in previous posts to descend the remainder of the mountain.

A great alternative onto a peak which continually impresses.