Pic de Chabrières via the Serre de Mouton (alternative route)

Fancy an alternative route to the Pic de Chabrieres? Here's one...

TOTAL DISTANCE: 10.4km
APPROXIMATE TIME: 2hrs 30mins

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


There are so many routes from the Lac de Saint-Apollinaire that it seems a waste not to show you the full array. This alternative route onto the Pic de Chabrieres, with the craggy Aiguilles beyond, goes some way to rectifying that. 

Begin once again at Lac de Saint Apollinaire, and again head up the steep dusty path found to the right hand side of the 'lake', indicated by the white and red horizontal signs. Continue up this track until you reach the wide, contour-traversing track which we briefly crossed over on day one.



View this route on a Larger Map

Once you reach this track, follow it round to the right, along the eastern edge of the hill. This is a nice, gentle walk through the pine forest, though open enough to see views of the northern mountains which border the Ecrins national park. In warm, sunny weather also look out for lizards, as they enjoy the dry ground that the forest floor offers.

Continue along the path and you will come to a small glade with log benches; this is an ideal resting point if you're still recovering from the initial slog up the hillside!

As you may have noticed, the track you are now following is indicated by orange and blue circles. This is important, as soon the route up onto the Serre de Mouton ("ridge of sheep"; see the Pic de Chabrieres route) leaves this track soon. Be sure to take the path up the hillside indicated by these circles.

Following this smaller, steeper path up the hillside you will soon come to a plateau and a messy junction of paths. Be sure not to ascend the hillside too early; wait until you have found the signpost (the one with the figure of the walker) which reveals the correct path.

Continue to ascend through the forest and the extent of the trees will begin to dissipate. When you come to the sign on the tree which shows an arrow downwards and an arrow to the right, go slightly beyond this tree and take the path up to the right.

The Pic de Chabrieres on the left, with the Aiguilles de Chabrieres behind it to the right

Soon you will be in familiar territory, as you will find yourself on the same open route I have previously suggested. Indeed, from here you can choose to ascend to the pinnacle of the Serre de Mouton or go further and onto the Pic de Chabrieres. I suggest using the route previously suggested as a quicker descent, offering if nothing else a circular route. Considering the lack of scope for such routes in the Alps, plus the lovely forest walking this offers, make sure not to miss out on this lovely walk.