Key facts

Distance: 8.5 km
Ascent: +182 m
Descent: −157 m
Estimated time: 2 hr 15; hiking
Difficulty: Easy; official rating
Route: Out and back; same way back

Profile and gradient

under 10%
10 to 20%
over 20%

Surface and path types

Surface: Paved 25%
Dirt & gravel 75%
Path types: Trail 60%
Track 15%
Road 25%

Description

Along the River Guisane, between fields and forests, an age-old, often shaded path makes its way from village to village. In the evening, the inhabitants of Le Monêtier, Le Casset and Le Lauzet love to run, cycle or walk along this trail, to the gentle purring sound of the River Guisane, which brings a little bit of freshness on hot summer days. From the car park, go up the main village street, passing the church and the windmill, and continue along Rue du Lauzet. Then turn left after the Rebanchon gîte to cross the torrent. Turn right just after the bridge and then follow the yellow panels. The path goes around the foot of the Fontenil valley, near the village of the same name, before crossing Les Boussardes. From there, the rest of the trail is on the local tarmac road, leading you to the heart of the valley’s highest village. You follow the same route on the way back.

Difficulty

Official rating: easy, by Parc national des Écrins.

Before you go

Please keep to the path and don’t tread on the vegetation in the meadows. NB: you can opt for the route going back along the old tarmac road.

Getting there

Start: Hameau du Casset, Le Monêtier-les-Bains, Le Monêtier-les-Bains (05).

Sources

Track: Parc national des Écrins, Licence Ouverte 2.0, Licence Ouverte 2.0 (Etalab) (destination.ecrins-parcnational.fr/trek/921532-Du-Casset-au-Lauzet). Time estimated by GPX Path with the Mac app rule, breaks not included.
Surface and path types: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL, extract of 28 October 2026, matched to the track every 10 m (openstreetmap.org/copyright)
Official elevation gain: 182 m, Parc national des Écrins

From Le Casset to Le Lauzet