Navette Valley

Key facts

Distance: 4.4 km
Ascent: +109 m
Descent: −105 m
Estimated time: 1 hr 10; hiking
Difficulty: Very easy; official rating
Route: Loop; back to the start

Profile and gradient

under 10%
10 to 20%
over 20%

Description

A lovely family walk to discover the history Navette hamlet and the Buchardet waterfall. On a hot summer’s day, on a shaded path, the ruins of the Navette hamlet, its restored chapel, ancient farmed terraces newly reforested and the « via clause » elevated path are there to evoke the charm of another time. At the Fouronnière car park, cross the stone bridge, then a second wooden one at the end of a short climb, to get to the ruins of Navette village. Cross Navette and continue on the path through the forest of Larch then Spruce, to rapidly reach the Buissard prairie. At its end, Buchardet waterfall reveals itself on the left. A small steep track enables you to better approach it. Cross the torrent on the wooden bridge and follow on in to the Larch forest taking a stone-walled path (via clause) before redescending to cross the Navette torrent and pass to the other side of the valley. At the crossroads, take a right to return to the Fouronnière car park by an elevated path overlooking the Navette torrent.

Difficulty

Official rating: very easy, by Parc national des Écrins.

Getting there

Start: Fouronnière, La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar (05).

Sources

Track: Parc national des Écrins, Licence Ouverte 2.0, Licence Ouverte 2.0 (Etalab) (destination.ecrins-parcnational.fr/trek/903498-Le-vallon-de-Navette). Time estimated by GPX Path with the Mac app rule, breaks not included.
Official elevation gain: 109 m, Parc national des Écrins