Col de la Gardette

Key facts

Distance: 9.3 km
Ascent: +670 m
Descent: −666 m
Estimated time: 3 hr 55; hiking
Difficulty: Moderate; official rating
Route: Out and back; same way back

Profile and gradient

under 10%
10 to 20%
over 20%

Surface and path types

Surface: Dirt & gravel 100%
Path types: Trail 5%
Track 95%

Description

A lovely ascent to a bucolic pass where lush green mountain pastures stretch as far as the eye can see. Flower-bedecked alpine pastures await you on the way up, while the Serre-Ponçon lake stretches along the mountainside. At the summit, the Réallon valley also appears when the sun blesses you with its presence. - From Chirouzes car park, follow the track via the yellow markings, then leave the track for a small path on the left after a bend. Cross the track and take the path opposite. Turn left after 30 m towards Col de Chorges. Turn left and pass the farm once you reach the mountain pastures. Turn right at a new house, standing alone, then right again onto the track. At a new car park, follow the track towards Col de Chorges. - 100m after accessing the track through a closed gate, turn right, remaining on a track, then right at the next intersection towards Col de la Gardette. - Cross the stream and go back into the woods. Turn left after 100m and follow the path up to the Col de la Gardette

Difficulty

Official rating: moderate, by Parc national des Écrins.

Getting there

Start: Les Chirouzes, Chorges, Chorges (05).

Sources

Track: Parc national des Écrins, Licence Ouverte 2.0, Licence Ouverte 2.0 (Etalab) (destination.ecrins-parcnational.fr/trek/991062-Col-de-la-Gardette). 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: 670 m, Parc national des Écrins