Last updated: 10/26/14

Check traffic conditions on the mountain roads and high-altitude passes in the Hautes-Alpes, as well as the webcams, on theInfo Route 05 website (click on “webcam” in the right-hand sidebar).

Road closed to cars starting from Ailefroide due to flooding in late August!

If walking, stick to the left bank (the side with the road); a trail marked by cairns connects the remaining sections of road and leads you to the Pré de Madame Carle without much difficulty (1 hr / 1 hr 30 min).

Trail between Ailefroide and Pré de Madame Carle (right bank)—challenging: missing sections, occasional lack of trail markers, very strenuous.

Then comes the start of the trail leading to the White Glacier (crossing the Saint-Pierre torrent), which is tricky. The rest of the route remains the same as last year all the way to the mountain hut.

Add an additional 30-minute walk from the Béassac Chapel parking lot to the bottom of the valley.

Same as above. Add an additional 30-minute walk between the Béassac Chapel parking lot and the bottom of the valley. Plus another 30 minutes to reach the shelter, due to route changes, for a total of 3 hours one way.

Clapouse’s Hump: No problem.

For the Pelvoux and Sélé mountain huts: the trail at the bottom of the Celse Nière valley is damaged; there are a few missing trail markers and some challenging sections over rocky terrain.

Left Bank Fisherman’s Trail: Closed. The trail was partially washed away by the flood in late August.
Right Bank Fisherman’s Trail: Open. The right bank is accessible.

Since the fire in July 2026, some trails remain closed: find details on the restricted areas here; for more information and updates on this area, visit Illiwap (L’Argentière-la-Bessée, Freissinières)

Below is a list of via ferrata routes and their current operating status:

• Freissinières – The Cliff: Closed
• L’Argentière-la-Bessée – The Clock: Open
• L’Argentière-la-Bessée – The Durance Gorges (private): Open (at your own risk)
• Les Vigneaux – Le Colombier / La Balme: Open
• Pelvoux-Vallouise – The Ailefroide Gorges: Closed
• Puy-Saint-Vincent – La Combe: Open
• Puy-Saint-Vincent – Tournoux: Open

• Following the flooding in late August, part of the Pré de Madame Carle road was washed away. The road is closed starting from Ailefroide.
• Fall Fair, Sunday, October 18, in Vallouise

Park in the Dormillouse parking lot at the bottom of the valley; then walk 45 minutes to the hamlet of Dormillouse. From there, continue on to Lake Fangeas (about 45 minutes). From there, you can either continue a short distance across the wide plateaus toward the Col des Terres Rouges, or take the loop hike around Lakes Palluel and Faravel (a 5- to 7-hour loop—for experienced hikers). In the fall, the colors of the deciduous and larch forests, set amid numerous waterfalls, make this a truly splendid place.

Head to Puy Saint Vincent (1,400 m), in the hamlet of Les Prés, and drive up toward Col de la Pousterle. Park 2 km before the pass, where the road turns unpaved.

Reach the Col de la Pousterle in 30 minutes on foot. Stunning panoramic views of the Pelvoux and the Vallon du Fournel amid the larch trees. You can also hike up to Les Têtes in 1 hour and 30 minutes, where the 360° view is magnificent. You can return by taking a loop trail. Total round-trip walking time: 3 hours and 30 minutes; elevation gain: 450 m.

Park in downtown Vallouise-Pelvoux, then at the first turn after the Edelweiss bakery, take the trail on the right marked “Sentier de la Pinée.” It takes 1 hour and 45 minutes to walk to the hamlet of Puy Aillaud. From Puy Aillaud, at the top of the village, take the wide trail leading to the paragliding launch site—about a 30-minute walk—then continue on to the Pimouget chalets, which you can reach easily in 30 minutes. Return via the same trail. Elevation gain: 450 m; one-way travel time to the chalets: 3 hours.