The Col de Barteaux

This circular route in the Bois de Villard offers an original route to the Croix du Pied, the Col de Barteaux and the Col du Granon orientation table.

Details

3506827
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.13 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,057 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,060 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 7,936 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5,988 ft

Description of the walk

Park in the hairpin bend before the hamlet of Les Tronchets, the bend from which the track leading to the Chalets du Coin starts.

(S/E) Take this wide track to the right, passing the chalets. Continue along the track, which is then blocked and closed to vehicles. Carry on to the junction of a path indicated by a sign.

(1) Turn left onto this path to begin thefirst climb. Stay on this path until you reach the end of a wider track.

(2) Continue straight ahead on the path that follows this track; stay on this path until you reach another track, then leave it to your left. Take the path on the right to reach a cross.

(3) Return to the path, then leave the woods to begin a pleasant stretch through alpine pastures. Wind your way up a very gentle slope to reach theGR®5C.

(4) Turn right onto it for a few hundred metres to reach the Croix du Pied.

(5) Return in the opposite direction to the previous junction.

(4) Keep to the right on theGR®, and follow an almost level path to reach the Col de Barteaux.

(6) Turn left onto theGR® alternative route, walking alongside the sheepfold. Begin a very short climb to reach the Col de Granon orientation table.

(7) Keep to the left, do not take the tarmac road, but walk past the military buildings at Granon. Follow the military track for a few metres, then turn right and, off the beaten track, head towards the two clearly visible sheepfolds.

(8) Take the path on the left, continue the descent, and at the next junction stay on the new path. After a series of wide hairpin bends, you’ll reach the junction of a wide track.

(9) Cross this track, continue straight ahead (signpost) to continue the descent into the Bois du Villard. Here too, take the new path on the right to avoid a very steep descent. Leave the path leading to Les Tronchets on your right and cut across the open ground opposite, following a clear route to reach the track leading to the Chalets du Coin.

Take this on the right to return easily and quickly to the car park at the bend (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 5,991 ft - Junction of the bend and the Coin track
  2. 1 : mi 0.42 - alt. 6,086 ft - Crossroads: track and path
  3. 2 : mi 0.85 - alt. 6,552 ft - Trail junction
  4. 3 : mi 1.29 - alt. 6,991 ft - The cross
  5. 4 : mi 2.22 - alt. 7,608 ft - Junction with the GR®5C
  6. 5 : mi 2.4 - alt. 7,608 ft - The Croix du Pied
  7. 6 : mi 3.39 - alt. 7,802 ft - Col des Barteaux - Col des Barteaux
  8. 7 : mi 4.24 - alt. 7,913 ft - Col de Granon
  9. 8 : mi 4.76 - alt. 7,444 ft - Sheepfold
  10. 9 : mi 5.38 - alt. 6,745 ft - Wide track junction
  11. S/E : mi 6.13 - alt. 5,988 ft - Junction of the bend and the Coin track

Notes

(7) Refreshment stand at the pass in summer.

Worth a visit

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

3.5 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.1 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.3 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
Jeanlabat
Jeanlabat

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed on a beautiful day in August. It offers beautiful views of the eastern side of the Ecrins Natural Park. Not very busy except between Col de Barteaux and Col de Granon. The route is fairly easy to follow, except when leaving Col de Granon. The trail is unpredictable and does not correspond to any path on the ground. We used GPS to navigate the mountain pasture and found the path 100 metres before point 8 (the route on the map does not correspond to any trail on the IGN map). Apart from this section, there are no problems and the hike is very pretty and enjoyable.

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STEPHANE1203
STEPHANE1203

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Stunning views of the eastern face of the Ecrins National Park

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Sylvie Peythieu
Sylvie Peythieu

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A quiet trail, no doubt due to the time of year and the fact that I set off quite late (4 pm). A very beautiful circular trail. Watch out, though, for sheep and mountain dogs after the Col des Barteaux, heading towards the Col du Granon; I gave the flock a wide berth.

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DOHOUNICOLE
DOHOUNICOLE

Overall rating : 2 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It’s very difficult to follow the route. There aren’t enough signs to indicate where the paths change.

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LioCre
LioCre

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We had some difficulties on the lower part of the circular return loop. Signposting was poor or non-existent.

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Proden
Proden

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

No trouble at all following the path.
A very pleasant walk in a beautiful setting. What’s more, this route is very original.

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