The Ailefroide loop

Vallouise-Pelvoux

The Ailefroide loop

Fauna

Flora

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A pleasant circuit leading back to Ailefroide

Of course, it is possible to reach Ailefroide directly by car, but making your way there on foot makes your discovery of the area more interesting. Surrounded by high walls of granite, a paradise for climbers, this former alpine pasture hamlet has lost none of its charm, even without the houses that once stood here. Very lively in the summer, the village quietens down again at the end of August.

Description

Waysigning: one green dot and one white dot

From the car park in Les Claux, follow the path to Ailefroide via Pra Chapel, which runs uphill just to the right of the penstock pipe. A short distance further up, the route crosses the pipe and continues along a lovely paved path edged by walls and stones. It passes close to the chalets of Le Serre and then Pra chapel, crosses an avalanche path (see recommendations) and comes to the chalets uphill from Ailefroide.

Take the road on the left to cross the bridge and start to descend again on this road, which runs right through the hamlet.
Follow a narrow road which leads into the campsite and continues along a path which crosses the Celse-Nière mountain stream.
After the footbridge, take the path on the left which joins the Ailefroide road further on. The path leads back down to the car park in Les Claux, cutting across the road several times.

Departure : Car park in Les Claux
Arrival : Car park in Les Claux
Towns crossed : Vallouise-Pelvoux

Altimetric profile

Recommandations

In the avalanche path, you have to cross a mountain stream (no footbridge) This mountain stream is relatively easy to cross, but it can swell in early summer due to snow melt, on days of heavy rain or after a storm.

Exercise caution when crossing the road, in particular on the downward path.

Check weather conditions before setting off.

Rescue services contact details: Secours Montagne (Mountain Rescue): +33 (0)4 92 22 22 22 or 112

Show consideration for the work of farmers, livestock keepers and owners

Close all gates behind you

Take your litter home

Do not take shortcuts across pastureland

Information desks

Place de l'Eglise, 05340 Vallouise

https://www.paysdesecrins.com/contact@paysdesecrins.com +33(0)4 92 23 36 12

Vallouise Park house

, 05290 Vallouise

http://www.ecrins-parcnational.fr/vallouise@ecrins-parcnational.fr 04 92 23 58 08

Information, documentation, models, exhibitions, screenings, product sales and works of the Park. Guided tours for school, reservation required. The new Park House opened in Vallouise since June 1, and offers visitors an interactive permanent exhibition inviting to explore the area and its heritage. A temporary exhibition space will allow a renewed offer. Finally, the device is completed by an audiovisual room to organize screenings and conferences Free admission. All animations of the Park are free unless otherwise stated.

Find out more

Transport

Public transport >> www.pacamobilite.fr

Consider car-sharing >> www.blablacar.fr

For more information, ask at the Tourist Information Office nearest to the trail starting point.

Access and parking

13.5 km from L'Argentière-La Bessée, take the D994E.

Parking :

Car park in Les Claux, just before the tunnel

Sensitive areas

Along your trek, you will go through sensitive areas related to the presence of a specific species or environment. In these areas, an appropriate behaviour allows to contribute to their preservation. For detailed information, specific forms are accessible for each area.

Golden eagle

Impacted practices:: Aerial, , Vertical

Sensitivity periods:: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAug

Contact:: Parc National des Écrins
Julien Charron
julien.charron@ecrins-parcnational.fr

Find out more

Golden eagle

Impacted practices:: Aerial, , Vertical

Sensitivity periods:: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAug

Contact:: Parc National des Écrins
Julien Charron
julien.charron@ecrins-parcnational.fr

Find out more

Black grouse - winter

Impacted practices:: , Land

Sensitivity periods:: JanFebMarAprDec

Contact:

Find out more

Black grouse - winter

Impacted practices:: , Land

Sensitivity periods:: JanFebMarAprDec

Contact:: Parc national des Ecrins - 0492402010

Find out more

6 points of interest

Vernacular heritage
The penstock pipe
This penstock pipe carries water to the Le Claux hydroelectric power plant, located just below here, which exploits the water from the Les Écrins massif. The power plant was inaugurated in 1932. At the time, the electricity generated was primarily used to power the aluminium factory located in L'Argentière-La Bessée.
Flora
The aspen
The track runs close to an aspen wood. This tree has a smooth, greenish trunk and rounded, crenelated leaves which take on magnificent colours in autumn. The stem, or petiole, of aspen leaves is flat and twisted, so it can be caught by the slightest breeze making the foliage «quake» hence its common name, the quaking aspen. It grows in places where the soil is quite damp.
Top
Ailefroide
Formerly an alpine pasture hamlet, Ailefroide lies at the foot of Mont Pelvoux, surrounded by larch woods and granite cliffs. It is the last hamlet in the valley, at the confluence of the valleys of Saint-Pierre and Celse Nière. The name Ailefroide is thought to originate from the term Alpe froide or “cold Alp”, a reference to the lack of sun here in the winter. It is the starting point of numerous trails and is a paradise for climbers. Ailefroide is a legendary destination for mountaineers: a stele commemorates the conquest of Mont Pelvoux in 1828.
Fauna
The golden eagle
A pair of eagles lives in the Ailefroide valley. Every pair has a very large hunting territory, which means there can be no more than one pair in a small valley of this size. This pair has built several eyries in the cliff walls around Ailefroide: just one is occupied every year, after a few refurbishments. The eyries are located at the lower altitudes of the hunting territory, so that the eagles can easily bring heavy prey back to the eaglet.
Flora
The larch
The symbol of the Southern Alps, this softwood tree loses its leaves in winter, and is swathed with gold and lights up the mountains in autumn. The larch forests are maintained by the grazing of flocks. Without them, other trees like the fir or other pine trees could grow, creating a different kind of forest. A pioneer species, the larch establishes freely in light conditions. Its solid rot-proof wood has always been used in the construction of houses.
Fauna
The willow tit
A soft call, a series of short repetitive notes, is heard in the forest. It's the call of the willow tit, also known as the alpine tit. As for its plumage, it has a greyish brown back, beige underparts, a white head with a black cap and a little black bib, It lives in mountain forests. It is the double of the marsh tit, which tends to live below 1,400 metres.