Rioupéroux au plateau des lacs du Taillefer

Discover the Taillefer lakes plateau in a tundra-like setting. This little-known, fairly steep route in a very forested environment is for experienced hikers/trailers only.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Start: Le hameau des Clots, Rioupéroux
Difference in altitude: 1600 m
Duration : 9h
Round trip distance: 17 km
Level: difficult

MAP:
IGN map: TOP 25 - 3335 OT Grenoble Chamrousse Belledonne

ITINERARY

Join the village of Rioupéroux on the Route de l'Oisans.
On leaving the village, turn right onto the road leading to the hamlet of Les Clots.
Park in the small parking lot (2/3 spaces) at the entrance to the hamlet.
Drive past a chapel and a wash-house, and shortly before the last houses (at Rue du Carrelet) turn right onto the path which runs flat to the east. The Chalets de la Barrière are signposted 3.6 km ahead.

Enter the forest. It doesn't take long for the trail to rise steeply, putting you right into the effort.
The trail crosses a first intersection at altitude 1010m.

Continue south towards La Barrière. Climb 500m to reach the Cabane de la Queue du Chien, a large log cabin.

Walk past the hut. The trail crosses a few forest tracks, but the clearly visible markings make it easy to find your way. The trail then reaches the Chalets de la Barrière.

Head east towards the Plateau des Lacs, where the view opens up to the Pyramide and Taillefer. Continue along the south-east-facing path and, shortly before the Pas de l'Envious, head south-west towards Lac Fourchu, which is reached after a short climb.

From the southernmost point of the lake, start an off-trail climb heading southeast towards the base of the Pyramide. Reach Lac Culasson, skirt the lake's spillway, always staying on the left bank, and descend towards Lac Noir and Lac de l'Agneau, from where the view of the Écrins and Grandes Rousses is impressive.
Return by the same route

SIGHTS ALONG THE WAY:
-the Grand Galbert summit from the Barrière chalets
-the Pyramide and Taillefer peaks
-Grandes Rousses and Ecrins ranges

TO KNOW :
Near the chalets de la Barrière, you'll find the Pré d'Ornon, a memorial to the Oisans Resistance.