ECRINS NATIONAL PARK

Climb to high altitude to prestigious summits, discover the particular identity of the valleys, marvel at the deep blue of a mountain gentian, whistle with the marmots: The Ecrins is nature on a grander scale! Between Isère and Hautes-Alpes, the Park extends over a vast wild territory. With its 92 000 hectares of protected area (heart of the Park), the Ecrins are the largest of our national parks since 1973, marking the boundary between the Northern Alps and the Southern Alps with its majestic mountains, whose major peaks approach or exceed 4 000 meters. The Ecrins bar, 4 102 meters, is its highest point, in front of La Meije, a mountain of incomparable beauty with its glacier with bluish reflections and the Pelvoux Mount, a real massif in itself. In this enclave of the heights, the fauna and flora offer a diversity and a prodigious spectacle and it is advisable of course to respect them. You can see the chamois or the golden eagle, the more or less shy marmots, and you can look out for the edelweiss and the buttercup (obviously forbidden).

This wild life is the object of all the attention in the middle of mountains which remained inaccessible for a long time and thus preserved from all human traces. In order to perpetuate this wild life and to preserve the diversity of habitats, which are the best guarantors of "life potential", man has created several Nature Reserves where the Alps have kept their "original" face. The reserve of the Saint-Pierre valley is located beyond Ailefroide, the last hamlet of the Vallouise that remains in the shadow of the mountains for a good part of the year, near the Pré de Madame Carle, in a beautiful wooded environment. There is an interesting flora. The Combeynot reserve, east of La Grave, is located on the northern side of the Pelvoux massif and extends to the Lautaret pass. It borders the Guisane and looks down on those who take the road linking Grenoble to Briançon in any season. Alder, rhododendrons and saxifrages for the flora, while chamois and marmots meet there. There are more than 30 bird species, including the black grouse and the ptarmigan. The Vénéon Reserve is located in the southwest of the Ecrins mountain range, at the bottom of the eponymous valley, near the village of La Bérarde, which is a very popular base for high mountain hikers. Towards the head of the Maye, in the north, which culminates at 2,539 m, it is not uncommon, in the glacial moraines, to see untouchable edelweiss, emblematic flowers of the Alps. Other lesser-known reserves guard preciously landscapes of great beauty and a fauna and flora of an incredible richness. At the end of the Béranger gorges, a fir forest hides an exceptional environment offering a natural "corridor" to the wild natural species that cross the region. Finally, the nature reserve of the Grand Lac des Estaris, which can be reached from Orcières, is an unforgettable natural spectacle, surrounded by alpine meadows and high peaks on the horizon. Here, everything seems immobile, unchanging, immense. The best way to discover the Ecrins National Park is, of course, hiking. Many trails crisscross the park (in total, 700 km of tracks) and are maintained by the Ecrins National Park and the National Forestry Office. The Grand tour des Ecrins by the GR54 is the most famous itinerary. It passes by the highest summits of the park like the Barre des Ecrins which culminates at 4102 m! You can take the GR54 from Bourg d'Oisans, with an important difference in altitude, or from Argentière-la-Bessée. It is possible to be accompanied by an experienced guide. If you prefer a gentler version, opt for the Ecrins balconies. Whether on foot, mountain bike or donkey, you can walk the trails at your own pace. A mobile application dedicated to the "Grand Tour des Ecrins" has been set up, you will find all the information you need to organize your trip. If you wish, the tourist office will also provide you with a discovery map. The most popular period for hiking in the Ecrins National Park is summer. However, it is quite possible to hike in the winter by adapting to the weather conditions: you should therefore plan to travel by snowshoe or ski touring if necessary. There are many marked itineraries adapted to snowshoeing, check with the tourist office. It is, in any case, recommended to be accompanied by a professional: the mountain in winter is sumptuous but it is better to know it well before planning a hike! In addition, the climate of the Écrins National Park can be very harsh due to its numerous glaciers, and it is one of the coldest parts of the Alps. In summer, the climate is mild but the nights remain cool. Of course, above 2500 to 3000 m, the cold is present in all seasons: so think of equipping yourself well! Finally, in all seasons, be careful not to disturb the fauna and flora by staying on the trails already marked out during your walks.

Whether you are looking for peace, pure moments of contemplation in front of an untouched world or are curious to observe the power of nature, the Ecrins open up all possibilities.