The Forêt départementale de Beynaves is a protected mountain natural area at an altitude of more than 1,000 metres. A 300-metre educational and discovery trail is accessible to wheelchair users. This combines a specific natural site with a trail that offers insights into the surrounding area.

Discover nature and trails

Facilities at the Forêt départementale de Beynaves include toilets, a picnic area, a water point and shaded rest areas. To get there, you can use the A51, exit 23, the N75 and the roads towards Orpierre as reference points. Check your route before setting off so you can plan your journey accordingly.

The Department’s trail policy also provides guidance: the Hautes-Alpes PDIPR aims to preserve rural paths, ensure route continuity and maintain quality through regular upkeep. With Alpes Rando, you can select hiking trails by criteria and download descriptions and tracks for free. Check whether the digital service is available before using it. The Department also supports the development of equestrian, hiking and mountain biking activities.

Stages and alpine vistas

One specific cycling route is La Durance à vélo: it links Briançon and Avignon over 438 kilometres in nine stages. The first stage runs from Le Monêtier-les-Bains to L’Argentière-La Bessée. Along the way, forests, mountain streams and villages of stone and wood shape the landscape at the foot of the glaciers. The overall distance and stage details provide a framework for choosing this route; the first stage has its own places and scenery.

The Parc national des Écrins offers professionally guided discovery outings as well as stays. The types of offers may change; check the current options when making specific plans. There are different ways to discover the landscape: a signposted cycling stage and guided activities offered by the national park, without these forming a shared route.

Water and winter compared

Lac de Serre-Ponçon is described as Europe’s largest artificial lake. Paddleboarding, sailing, water skiing, wakeboarding, kitesurfing, swimming and boating are among the possible activities; availability varies by season and depends on the providers. The lake is therefore a distinct focus for water sports, while mountain resorts highlight other activities.

Les Orres offers skiing above Lac de Serre-Ponçon and Embrun. Many ski resorts in Hautes-Alpes also offer trail-running programmes in winter, with alpine panoramas and a range of routes. Water sports on the lake and winter trail-running offers thus differ both in activity and season. You can choose which of these themes will shape your trip based on your interests.

Vauban heritage and museum collections

Briançon and Mont-Dauphin are among the two Vauban fortifications in Hautes-Alpes included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List as two of the twelve major Vauban sites. The Musée muséum départemental des Hautes-Alpes dedicates its permanent exhibitions and cultural programme to the cultural and natural history of the area. Across five floors and 1,600 square metres, it presents natural history, fine and decorative arts, archaeology, ethnology and contemporary creations.

The Sacré Dauphiné exhibition focuses on 1,500 years of Christian objects and architecture in the Southern Alps. Alongside the Vauban fortifications, it offers a way to explore cultural history, while the museum’s collections also cover natural history and other artistic and archaeological subjects. Exhibitions and the cultural programme may change; check the latest information before visiting.

Seasonal events

Every autumn, Orpierre hosts an event dedicated to heritage fruit varieties. It includes tastings and grafting workshops; check the latest information for specific dates. The Festival de Chaillol brings together classical music, jazz, world music and contemporary creations. As the festival programme may change, it is worth checking the latest dates and events before visiting.

Discover more destinations: Dévoluy, Prunières, Barret-sur-Méouge, Briancon, Buissard, Embrun, La Grave, Le Sauze-Du-Lac, Les Orres, Les Vigneaux, Montgenevre, Orcières, Pelvoux, Puy-Saint-Pierre, Réallon, Risoul, Saint-Jean-Saint-Nicolas, Vars, Vallouise, Molines-En-Queyras, Serres, Saint-Jacques-En-Valgodemard, Laragne-Montéglin, Saint-Blaise, Névache, La Salle Les Alpes, Gap, Eygliers, Chorges, Aspres-Sur-Buëch, Arvieux, Ancelle, Crots, Saint-Chaffrey, Sainte-Colombe, Guillestre, Savines-Le-Lac, Ceillac, Saint-Bonnet-En-Champsaur, Saint-Léger-Les-Mélèzes, Villar-D'arêne, Château-Ville-Vieille, La Motte-En-Champsaur, Baratier, La Saulce, Orpierre, Aspremont, Saint-Eusèbe-En-Champsaur, Sainte-Catherine, La Freissinouse, Aups, Saint-Crépin, Ribiers, Sigoyer, Saint-Apollinaire, Le Monêtier-Les-Bains, L'epine, Châteauroux-Les-Alpes, Mont-Dauphin, Lagrand, Tallard, La Bâtie-Neuve, Puy-Saint-André, L'argentière-La-Bessée, Aiguilles, Freissinières, Saint-Julien-En-Beauchêne, Val-Des-Prés, Puy-Saint-Vincent, Abries, Champoléon, Saint-André-Dʼembrun, Villar-Saint-Pancrace, Chabestan, Montbrand, Saint-Julien-En-Champsaur, Cervières, Saint-Véran, Crévoux, Saint-Martin-De-Queyrières, La Beaume, La Chapelle-En-Valgaudémar, Saint-Firmin, Jarjayes, Réotier, Veynes, Manteyer, Laye, Ristolas, Saint-Michel-De-Chaillol, Rochebrune, Le Glaizil, Savournon, Saint-Pierre-D'argençon, Rosans, Puy-Sanières, Ventavon, Chabottes, Saint-Auban-D'oze, Salérans, La Roche-Des-Arnauds, La Bâtie-Montsaléon, La Joue Du Loup, Saint-André-de-Rosans, Poligny, Ribeyret, Espinasses, Montmaur, Les Infournas, La Bâtie-Vieille, Trescléoux, Le Poët, Champcella, La Piarre, Eyguians, Furmeyer, Neffes.

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