The Tour du Pic de Valsenestre is a five-day trek covering 44.7 kilometres and takes place entirely within the municipality of Valjouffrey. You will also find routes for individual hikes, as well as landscape and cultural sites that give the valley its distinctive character. When planning, it is worth first distinguishing between a multi-day tour and individual excursions.
Hiking Over Different Timeframes
For the Tour du Pic de Valsenestre, seasonal access depends on snow, weather and trail conditions. These factors should be included in your plans alongside the duration and distance. The Tour du Valjouffrey is a circular hike that starts and ends in La Chapelle-en-Valjouffrey and passes through La Chalp. Trail conditions and difficulty on this route may vary by season. The GR 54 “Tour de l’Oisans” is also part of the trail network for exploring Valjouffrey.
Another option is Le vallon de la Chalp: a difficult out-and-back hike starting from La Chalp in Valjouffrey, with a stated distance of 6.8 kilometres and duration of 5.5 hours. On this mountain hike, too, weather and trail conditions may affect access. The information thus clearly distinguishes between the five-day trek and a difficult hike with a stated duration of 5.5 hours.
Glacial Valley, Wildlife and Shepherd’s Hut
The Haute vallée de la Bonne, also known as Font Turbat, is a typical U-shaped glacial valley. Its moraine ridges mark stages in the glacier’s retreat. The valley’s shape and moraines give the landscape a geological dimension, making traces of glacial movement part of its character.
The hike through the Vallon de Valsenestre passes through a valley where chamois are numerous in the alpine zone; ibex live on the high cliffs. Wildlife sightings are seasonal and never guaranteed. At the end of the valley, on a pleasant flat area, stands an authentic shepherd’s hut that was recently restored. It adds a tangible element of local alpine farming to the wildlife experience.
Places of Remembrance and Historic Structures
The Scierie des Ségoins is a place of remembrance where visitors can learn about the valley’s past way of life. It offers a different perspective on Valjouffrey from its hiking trails and glacially shaped landscape: here, the focus is on memories of life in the valley.
The Cascade et digue des Roberts includes a dry-stone wall restored in 2011. It was built to protect the hamlet from flooding caused by the stream. The wall thus combines a practical protective function with its historic restoration. In Le DĂ©sert-en-Valjouffrey, the Chapelle Sainte-Anne has a gallery, a pulpit and a confessional. Its interior appears unchanged; at the same time, the chapel has structural problems.
Discover more destinations: Trept, Vienne, Savas-MĂ©pin, Saint-Didier-De-La-Tour, Montagnieu, Chatte, Saint-Ismier, La Tour-Du-Pin
For the broader travel overview: Isere.
