Névache – Briançon

  • GR5
  • Stage 15

Practical info

Névache – Briançon

  • GR5
  • Stage 15
30km | 1.300D+ 1.600D- | 9h

I'm Alexia

Passionate about nature, trekking and bivouacs, I share my adventures and tips for preparing your hikes.

August 3, 2024

Névache, 1,588m

Holger suggests we take the GR5C route to Briançon, to avoid the road. We set off around 7:30am for a long stage.

We climb through the forest towards Lac de Cristol, which we reach at an altitude of 2,249m. We still have a little way to go before reaching the Porte de Cristol.

Cristol Lake

Cristol Gate, 2,483m

We descend a little to join a more or less level track for a few kilometers to the Col du Granon.

Col du Granon, 2.413m

Col du Granon

We stop for a bite to eat before starting our descent. We quickly rejoin the forest, then climb up a little to the Croix de Toulouse, before starting the big final descent to Briançon.

Briançon, 1,290m

We enter Briançon but still have an hour’s walk to wait for the Camping des 5 Vallées on the other side of town. We’re exhausted, but we find the strength to stop and do a few errands along the way. We arrive at the campsite just before 7pm. Holger is going home tomorrow morning, and I’ve decided to take a day off the next day, so now I’m halfway to the Mediterranean! The next day I go to the Hôtel de la Chaussée for a rest day.