Chemin de la Durance
Châteauroux-les-Alpes
Very easyDifficulty
Chemin de la Durance
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1h30
Duration3,1km
Distance+0m
Positive Elevation0m
Negative ElevationReturn trip
Course typeNetwork
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You are plunged into nature from your very first steps along the path, passing close to agricultural fields offering unobstructed views of the landscape. The highlight of this trail is the Herbonne plateau, also known as the glacial rock. Your explorations continue as you make your way to the Chapelle St-James and the Durance.
Description
From the car park, turn right. Follow the road-side and turn left towards Les Baumes.
- Go under the Les Eygas bridge, and then follow the path on the left heading towards Rabioux. From the path, join a track and continue past the houses. At the next crossroads at « Serre des Gayes », go right towards « Le Rabioux ». When you reach the fields lower down, follow the path leading uphill. Continue to head towards Rabioux and go past the interpretation trail ("sentier d'interprétation"). As you emerge from the forest, where the track reaches the fields turn left at the intersection.
- After a few metres, take the road on the right. From here, head towards Le Rabioux.
- Go along the road-side and then, at the Herbonne plateau, take the track on the left and carry on towards the chapel of Saint James. Just before this, follow the path running downhill to the left towards Le Rabioux. For the return stretch, go across the Pont de Eygas.
- Departure : Former SNCF railway station, Châteauroux-les-Alpes
- Arrival : Former SNCF railway station, Châteauroux-les-Alpes
- Towns crossed : Châteauroux-les-Alpes
3 points of interest
- Fauna
The honey bee
The honey bee is also known as the mouche à miel, or honey fly. It lives in colonies formed by a complex structure of social castes. There is a queen and workers which collect pollen on the hairy receptacles located on the back of their hind legs, forming a sort of pollen «basket». It is through this work that the honey bee is able to make honey, which is its food. Vital for plant pollination, the bee is capable of visiting up to 250 flowers in one hour. - Geology and geography
The Herbonne plateau
This plateau is representative of glaciofluvial terraces. They form a tabular promontory, bounded by vertical walls formed in the cemented glaciofluvial materials, at the foot of which the Le Rabioux mountain stream flows on one side and the Durance on the other. This glacial rock is a typical formation of the Haute-Durance valley, similar to the Roc d'Embrun or that of Mont-Dauphine. Its formation dates back to one of the last ice ages (100,000 years ago). At that time, the Durance glacier occupied the entire valley. Today, on its sedimentary rock base, the Roc is covered by vegetation which is highly characteristic of steppe grasslands. - Fauna
Red kite
The red kite is a medium-sized bird of prey with a wingspan of up to 1.6 metres. In flight, the red kite can easily be recognised by its slender silhouette and its deeply forked tail. It has contrasting russet-brown and white plumage. Its diet is a relatively eclectic, made up of rodents, reptiles and invertebrates. It is also a willing scavenger. It is for this reason that red kites can sometimes be seen in large number near landfill sites, and often in the company of black kites.
Forecast
Sensitive areas
Along your trek, you will go through sensitive areas related to the presence of a specific species or environment. In these areas, an appropriate behaviour allows to contribute to their preservation. For detailed information, specific forms are accessible for each area.
Short-toed snake eagle
- Impacted practices:
- Aerial,
- Sensitivity periods:
- MarAprMayJunJulAugSep
- Contact:
- Parc National des Écrins
Julien Charron
julien.charron@ecrins-parcnational.fr
Information desks
Maison du Parc de l'Embrunais
Place de l’Église, 05380 Châteauroux-les-Alpes
Information, documentation, exhibition, screenings, products and books of the Park. Accessible to people with reduced mobility. Free admission. All animations of the Park are free unless otherwise stated.
Transport
Public transport: www.pacamobilite.fr
Consider car-sharing: www.blablacar.fr
Access and parking
From Embrun, on the D94 main road, take the "Chateauroux-les-Alpes - Les Écrins" exit and park outside the former SNCF train station, at « Les Peschiers ».
Parking :
Former SNCF railway station car park, Châteauroux
Accessibility
Family
Emergency number :114
More information
Source
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Serre-Ponçonhttps://www.serreponcon.com
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