The Couleau valley
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Dans le Parc national des Écrins, les sentiers sont généralement praticables de la mi-juin à fin septembre.
Toutefois, les périodes d'accessibilité des itinéraires et les dates de pose des passerelles varient d’une année à l’autre en fonction de l’enneigement, des dégâts survenus en hiver et des conditions météorologiques. Par ailleurs, l’état des sentiers n’est pas contrôlé quotidiennement et peut évoluer rapidement après un évènement météorologique (orage, crue...). Il est nécessaire de se renseigner auprès des maisons du parc national et des offices de tourisme du territoire avant votre sortie. Pendant la randonnée, en cas de passage dégradé ou dangereux, faites demi-tour et signalez-le.
Description
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- Follow the cairns to cross the stream and reach the St Clément hut. From here, cross the clearing to the left just above the hut to pick up the well-marked path that continues along the Couleau to the footbridge.
- Cross the stream and then descend to the right bank following the path which then passes under the Pré Charnier hut.
- Continue downhill on the main path, leaving the directions to the Méan and then Fouran huts on the right. Shortly after the old slate quarry and the stream crossing, the path widens into a track. Follow it for about 200 m.
- At the cairn, take the path down to the left and cross the Couleau stream by the footbridge. Follow the path back up to the start of the trail near the car park.
- Turn right to get back to the starting point.
- Departure : Pré du Plaï, Saint-Clément-sur-Durance
- Arrival : Pré du Plaï, Saint-Clément-sur-Durance
- Towns crossed : Saint-Clément-sur-Durance and Châteauroux-les-Alpes
3 points of interest
Vieux Pin sylvestre - Mireille Coulon - Parc national des Ecrins 
FloraScots
The Scots pine can be identified by its long reddish-brown trunk and its sparse foliage. The grey-green needles and slightly curved and are grouped in pairs. It requires plenty of sun and copes in poor, sandy soil that is not suitable for other trees. Its wood is light and of good quality.
Chamois - Mireille Coulon - PNE 
FaunaChamois
Present, yet hard to spot, the chamois takes refuge at high altitude during the summer to escape the hot temperatures. The females and the "éterlou" (young male under a year old) like to stay in a large herd whereas the males are more solitary and only join the females for the mating season. It is possible to see them in the Couleau valley that overlooks the Rougnoux pass.
Mélèze en automne - Robert Chevalier - PNE FloraLarch
With its wide array of colours that change with the seasons, the larch has been designated tree of light. In the spring, it has tender green needles that are so soft you can stroke them. Female red current-coloured catkins and pale yellow male catkins adorn the branches. Like an autumn colour chart, it marvels us with its numerous golden shades. However, when winter comes, it is the only European conifer to lose its needles, consequently letting light through to the undergrowth.
Forecast
Altimetric profile
Recommandations
In mountain pastures, protection dogs are there to protect the herds from predators (wolves, etc.).
When I hike I adapt my behavior by going around the herd and pausing for the dog to identify me.
Find out more about the actions to adopt with the article "Protection dogs: a context and actions to adopt".
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Information desks
Maison du Parc de l'Embrunais
102 rue Saint-Irénée, 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.
Access and parking
Parking :
Accessibility
- Emergency number :
- 114
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