Vires d'Ailefroide
Photo: OpenStreetMap user El nappo, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- 0.4 mi
- round trip
- 1,596 ft
- climb
- 6,674 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Vires d'Ailefroide is an out-and-back trail, 0.4 miles each way (0.8 miles round trip) in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France, inside Parc national des Écrins (aire d’adhésion). It runs between about 5,520 ft and 6,670 ft above sea level, with roughly 1,370 ft of climbing one way. It is alpine hiking on rough, exposed ground where you may need your hands for balance; it is for experienced hikers. Most of the way is natural ground. The nearest town is Saint-Antoine, about 3.0 miles northwest of the trailhead. Peaks within about 3 miles include Tête de La Draye, Fraysse and Cime du Paillon. Cascade de Clapouse is within about 3 miles. For camping, Camping d'Ailefroide and bivouac du sélé are within about 6 miles. There are 3 other mapped trails within about 3 miles, so you can combine or extend the outing. Distances, elevations and the route shape here come from OpenStreetMap and the Copernicus 90 m elevation model. Trails, access rules and conditions change, so check locally before you go.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Tete de la Draye
~1 min drive
An out-and-back trail, 1.3 miles each way (2.7 miles round trip) in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France.
Voie normale du Pelvoux
~3 min drive
An out-and-back trail, 1.8 miles each way (3.6 miles round trip) in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France.
Sentier du Facteur
~7 min drive
A 0.6-mile point-to-point route in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France.
Via Alpina Red R128
~7 min drive
A 12-mile point-to-point route in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France.
Sentier de la Gandolière
~15 min drive
An out-and-back trail, 1.3 miles each way (2.7 miles round trip) in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France.
Chemin des Eyssarts
~10 min drive
An out-and-back trail, 0.8 miles each way (1.7 miles round trip) in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France.
Les Rochers Rouges
~4 min drive
An out-and-back trail, 0.7 miles each way (1.3 miles round trip) in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France.
Chemin de la mine (variante)
~13 min drive
An out-and-back trail, 0.3 miles each way (0.7 miles round trip) in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France.
Via Alpina Red R129
~12 min drive
A 13-mile point-to-point route in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France.
Sentier des Crevasses
~16 min drive
A 2.2-mile point-to-point route in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France.
Also worth it near here
Cascade de Clapouse
~3 min drive
Photo: Franco56, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)Refuge du Pelvoux
~3 min drive
Photo: Günter Seggebäing, Coesfeld, Germany, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Barre des Écrins: Route from Route de Cézanne road end
~3 min drive
Photo: Bastenbas, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Pic Gardiner
~4 min drive
Photo: Quinquandon, agent public de l'inspection des eaux et forêts, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)bivouac du glacier blanc
~6 min drive
Conditions and forecast
Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at Vires d'Ailefroide for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
