GR54 — Tour des Écrins

Information

Distance

186.0 km

Duration

10–15 days

Max elevation

2,761 m

Country

France (FR)

Difficulty

Strenuous — one of the most challenging circuit treks in Europe; crosses 14 cols above 2,500 m with a total ascent of 12,800 m

Best Season

Late June–mid-September

Permits & Fees

No permit required; bivouacking is allowed 19:00–09:00 within the Parc national des Écrins; open fires are banned throughout the national park; refuge reservations are strongly recommended in peak season

Description

The GR54, formally the Tour de l'Oisans et des Écrins, is a 186 km loop trek encircling the Écrins massif in the southern French Alps, traversing the Parc national des Écrins — one of the highest-altitude protected areas in Western Europe. Established in the early 1960s, the circuit crosses 14 high mountain passes with a cumulative 12,800 m of ascent, making it considerably more demanding than most other Alpine long-distance routes. Hikers pass through six contrasting valleys — Oisans, Guisane, Vallouise, Valgaudemar, Valjouffrey, and Béranger — encountering the Arsine glacier, wild alpine meadows, and abundant wildlife including chamois, ibex, golden eagles, and marmots. The highest point, Col de l'Aup Martin (2,761 m), delivers sweeping views across the entire Écrins massif in the heart of the southern Alps.

Trail Highlights

14 high cols exceeding 2,500 m; panoramas of the La Meije and Barre des Écrins massifs; the Arsine glacier (2,460 m); the remote Valgaudemar and Valsenestre valleys; chamois, ibex, and golden eagle wildlife; rare alpine flowers in high-altitude meadows