★ 4 · last edited Apr 29, 2020
Écrins National Park
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Écrins National Park
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Straddling the Hautes-Alpes and Isère departments, this stunning park boasts numerous high peaks and glaciers. It is home to populations of chamois, ibex, and occasionally wolves. Naturally, skiing, mountaineering, and hiking are popular activities here.
Overview of the park
Straddling the Hautes-Alpes and Isère departments, this stunning park boasts numerous high peaks and glaciers. It is home to populations of chamois, ibex, and occasionally wolves. Naturally, skiing, mountaineering, and hiking are popular activities here.
Key facts
- Tourist interest: (must-see or highly recommended).
- Characteristics:
- Location:
- Opening period:
- Area: 918 km² spread across around sixty municipalities.
- Altitude:
- Website: http://www.ecrins-parcnational.fr
Environment
Landscape of the park
Wildlife and flora
Precautions
What to see
What to do
Hiking
Hiking is the park’s main outdoor activity and an excellent way to explore the area. There are 700 km of marked trails (and mountain huts) accessible to most people, including in winter. The most comprehensive and renowned route is the "Grand Tour des Écrins" along the GR54 (around 180 km), which circles the massif and passes through the heart of the park. As is often the case, some hikes can also be done on horseback, with a donkey, or by mountain bike. The park also has its own mobile app. (see details).
Other outdoor activities
Climate and weather
Transport
Getting there
Getting around
Accommodation
Food
Nearby
Among the many interesting sites to see around the park:
Briançon
The highest town in the E.U. at 1,326 m above sea level. It boasts significant military heritage, notably due to Vauban, part of whose French works are UNESCO-listed. The Serre Chevalier ski resort is partly within the town.
The highest town in the E.U. at 1,326 m above sea level. It boasts significant military heritage, notably due to Vauban, part of whose French works are UNESCO-listed. The Serre Chevalier ski resort is partly within the town.
Grenoble
At the foot of the mountains, the prefecture of Isère offers an old urban centre to explore. But it is also, and above all, a great base for discovering the surrounding mountain ranges (Vercors, Chartreuse, and Belledonne).
At the foot of the mountains, the prefecture of Isère offers an old urban centre to explore. But it is also, and above all, a great base for discovering the surrounding mountain ranges (Vercors, Chartreuse, and Belledonne).
Mercantour National Park
Spanning the 04 and 06 departments, this stunning mountain and valley park (Ubaye, Vésubie, Verdon) is one of France’s most visited. It draws visitors with its breathtaking landscapes and activities like hiking, mountaineering, and skiing. The park is home to wolves, birds of prey, chamois, and ibex.
Spanning the 04 and 06 departments, this stunning mountain and valley park (Ubaye, Vésubie, Verdon) is one of France’s most visited. It draws visitors with its breathtaking landscapes and activities like hiking, mountaineering, and skiing. The park is home to wolves, birds of prey, chamois, and ibex.
Vanoise National Park
Bordering Italy, this park offers stunning landscapes, hiking opportunities, and several ski resorts.
Bordering Italy, this park offers stunning landscapes, hiking opportunities, and several ski resorts.
Queyras Regional Nature Park
Backed by the Italian border, this is a mountainous area with many peaks over 3,000 metres, passes, lakes, and stunning landscapes. Skiing, mountaineering, and hiking are popular activities here.
Backed by the Italian border, this is a mountainous area with many peaks over 3,000 metres, passes, lakes, and stunning landscapes. Skiing, mountaineering, and hiking are popular activities here.
Vercors Regional Nature Park
Straddling the Drôme and Isère departments, the Vercors massif is a major tourist destination renowned for its landscapes, alpine flora and fauna, and especially the outdoor sports you can enjoy there (hiking, cross-country skiing, caving, climbing, canyoning).
Straddling the Drôme and Isère departments, the Vercors massif is a major tourist destination renowned for its landscapes, alpine flora and fauna, and especially the outdoor sports you can enjoy there (hiking, cross-country skiing, caving, climbing, canyoning).
Serre Chevalier
Located in the municipality of Briançon and its neighboring areas, Serre Chevalier is the largest winter sports resort in the Southern Alps.
Located in the municipality of Briançon and its neighboring areas, Serre Chevalier is the largest winter sports resort in the Southern Alps.