Trail de la Meije
Discover the Meije Trail in La Grave with its varied routes, each offering breathtaking panoramic views.
TheMeije Trail de la Meije
Immerse yourself in a stunning atmosphere with breathtaking landscapes of mountains, lakes, and alpine pastures. A beautiful and intense experience you will never forget!
How is it going? The Meije trail?
Trail running is an outdoor activity that takes place on hilly and sometimes steep hiking trails. But the most important thing to remember is that this sport will give you a sense of enjoyment and allow you to contemplate the peaks while simply enjoying nature!
The Trail de la Meije caters to everyone's desires and offers three courses for Sunday and a vertical kilometer for Saturday. These courses will allow runners to tour La Grave, Villar d'Arène, and their hamlets via legendary trails in the Hautes-Alpes. There really is something for everyone, from the Kv+ to the Marathon, not to mention a 26 km or 15 km route, as well as a children's race and a route suitable for joëlettes. So don't wait any longer, come and discover the warm and welcoming atmosphere of these high-altitude villages!
Thedifferent paths
THE VERTICAL KILOMETER OF THE FRÉAUX
Distance: 4.8 km & 1,200 m elevation gain
To warm up before Sunday's races, a vertical kilometer is offered on Saturday, with the participation of the Meije Glacier Cable Cars. The route covers 4.8 km with 1,200 m elevation gain, starting from Les Fréaux and climbing straight up the slope to Lake Puy Vachier and the Chancel refuge.
At the top, refreshments will be waiting for you and you can enjoy the view before heading back to the 2,400 m station and taking the gondola back down to La Grave.
THE LOOP OF THE SPUR
16 km & 750 m elevation gain
This route takes you through the Haute Romanche valley in a dreamlike landscape facing La Meije. It is a beautiful loop that gives you a quick tour of the canton's legendary sites. Starting at the village hall in La Grave, you will cross this authentic mountain village and then climb up to the banks of the Romanche river through a larch forest where the river provides refreshment before entering the village of Villar d'Arène. The first refreshment stop awaits you on the square in front of Saint Martin's church. Then, the climb up to Lake Pontet will allow you to gain altitude and enjoy the view of the valley from above. After a short, fairly rolling traverse along the balcony, you will find yourself at the Col de l'Aiguillon. All that remains is to descend to the village and return to La Grave via the river in the Écrins National Park.
THE MEIJE TROPHY
27 km & 1,634 m elevation gain
This route offers a multitude of mountain landscapes. Starting on a narrow single track in a larch forest, runners then cross terraced mountain pastures before arriving at a high-altitude lake. The race then reaches its highest point at an altitude of 2,707 m with a mandatory stop at the Goléon refuge. The second part of the route offers beautiful views of La Meije and a descent along a ridge overlooking the canton. The 42 km competitors will then head into the Buffe valley, while you will reach the hamlet of Le Chazelet, before a final descent through the slate quarries towards the village of La Grave.
THE MEIJE MARATHON
45 km & 2,500 m elevation gain
This marathon-length trail will immerse you even further into the remote corners of the Meije region, starting in La Grave.
This route is fast but still demanding, with an average altitude above 1,600 meters and a highest point at 2,707 meters. From the highest point, the view from the Goléon refuge and its lake is one of the most beautiful in the canton. After the Col du Cruq, a short, well-marked "off-trail" section awaits you to reach the Signal de La Grave and a beautiful panoramic descent along the ridge. Then, head for the Pic du Mas de la Grave refuge before tackling the last climb to reach the famous Emparis plateau.
In September, this mountain plateau looks strikingly similar to the famous South American altiplano. A loop on this plateau will take you to two mountain lakes with views of the Écrins massif. Finally, a long descent will take you back to the village of La Grave.
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La Grave
equipmentThe Meije Trophy
- Distance 26
- Daily duration 30
- Elevation gain 1280
- Negative elevation 1280
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La Grave
equipmentThe loop from La Grave to Villar d'Arène
- Distance 6.5
- Daily duration 00
- Elevation gain 330
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La Grave
equipmentThe Aiguillon Loop
- Distance 15
- Daily duration 00
- Elevation gain 650
- Negative elevation 650
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La Grave
equipmentThe Col du Souchet loop
- Distance 18
- Daily duration 00
- Elevation gain 1100
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La Grave
equipmentThe Meije Marathon
- Distance 42
- Daily duration 00
- Elevation gain 2070
- Negative elevation 2070
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La Grave
equipmentLes Fréaux Vertical kilometer
- Distance 4.8
- Daily duration 00
- Elevation gain 1200
- Negative elevation 1200
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