Why Hike It

A high-alpine loop through the remote Ubaye valley in the southern Alps, crossing a succession of passes above 2,500 metres.

The GR56 is one of the lesser-known gems of the French GR network. It circles the Ubaye valley in the Hautes-Alpes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence departments, staying consistently high and crossing long sequences of passes that rival anything in the more celebrated northern Alps. The route starts and finishes in Barcelonnette and encounters far fewer walkers than the adjacent Queyras or Mercantour circuits.

Trail Snapshot

• Distance: 185 km
• Typical duration: 12 days
• Difficulty: Hard
• Route style: Loop
• Elevation gain: 13,000 m
• Primary accommodation: huts, tent

Highlights and Signature Sections

• Col de la Cayolle sector: One of the highest and most dramatic crossings on the loop, often with outstanding views toward the Mercantour massif
• Haute Ubaye villages: Small, isolated pastoral communities that have changed little in character, offering a quieter counterpoint to busier Alpine circuits
• Italian border ridges: The eastern section hugs the French-Italian watershed, with long views east into the Stura valley and west back into the Ubaye
• Refuge de Maljasset: A key staging point in the upper valley with a strong reputation among regular walkers on the circuit
• Barcelonnette basin: The starting and finishing town is an unusually cosmopolitan Alpine town with a notable Mexican heritage from nineteenth-century emigration

Trail Photos

Photo source: Ubaye Valley on Wikipedia

Season Window

• Recommended months: July, August, September
• Typical pattern: The route holds snow on high cols well into June; July opening is the reliable window for most years.
• Practical note: Thunderstorms are common in mid-summer afternoons; early starts materially improve safety and pace.

Logistics: Food, Water, and Sleep

• Access: Barcelonnette is the natural start and finish hub, reachable by bus connections from major French rail stations in the south.
• Resupply: Most hikers either carry for the full loop or use one strategic mid-route resupply; villages and refuges are too sparse for a casual approach.
• Accommodation: A mix of refuges, unmanned shelters, and legal/accepted tenting options depending on exact stage planning.
• Water: Generally good through the season thanks to streams and snowmelt, but some late-summer ridge sections can be drier than expected.

Permits and Rules

No thru-hiking permit is required. Standard French mountain etiquette applies around refuges and protected areas. Confirm any local bivouac restrictions if planning to camp high.

Gear Watch

This is classic alpine kit territory: warm layers, full waterproofs, poles, and a sleep system that can handle cold nights if mixing tenting with huts. Even strong summer forecasts can deteriorate fast above 2,500 m.

Hazards and Cautions

• Snow linger on north-facing cols can complicate early-season travel
• Weather exposure is constant across the higher stages
• Several long stretches are physically committing and require stable movement over loose alpine surfaces
• Refuge opening dates should be checked in advance; shoulder-season assumptions can break itineraries quickly

First-Time Thru-Hiker Strategy

This is a strong option for hikers who already have multi-day mountain experience and want a quieter French alpine circuit. It is less suited to absolute beginners than something like the Tour du Mont Blanc, but very rewarding for hikers ready to manage more isolation and a less supported rhythm. *** Delete File: C:/Users/willi/Documents/adventureplan/content/thru-hikes/gr56-tour-de-lubaye.md