Lac de Serre-Ponçon 4-day Electric Mountain Bike Tour
4 steps
6 points of interest
- Water
Addos mountain stream
The Addos mountain stream (torrent in French) is 4 kilometres long. A mountain stream is a natural water course located in the mountains. The flow regime is characterised by a steep gradient, with a very fast and therefore turbulent water flow producing significant erosion. It is also defined by a significant variation in flow rate depending on precipitation levels. In this mountain stream, as in many others, numerous small sills (small dams) have been created to slow down the water flow and limit the impact of floods. - Fauna
Common magpie
This bird can be identified by its black and white plumage with blue-green tints on the wings and tail. Its tail is remarkably long. It can be found all year round in varied open environments. Its omnivorous diet consists of invertebrates, seeds and berries, small rodents, eggs and nestlings and even human rubbish. Except during the nesting period when it is solitary, the magpie is gregarious species which gathers into rather raucous groups in the winter. - Flora
Common juniper
This bush is a resinous evergreen conifer. It is characterised by its greenish to blue (glaucous) needles with a white line on their upper side, and fruits resembling blue-black berries. It usually tends to grow in warm environments receiving plenty of sunlight. It grows in grassy or scrub covered areas up to 2,000 metres above sea level. - Fauna
The field cricket
Just 18 to 26 mm long, this little insect has a black head which looks a little like a helmet. The female can be told apart from the male by the presence of a third long appendage at the rear of the body. The cricket’s song is heard from April onwards. The male sings his chirping song from the entrance to his burrow. The fertile females lay their eggs in the ground, which remain there for two weeks before the larvae emerge. - Flora
Messicole plants
A feature of messicole plants is that they live among crops, even though not sown there deliberately. They are biologically adapted to open areas, and in particular areas that are regularly worked, such as fields. In fact, they use various strategies such as adapting their life cycle and producing large amounts of seeds in order to make up for the disturbance that occurs in their germination area. Many of them are common, such as the poppy, the cornflower and the corn buttercup... - Panorama
Panorama of the Baie Saint-Michel
This area, which has been provided with picnic amenities, offers the most picturesque panorama over the Lac de Serre-Ponçon. In fact, the lake is 2 kilometres wide at this point, and in front of you are the Chapelle Saint Michel and the Pic Morgon, an iconic view of the lake. On your left, to the east, you can see Savines-le-Lac and its bridge. On the right, you can see the secret île de la Tortue.
Description
Day 2: The route follows ridable ascents on tracks and fabulous wooded descents, all off the beaten track. You then return to the lake shore, with the possibility of bathing at the Ubaye cemetery. The route then runs along an old railway line. The day's final section runs through terrain where the landscape opens out onto hills dotted with welcoming hamlets and villages.
Day 3: The explanation for the existence of the lake: the dam. After passing the belvedere of L'Escoubaye and riding down a fabulous trail, at a junction with the road you can head for the dam belvedere. The route rounds the peak of La Viste and on to the Colombis mountain. The "Ruban" is a must-ride mountain biking trail in this sector. A ridge trail offers a stunning panoramic view over the lake and a winding descent down to the Col Lesbraut. From the col, the route becomes more technical until you reach the lake shore: some steep slopes before heading directly downhill on a Provençal trail and coming to Chorges along fast tracks.
Day 4: From Chorges, you return to the lake shore. The tone is set! Uphill and downhill, you pass from bays to inlets along a succession of ridable paths and bracing trails, sometimes facing the lake, sometime Mont Guillaume. The second part of the day takes you to the belvedere of Le Pibou. From this viewing point, you can see your route over the last three days. The Descente du Tourniquet will be your finale! This is a classic in the Embrunais, a trail running down to the lake shore in a succession of bends. Crossing the dam takes you back to welcome tranquillity to round this day off.
- Towns crossed : Baratier, Crots, Savines-le-Lac, Pontis, Le Lauzet-Ubaye, Rousset, Espinasses, Chorges, Prunières, Saint-Apollinaire, Puy-Sanières, and Embrun
Altimetric profile
Recommandations
Book your accommodation. A trip organiser and mountain bike instructor will simplify your organisation and make your trip so much more enjoyable, as well as saving you time.
Information desks
Tourist office Chorges
Grand rue, 05230 Chorges
October to may : Monday to Saturday, 9.00 - 12.30 & 13.30 - 17.00.
April, may, june & september : Monday to Saturday, 9.00 - 12.30 & 14.30 - 18.00
July and August : Monday to Saturday, 9:00 – 12.30 & 14.30 – 19.00 Sunday 9.30 – 12.30
Closed on Thursdays outside French holidays’ periods
Closed on French national holidays, except 14th of July and 15th of August
Tourist office Savines-le-Lac
9 Avenue de la Combe d'Or, 05160 Savines-le-Lac
October to march : Monday to Saturday, 9.00 - 12.30 & 13.30 - 17.00.
April, may, june & september : Monday to Saturday, 9.00 - 12.30 & 14.30 - 18.00
July and August : Monday to Saturday, 9.00 - 13.00 & 15.00 - 19.00. Sundays, 10.00 - 13.00 & 15.00 - 18.00
Closed on French national holidays, except 14th of July, and 15th of August
Closed on Thursdays outside French holidays’ periods
Tourist office Embrun
Place Général Dosse - BP 49, 05202 Embrun
October to march : Monday to Saturday, 9.00 - 12.30 & 13.30 - 17.00.
April, may, june & september : Monday to Saturday, 9.00 - 12.30 & 14.30 - 18.00
July and August : Monday to Saturday, 9.00 - 19.00. Sundays, 10.00 - 12.30 & 16.00 - 19.00
On French national holidays (except 14th of July and 15th of August) : 9am to 1pm. Closed on the 1st of January, 1st of May, 25th December and 11th November
Closed on Thursdays outside French holidays’ periods
Maison du Parc de l'Embrunais
Place de l’Église, 05380 Châteauroux-les-Alpes
Information, documentation, exhibition, screenings, products and books of the Park. Accessible to people with reduced mobility. Free admission. All animations of the Park are free unless otherwise stated.
Transport
TGV to Grenoble, Valence, Aix en Provence.
Booking information and ticketing: https://www.oui.sncf/
TER PACA (Provence Alpes-Côte-d'Azur) regional rail routes – Chorges railway station or Embrun railway station www.ter.sncf.com/paca
Access and parking
Source
Report a problem or an error
If you have found an error on this page or if you have noticed any problems during your hike, please report them to us here: