Sitting on the northern limits of Ecrins National Parks, La Grave boasts some of the best mountain scenery in all of France. From the top of one of the national park’s various mountain peaks, expect immaculate views of the surrounding valleys and glaciers as well as views out over some of the Alps’ most iconic mountains, including Mont Blanc.
Country Code:
+33
Currency:
Euro
Language:
French
Best time to climb:
June to September
How to get there:
Any trip to La Grave likely begins with a flight into Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS). From here, La Grave is accessible by bus and is only a 2 hour drive away by rental car
What’s the weather like?
During the summer, average daily temperatures in the park range from 15 ºC to 20 ºC, with temperatures often below freezing at the top of the mountains. Summer is also fairly dry, but thunderstorms can occur quickly
Sitting at the northern foot of the Barre de Ecrins massif, La Grave is perfectly suited for a variety of different mountain climbing adventures. Aside from the incredibly popular 2-day ascents of La Meije. Other than the iconic peak, the national park boasts more than 45 different mountains climb. Among the top destinations are Barre des Écrins (4,102 meters) and Ailefroide (3,954 meters), which are the highest and third highest peaks on the massif, respectively. Aiguille d’Olan (3,564 meters) is another popular destination for climbers and sits in the southwest of the park. Many climbers opt to get here by heading along a ridge that goes over Pic Turbat and Pic des Souffles en route
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