Le vallon de Ségure : à toucher le paradis en gravel

The Ségure Valley, off the beaten path, opens the door to a wild and protected natural landscape. The hike leading there is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful examples of the Queyrassine mountains. The alpine pastures are blanketed with flowers in the spring before the sheep arrive. 1 – Ristolas, St. Marcelin Church To reach the Ségure mountain pasture, take a long, winding trail that starts in Ristolas. From the church, I take Rue des Ecoles across the street, which leads to the upper part of the village. 2 – The Ségure Valley This beautiful trail winds its way up the long valley of the Ségure torrent. It’s well-marked and wide. What a pleasure it is to cycle through this valley, rich in flora and fauna! At dawn or at day’s end, ibexes peek out. These large ungulates are not very shy. More timid, the chamois takes refuge in the scree and on the steepest slopes of the valley. It remains the symbol of untamed nature. 3- The Ségure Torrent As you climb, the echo of the “Ségure Torrent (1,966 m)” reverberates through the valley. In the distance, shepherdesses and shepherds lead their flocks to graze in the flower-filled meadows: their powerful voices echo the life of the alpine pastures. 4 – A Fork in the Trail To the left, a trail climbs upward: it leads hikers to the summit of Pic Ségure, which is nearly 3,000 meters high. I don’t take this path and instead continue straight ahead along the unknown valley. Off to the side of the Mont Viso viewpoint—which draws so many hikers—I find a little slice of paradise here. 5 – Plan de l’Alpe I ride past the Ségure sheepfold and reach the end of the valley. In the meadows bursting with flowers at “Plan de l’Alpe (2,250 m),” where marmots scamper about, I set my mountain bike down on this carpet of flowers without damaging it. The yellow of the arnica blooms complements the blue hues of the gentians and knapweeds. The ancient glacial cirque is flanked by the “Grand Queyras (3,104 m)” and the Fonzes Ridge. The only authorized trail allowed me to enter the heart of this unspoiled wilderness and experience its full magnificence. 6 – Ristolas The return trip follows the same route. In just a few minutes, I reach Ristolas, happy to have discovered a wild and unspoiled valley. The trail is open to the public year-round. It is passable depending on weather and snow conditions. Appropriate gear is therefore required. In the Ségure forest, selective logging in an irregular high-forest stand will begin on August 17, 2026, and last for up to three weeks. Traffic at hairpin turn No. 3 on the Ségure forest road may be disrupted, with the road closed to public traffic when the skidder arrives or during timber sorting or loading. Don't forget to take enough water with you: the valley is wild and isolated. Before setting off on this hike, you should be aware of the risk of thunderstorms, which often occur in late August afternoons.