La boucle de Besse
The climb to the Emparis plateau by the pastoral track is a peaceful one facing a magnificent panorama. The descent by the GR 54 to Besse gives pride of place to the piloting and should leave you with a big smile on your face once you're down there.
Itinerary of the “MTB in Oisans” guide (Oisans Tourisme)
Departure/arrival (loop): Besse-en-Oisans, 1 m
Duration: 2 hour
Distance: 14 km
Highest point: 2 m
Lowest point: 1 m
Elevation gain: + 700 m
Negative elevation: – 700 m
Technique: 2/4
Endurance: 3/4
Map: Top 25 Bourg d'Oisans and Alpe d'Huez 3335 ET
or Top 25 Meije Pelvoux 3436 ET
ROUTE
> From the car park, continue the road towards the GR 54 towards the Emparis plateau. Then take the vehicle track which leaves to the right of the GR entrance. The climb is done quite quickly on pleasant and rolling terrain with a most pleasant view.
> Once on the plateau, head left to take Col St-George 100 m further.
> Take the GR54 which goes back down to BesseThe trail offers a fun descent on schist soil with numerous steep turns.
> After an intense sequence of sensations, we arrive with a smile on our lips at Col Nazié. Be careful, it is common for herds to graze in this place.
> Continue the path because there are still good turns to get under the
wheels.
> We end up on the small road taken on the way back to Besse.
CAUTION
> The town hall of Besse-en-Oisans raises the question of the overcrowding of this descent by the GR. The excessive use of motorized shuttles – often minibuses that carry around ten mountain bikes – makes the downhill traffic problematic. This is a mode of practice that is similar to mountain biking in a resort and does not correspond to the local environment. In addition, the Emparis plateau is a listed natural site and a Natura 2000 site, therefore a fragile territory that must be respected. There is no ban, but a warning about exclusively downhill mountain biking, which is out of place in a wild environment, as opposed to a resort environment.
Departure/arrival (loop): Besse-en-Oisans, 1 m
Duration: 2 hour
Distance: 14 km
Highest point: 2 m
Lowest point: 1 m
Elevation gain: + 700 m
Negative elevation: – 700 m
Technique: 2/4
Endurance: 3/4
Map: Top 25 Bourg d'Oisans and Alpe d'Huez 3335 ET
or Top 25 Meije Pelvoux 3436 ET
ROUTE
> From the car park, continue the road towards the GR 54 towards the Emparis plateau. Then take the vehicle track which leaves to the right of the GR entrance. The climb is done quite quickly on pleasant and rolling terrain with a most pleasant view.
> Once on the plateau, head left to take Col St-George 100 m further.
> Take the GR54 which goes back down to BesseThe trail offers a fun descent on schist soil with numerous steep turns.
> After an intense sequence of sensations, we arrive with a smile on our lips at Col Nazié. Be careful, it is common for herds to graze in this place.
> Continue the path because there are still good turns to get under the
wheels.
> We end up on the small road taken on the way back to Besse.
CAUTION
> The town hall of Besse-en-Oisans raises the question of the overcrowding of this descent by the GR. The excessive use of motorized shuttles – often minibuses that carry around ten mountain bikes – makes the downhill traffic problematic. This is a mode of practice that is similar to mountain biking in a resort and does not correspond to the local environment. In addition, the Emparis plateau is a listed natural site and a Natura 2000 site, therefore a fragile territory that must be respected. There is no ban, but a warning about exclusively downhill mountain biking, which is out of place in a wild environment, as opposed to a resort environment.
