Le Trente Pas is a difficult circular route with a stated distance and duration; nearby walks around Lac de compensation d’Espinasses and religious heritage are other things to explore in Espinasses. These differences give travelers several specific starting points for planning. If you are looking for accommodation, you can first consider whether the challenging hike, walks that vary by season, or the churches and chapel will be the focus of your stay.
Landscape between the Durance and Mont Colombis
Espinasses lies at the foot of the Serre-Ponçon Dam. The municipal area stretches from the bed of the Durance at an altitude of 637 meters to the heights of Mont Colombis at 1,730 meters. These two elevations describe the town’s geographical extent. Hikes starting in Espinasses offer beautiful panoramic views of Lac de Serre-Ponçon. This provides different points of reference for planning around the landscape: the stretch from the riverbed to the heights of Mont Colombis, and the lake views offered by hikes starting in Espinasses.
Le Trente Pas: a challenging circular route
The route information sheet dated June 9, 2025, lists Le Trente Pas as a difficult circular route covering 15.6 kilometers and taking four hours. These three details answer different planning questions: the distance indicates the route length, the four hours give you a time estimate, and the difficulty rating indicates how challenging the hike is. Together, they help you fit the route into your day based on specific details. Check conditions locally before setting out.
A regional route description updated in 2024 names the recommended parking area at the salle polyvalente in Espinasses as the starting point. The trail passes through an area with Demoiselles Coiffées in the Terres Noires and then follows the GRP Tour du Lac de Serre-Ponçon. Alongside the route’s length, these details provide other specific reference points: a named starting point, a natural area along the route, and the subsequent section on the GRP.
Walks and two lakes
Be sure to distinguish between the names of two lakes. Hikes starting in Espinasses offer panoramic views of Lac de Serre-Ponçon. Lac de compensation d’Espinasses lies within the municipal territories of Espinasses and Rousset, where there are opportunities for walks. Compared with the four-hour Le Trente Pas circular route, this is a different planning consideration: the route has a stated duration and difficulty, while walks in the area may vary by season.
Religious heritage
Religious heritage offers a different focus from hiking, too. The Chapelle Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Vière is part of Espinasses’ religious heritage. Église Sainte Brigitte is a Gothic church dating from the 13th century. The information about the church identifies different aspects: “Gothic” describes its style, while the 13th century gives its historical period. The chapel is identified by its location in Vière. This makes it possible to distinguish between the two buildings based on their respective features, without presenting them as a combined visitor route.
Your choice of activities can therefore be guided by specific differences: Le Trente Pas is a challenging, four-hour circular route; walks around Lac de compensation d’Espinasses may vary by season; and the church and chapel offer a cultural point of interest. These different themes can help you decide what draws you to Espinasses before you look for hotels.
Discover more destinations: Eyguians, Embrun, Baratier, Gap, La Grave, Chabottes, La Chapelle-En-Valgaudémar, Tallard.
For the regional travel overview: Hautes-Alpes.
