The Traversée des Beaumes, our family via ferrata
At the entrance to the Étroits gorge, just before Saint-Étienne-en-Dévoluy, an almost horizontal via ferrata runs along the Souloise river. We did the Traversée des Beaumes, its accessible route, with three children aged 9 and 11 — and everyone wants to go back.
| Route | Traversée des Beaumes — graded AD, ~550 m, ~50 m of elevation gain |
| Duration | 1.5 to 2 hours, return on foot along the road (~15 min) |
| Best for | Families comfortable with heights — done with children aged 9 and 11 |
| Practical | Free access, May to October — helmet, harness and energy-absorbing lanyard required |
A via ferrata in a gorge, not on a cliff face
No great vertical wall here: the route crosses the gorge carved by the Souloise, almost horizontally. You progress along a ledge above the stream, the walls close in, and the route even passes through a cave — the highlight of the outing for the children.
You park at the car park on the other side of the Pont de Giers: the route starts after crossing the bridge. Two variants are then available: one down a vertical ladder, and an easy start after a short approach. We chose the easy start — with children, it puts everyone at ease before the first airy sections. The two variants meet at a footbridge.
With children aged 9 and 11
Our three children completed the full route, up to the escape exit that marks the end of the Traversée des Beaumes. That is where we came out: the continuation, the Vertigo route, is considerably more demanding (graded D) — we went back that very afternoon, as a pair and without the children.
The equipment is non-negotiable: helmet, harness and via ferrata lanyard with energy absorber for everyone, adults included. Gear can be rented from the sports shops in the Dévoluy resorts. Check the fit of the children’s harnesses, brief them to stay clipped in at all times, and keep space between each person on the cable.
Our tips
The bottom of the gorge stays cool even at the height of summer — an excellent choice for a hot day. The rock does get slippery when wet, though: avoid going after rain.
The return is on foot along the road, in about fifteen minutes. It is narrow: keep the children on the mountain side and watch for traffic.
