Take the N85 south of Sisteron towards Digne, turning left at Mallemoison onto the D17 as far as village of Thoard. Alternatively, use the D3 from Sisteron through Authon and over the col de Fontbelle to reach Thoard from the north. When you reach the tiny market square in the village, head east along an unclassified road, past the house of Bannette until you reach a parking area and information sign.

 

Walk along the metalled forest track that leads away from the car park. It rises quickly, passing a monument commemorating local WWII resistance fighters, and proceeds onwards to a junction behind the colline of Ste Madeleine. An unprepared track now climbs through trees around the northern flank of la Bigue and eventually reaches the col de la Croix at 1281m.

 

A footpath now leads off from the track to the right, contouring the eastern flanks of the mountain, slowly gaining altitude as it heads southwards. About half way along this leg the path makes a sudden steep climb towards the ridge - watch carefully for waymarks - and re-enters the trees, still on the eastern flanks of the mountain.

 

The path finally emerges from the trees at about 1500m and continues to skirt the hill until a junction is reached at a col, with a petit sentier (yellow waymarks), pointing the way to the summit. The path rises steeply to reach the western edge of the la Bigue from where the final route to the summit pylon is obvious. Superb views lie in all directions.

 

You may return either by the same route or, if there is not too much snow, a ridge walk may be undertaken to the north, descending back to the upbound track about halfway along its length, just north of a 1581m spot height.