Col de Crousette walks

Mont Mounier (2,817m) is one of the must-see peaks in the Alpes Maritimes: magnificent panoramas, 360° views from the summit, a beautiful ridge at the end, a fairly steady and easy 1,100m climb with views of the summit almost all the way.

An iconic peak in the Mercantour National Park, the Mounier is accessible from several starting points. From the hamlet of Roya, the hike is quite long with a significant elevation gain, but the panoramic views are well worth the effort, particularly the crossing of the Salevieille valley where you’re likely to come across goats and sheep.

This two-day hike takes you up to Mont Mounier, a major and isolated peak in the Mercantour, via a circular route. After a fairly short first stage, an early morning ascent to the summit will allow you to enjoy clearer weather and perhaps spot a few chamois and marmots. The descent to the Pont d’Aygue Blanche will be very long (a 1,800-metre descent). Don’t hesitate to set off the day before from the Altifsurface to balance out the route.

This trail allows you to discover a little-visited valley in the Mercantour: you can see marmots and chamois here. The landscape is very varied, alternating between coniferous forests, meadows and ridges which, in good weather, offer views of the peaks of the Mercantour, Queyras and Écrins.

This eighteenth stage continues the traverse of the Mercantour Massif. From Roya, the GR®5 crosses the Vallon de Roya torrent, follows the Vallon de la Maïris upstream and then the Vallon de Sallevieille, before winding its way up to the Plan des Laces and then the Col de Crousette. From the pass, the path winds its way up the left-hand slope of the Vallon de la Culasse towards the Stèle Vallette, follows the ridge on the Vallon du Démant side, crosses the Baisse du Démant and descends to the Col du Refuge and then to the Col des Moulinés. It drops down to the bottom of the Vallon du Démant, crosses its torrent and, on the slope of the opposite side, meets the Vallon de la Gourgette. Above the hamlet of Vignols, it climbs beneath the ruin-like rocks of Les Chambrettes, where a colony of bearded vultures nests, and passes the small pass of Portes de Longon, then winds its way along a stream to reach the Refuge du Longon or Vacherie de Roure.

A long but beautiful stage combining the austere landscape of Mont Mounier with the green mountain pastures of Longon.Look up to watch the vultures.A gentle finish at the Vacherie de Longon, surrounded by animals.

This hike forms thesecond stage of the ascent of Mont Mounier. Starting from the Montagne de l’Estrop, you’ll climb to the Col de Crousette for a beautiful view over the valley of the same name and the Haute-Tinée. You’ll then reach the Mont Mounier ridge, which you’ll follow to the summit. The descent takes you through the hamlet of La Colle before climbing back up towards the Tête de Charnaye, then down again towards the altisurface, and finally the final descent to the Pont d’Aygue Blanche.