Above the Infernets and Coutronne-les Encanaux ravines

A splendid walk starting from the Encanaux, near Auriol, along the top of the Infernets and then the Coutronne ravines. At times along the cliffside ravines, similar to some sections of the Gorges du Verdon. From Lare Pass (Col de la Lare), you will have a magnificent view of the Sainte-Baume range and the Pic de Bertagne to the south and Sainte-Victoire Mountain, Mont Olympe and Mont Aurélien to the north.

Technical sheet

176923
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.05 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 572 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 575 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 740 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 241 m

Photos

Description of the walk

In Auriol, take the D45A which later joins the D2, leading to La Coutronne and Plan d'Aups. Pass in front of the Maison du Légionnaire. As the road heads up, take the small road down towards "les Encanaux" on the left. Park in the car park on the left before the little bridge.

(S) Pass a gate and take the track (1) to the right with blue waymarks, leading up into the forest. A few yards further on, you come across an old ice-house. There is a board explaining the history and function of ice-houses, which are very common in the area, especially in Mazaugues.

Continue uphill. Where the path levels out and slopes down slightly you get to a crossing with a small, poorly maintained path which, to the right heads up a steep hill at a right angle to the initial path. (2). Take this path to the right, thus leaving the blue waymarks. Stay on this path as it leads south, climbing steeply among the brush and trees.

At the top (3), you come across a large rock and a large cairn. Take the path heading left below the rock. On the way down, go past the Abri du Figuier, then the Grotte des Infernets, which appears to be a deeper cave. Since we unfortunately did not have torches, we did not try to get as far as the end. Push on to the Grotte des Morts and continue through hillside, passing over sections of ridges amid the Provencal vegetation. The views are superb.

The path leads to a ford (4) and an intersection: take the right-hand path which leads up towards La Coutronne, with yellow waymarks. Stay on this path until you approach the D2.

About 50 m before the road, take a track heading left (5), leaving the yellow waymarks. It goes alongside a fence and past a smallholding. Walk along the top of the Coutronne ravine, enjoying spectacular views. Opposite, you can see the track rising to Lare Pass (Col de la Lare), which you'll climb shortly.

Continue straight on, passing a ford across a dry seasonal river, then pass through a cedar forest.

When you reach a wide firefighting access track (6), follow it to the left and climb up to Lare Pass (Col de la Lare) (7). From the top of the pass, there is a remarkable view of the Coutronne ravine, the Sainte-Baume range and the Pic de Bertagne. Follow this track heading north-west.

At a cistern and junction (8), take the track heading left towards Encanaux Bridge (Pont des Encanaux which is signed). Follow the track down towards Encanaux Bridge. To the north, you will see Sainte-Victoire Mountain, Mont Olympe and Mont Aurélien.

In a bend at highpoint 430 (9), leave the track, bear right and catch up with the same track further down. Continue left at the next junction and push on to Encanaux Bridge and the fitness trail (10).

At the bridge, take the right-hand track to return to the car park.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 245 m - Departure from the car park
  2. 1 : km 0.12 - alt. 243 m - Barrier, intersection, markers Blue
  3. 2 : km 0.31 - alt. 276 m - Intersection: path on the right
  4. 3 : km 0.57 - alt. 344 m - At the summit, turn left at a large rock
  5. 4 : km 1.6 - alt. 403 m - Intersection, ford, turn right
  6. 5 : km 3.44 - alt. 614 m - Intersection before the D2
  7. 6 : km 4.74 - alt. 616 m - Foré
  8. 7 : km 5.45 - alt. 666 m - Intersection, DFCI track on the left
  9. 8 : km 7.33 - alt. 724 m - Col de Lare, viewpoint
  10. 9 : km 10.29 - alt. 477 m - At the crossroads, turn left
  11. 10 : km 10.87 - alt. 428 m - 430, intersection, turn right
  12. 11 : km 12.27 - alt. 265 m - Pont des Encanaux
  13. S/E : km 13.05 - alt. 246 m - Arrival at the car park

Practical information

No water spots available on this hike.
Good hiking footwear and the IGN map.
Don't forget your camera and binoculars.
Headlamps if you want to explore the "Grotte des Infernets".

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 74 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Basso
Basso

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Hello

Very nice route with caves, cliffs, valleys, beautiful views, medium difficulty indeed. In the last third of the route the DFCI is long, we shunted it sometimes with the GR 2013 (red and yellow markings) in particular after point 8 from the tank on the left allows you to go directly to point 10 without passing through point 9 and cuts considerably the DFCI without interest. This was already mentioned in an earlier message.

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Fontenotte
Fontenotte

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A varied and pleasant route, even if the return to the DFCI can seem a little monotonous. Fortunately, the arbutus was starting to ripen!

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Chantal&Olivier
Chantal&Olivier

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very nice walk
Always keep to the left at point 5.
duration 3h50.

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Erwanito
Erwanito

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A lovely hike, completed in 4 hours without any effort, including a picnic break. The climb is tough at first, but overall the first half in the ravine and on the flank is very pretty. The second half offers superb views of the surrounding area.
The caves of Les Infernets and Les Morts are easily accessible from the path, so don't forget to take a headlamp for easy exploration. Caving is also possible.

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Denis.G2
Denis.G2
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very good tour. The directions are just right. Not too much, not too little. No moments of doubt.
On the way back, rather than following the trail, we followed a signposted Red/Yellow and Yellow path that crosses the trail several times, is well signposted and also leads back to the starting point.
Beautiful scenery.
In terms of estimated time, it took us 4 hours (including the picnic break) instead of the 5.5 hours announced.

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ferretti
ferretti

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

To be more precise, after the ice house, keep to the path that climbs and bends to the left, marked in blue. After a few metres, take the first path to the right, which climbs well and which we keep to the summit, where there is a large rock, and from there we take the path on the ledge, passing in front of the Grotte des Infernets, After the summit of the lare, after several hairpin bends, leave this track, which is too monotonous, and take the small yellow and red signposted path on the left. Keep on this path after crossing the track twice, and then take it again to go as far as the Encanaux bridge, keeping to the left.

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fernandez
fernandez

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Beware of a rather dangerous passage

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Janine13
Janine13

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very pretty hike that we've done several times already but never tire of! Magnificent views from the pass and the path through the Coutronne ravine is superb.

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paulpat
paulpat

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

the description of the route to point 4 did not correspond at all with the GPS track on the app
At point 2, a poorly-marked path climbs to the right, corresponding to the GPS track on the app but not to the description. This path took us a few metres from point 3, but we missed the intersection that leads to the fig tree shelter. From there we followed a path marked with cairns along the ridge line to point 4, looking for a path on the side of the wall with sections over ledges. We were exactly on the GPS track on the app. When we turned back we found this famous intersection with the fig tree shelter, but as for the path on the side of the wall and over ledges? perhaps that's not the right word. No particular difficulties or exposure to heights

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migecoba
migecoba

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

I enjoyed the walk

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plovier
plovier

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

lovely 4.5 hour hike. a bit of shade on the way up and a bit of wind on the summit. perfect. very pretty scenery. no particular difficulty.
Thanks again.

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jrf
jrf

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

We didn't do this walk because we took the well-marked path (towards point 3) because the cairn above this path is difficult to see because of the vegetation. We continued along the ridge line, following a route marked by cairns, until we reached the ford crossing sign on the route and turned back. On the way back we found a path leading down to the cave (Abri du figuier?) and realised our mistake when we found the cairn on the ridge.
A hike to be repeated next time.

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MFvr
MFvr

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A very nice walk to spare my knees, which had been put to the test the day before. Beautiful scenery. Done in 3 hours without a break.

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phijol
phijol

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A precise walk that I did modify.
This route was useful.
Thank you

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Lili 83
Lili 83

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very fine route, with a well-preserved ice house, rock shelter and cave, all in a magnificent setting.
The description is accurate, except between points 5 and 6 (don't take the most southerly path). Be careful with the fig tree shelter, as the tree is small and lacks the leaves that were characteristic of the period. However, there is a red circle on the right-hand edge of the path to indicate this, as there is for the Infernets cave.
The route is uphill from the start to the Col de Lare. To return, leave the DFCI track and take the yellow-marked path on the left between points 7 and 8.

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