Ardon (rivière) Affluent de la Tinée walks

A long and demanding circular in the Mercantour National Park that will first take you to Lac de Rabuons, the largest lake in the Alpes-Maritimes, which is worth the detour in itself, before climbing Mont Ténibre, the highest peak in the Tinée at 3,031 metres. You are in the Mercantour National Park, where there are regulations to be observed, with fines of up to €1,500 for non-compliance. See practical information. Read the reviews before committing.

This first stage will take you to the Rabuons mountain hut, on the shores of the largest lake in the Alpes-Maritimes.The landscape is very rocky. You’ll come across plenty of Italians, as just across the border there are several mountain huts offering lovely routes via the nearby Pas de l’Ischiator. ⚠️ Allow around 4 hours for an average hiker in good physical condition to complete this walk.

A hike to discover the Ténibres valley from both sides as well as the architecture of the region.

This morning route is an alternative to the Bois d'Anelle loop, passing via the Cime d'Anelle. The first section climbs through the Ublan countryside, then crosses the woods in the shade of the fir trees.

Following a somewhat hidden route away from the very busy areas of the upper Tinée Valley, this hike offers stunning panoramic views of the magnificent and wild upper Demandols valley, as well as the ‘3,000s’ of the Tinée, such as Mont Ténibre and the Cime de Corborant. If you undertake this hike in spring or very early summer, you might be lucky enough to spot some ibex that haven’t yet returned to the higher altitudes...

Before descending back to Saint-Etienne-de-Tinée, you climb to the Cime du Fer (2,700 m), which offers a superb 360° view, notably of the Tête de Moïse (3,104 m) and the magnificent Mont Viso (3,841 m). Then we descend alongside the Tortisse torrent before heading back towards the Lacs de Vens and climbing up to the Lac des Babarottes. We continue along a section of the Chemin de l’Énergie until we catch sight of Mont Ténibre. We then finish with a long descent (-1,200 m) down to the village.

A magnificent three-day route taking you to one of the 3,000-metre peaks in the Alpes-Maritimes. You’ll have the chance to spend a night on the shores of the largest lake in the Alpes-Maritimes at the small Rabuons refuge. The following day, the ascent of Mont Ténibre will offer you a superb panorama of Italy, as well as the Mercantour range stretching as far as the peaks of the Auron ski resort. You’ll leave your rucksack behind for a second night by the shores of another lake – less rugged and more pastoral – at the Vens refuge.

The Grande Traversée des Alpes (GTA) mainly follows the GR®5, with a few possible variations such as the crossing of the Haute Vanoise via the GR®55 and the Via Alpina, which this route takes instead of the GR®5 route via the Col de l’Iseran. It crosses the French Alps from north to south, from Saint-Gingolph to Nice. The guide includes web links to the many accommodation options along the route or nearby: mountain huts, lodges, campsites, cabins and shelters, excluding hotels. Although this guidebook details the GTA as a three-week trek, it can be adapted to suit your own pace, with stages of varying lengths, either completed in one go or in sections over several years. This journey, fuelled by the joy of freedom in unspoilt natural surroundings, will remain a superb and unforgettable experience, offering, moreover, the opportunity to meet many people with whom you can share this same passion for the mountains.

This seventeenth stage continues the crossing of the Mercantour massif. From Bousiéyas, the GR®5 climbs gently along the forest track, crosses the Tinée valley and reaches the small lake of Lauzarouotte. The path then crosses the Issias valley and reaches the Col de la Colombière. Winding its way down, it plunges straight into the Vallon de la Combe and, hugging the hillside, reaches the Rochepin chalet before returning to the bottom of the Vallon de la Combe and reaching Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage. The GR®5 follows the Route d’Anelle, crossing a few torrents before reaching the Col d’Anelle. It descends to Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée, which it passes through, before entering the Tinée Valley. At the hamlet of Drogon, it winds its way up the valley side in a series of hairpin bends to the resort of Auron, then passes through woodland to reach the Col du Blainon before descending the sunny side of the Vallon de la Roya and arriving at the “Ma Vieille École” lodge.

Étape de la traversée des Alpes de Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage jusqu'à Roya. Randonnée offrant un très beau panorama sur la Haute Tinée avec passage de la station de ski d'Auron puis après le Col du Blainon entrée dans le vallon de Roya où le mouton est roi.