Around Quinson - La Baume Bonne

A walk around Quinson, to be done before or after a visit to the Prehistory Museum.

Details

395298
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.62 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,056 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,050 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,814 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,181 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park near the museum.

(S/E) Head south, join the Allée des Prés du Verdon and turn right onto the Montmeyan road (D13). Turn left, walk for about 50 metres then turn right onto the Chemin de Notre-Dame.

(1) At the bend a few metres further on, take the path on the left and start a steep climb. At the junction, turn left to reach Vieux Quinson.

(2) Take a short break to enjoy the view. Retrace your steps to the previous junction and turn left towards Saint-Pierre. Pass two paths on the right and arrive at a crossroads.

(3) Turn right, then left, and continue straight on across the plateau through the vineyards and lavender fields until you reach a road.

(4) Follow this road to the right and continue straight on.

(5) About fifty metres past the access road to La Vudèle, leave the road and take the path on the left. Continue straight on at the next crossroads, turn left at the Fork in the road and carry on until you reach another junction.

(6) Take the sharp right-hand bend, pass in front of a wash house and reach the Source de Poiraque. Keep left at the Fork in the road you passed earlier and continue to the road.

(5) Cross the road, head straight ahead and continue towards the Source de Vaudoudurde.

(7) About a hundred metres further on, turn right onto the path and continue straight on until you reach the D11.

(8) Once at the road, first turn right then left onto a track. Follow this track straight ahead.

(9) Leave the path on your right – which you’ll take on the way back – and continue along the track for about 350m. Then leave the track to take a lovely path on the left which leads first to an orientation table and then to La Baume Bonne, offering lovely views of the dam and the lake.

(10) Turn back and return to the track. Turn right and walk for 350m.

(9) Leave the track and turn left to head back down towards Quinson. Turn left onto the road, then right to reach the vicinity of the prehistoric village.

(11) Continue straight on to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,188 ft - Car park near the museum
  2. 1 : mi 0.19 - alt. 1,214 ft - Take the path on the left - Verdon (rivière)
  3. 2 : mi 0.6 - alt. 1,670 ft - Old Quinson
  4. 3 : mi 1.64 - alt. 1,781 ft - Saint-Pierre, turn right
  5. 4 : mi 2.19 - alt. 1,795 ft - Road, turn right
  6. 5 : mi 2.66 - alt. 1,804 ft - Path to the left
  7. 6 : mi 3.16 - alt. 1,762 ft - Poiraque, on the right at the hairpin bend
  8. 7 : mi 4.21 - alt. 1,614 ft - Vaudoudurde Spring
  9. 8 : mi 4.74 - alt. 1,480 ft - D11 road, first turn right then left
  10. 9 : mi 5.47 - alt. 1,575 ft - Junction
  11. 10 : mi 5.97 - alt. 1,398 ft - Baume Bonne
  12. 11 : mi 7.09 - alt. 1,188 ft - Prehistoric village
  13. S/E : mi 7.62 - alt. 1,188 ft - Car park near the museum

Notes

Shelter and water point (non-potable) at the Poiraque wash house.
Water and toilets at the car park at the start.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 36 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
kippas
kippas

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 04, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

To find your way at the start, you need to go just past the monolith, as the climb is steep and relatively short but not necessarily suitable for everyone.
Otherwise, the route is pleasant and varied, but be careful ⚠️ if it’s very hot, as the route runs alongside a road and tracks and is therefore exposed.
There are some good descents, both to La Baume and on the way to Quinson.
The return journey along the riverbank is also very pleasant

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ceci.pi83@hotmail.fr
ceci.pi83@hotmail.fr

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 11, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, though the start is closed by a local council order due to a rockslide. On the advice of a gentleman from Quinson, we therefore tried to take the Lierre path to reach point 3 of the walk.

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Ratus84
Ratus84

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very varied hike, great

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jrco
jrco

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The road up to the old village of Quinson is blocked due to a landslide.

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manonroro
manonroro

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike, although the start is steep without being too challenging. The Poiraque spring is very nice.
a peaceful and superb walk.

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Tola715
Tola715

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route is unreliable; whoever mapped it must have been a mountaineer with ropes. In fact, it climbs very steeply at the beginning, so you need to use your hands very quickly and follow the yellow markings. At one point there is a fork in the path, to the left or right. Take the right, there is a marker on a large rock that you just need to go around, but it is not necessarily visible.
Then at the top, it's flat through the vineyards and a busy road where cars drive fast, so we didn't do point 6 because of that. Then return to the trails and, honestly, the prehistoric path is worth doing all the way to the end. The view of the Verdon is magnificent. The descent is steep and slippery, so wear good shoes. At the bottom, visit the reconstruction of the prehistoric village, which is very nice.

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randofossat
randofossat

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice route but quite steep at the start when cold between 1 and 2. Markings are very random and it's easy to take the wrong path. With GPS tracking, you can quickly find your way back after a hundred metres if you make a mistake.
From 3 to 5, limited interest.
From 5 to 6, nice and a pleasant picnic stop at the Poiraque spring. It's a shame that inconsiderate people stole the chain from the pump.
The descent between 9 and 11 is very rocky and extremely slippery, even in dry weather.
The signposts are not always clear and can be misleading, even when following a GPS.
Apart from the start, the route is easy.

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PILOU83
PILOU83
• Edited:

PS When I started the hike, I took a right onto the path (from the chapel), but that was a mistake. The correct path is
(De Notre-Dame)
My apologies
It's OK, I've corrected it in my description
Please ignore this post!!!!!!

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PILOU83
PILOU83
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The description of this hike is very disappointing and unreliable. It is easy to get lost. We are experienced hikers and ended up walking 3 km more than planned, for a total of 5.5 hours.
At every intersection, the person who wrote the description must have confused left and right
Even the start is not at all clear! To begin with, park in the town hall car park or nearby.
S/E Head towards the Gorges bridge and on your right take the Chemin de Notre Dame, go up and in the bend turn left and then immediately right onto a concrete path, which is quite a climb! You will arrive in front of a private property, turn left towards the undergrowth and you will start a beautiful 200-metre climb between the rocks until you reach the plateau
2) Immediately on your left is the old Quinson. There is nothing special to see except the view, two sections of wall and piles of stones! Turn back and head towards Saint Pierre. Follow the path and you will come to a dirt track
3) Continue straight ahead, following the dirt track, which can be muddy in places, until you reach a small road. Before you reach it, you will see a farm with a large gate and two recent stone walls on your right. You are now only about a hundred metres from the road
4) Turn right and continue straight ahead until you reach a large crossroads with a road on your right (Quinson). Continue straight ahead, passing the farm on your left (La Vudele) and 50 metres further on, take a dirt track on the left (be careful, this is a one-way track, continue straight ahead for 800 metres). Don't worry about the crossroads, don't turn left or right. 500 metres after this crossroads, on your right, there is a hairpin bend where you will see a very old wash house and the Poiraque spring, lost in the middle of nowhere!
5) Retrace your steps, cross the crossroads as before, then cross the road towards the Vaudoudurne spring and take a dirt track straight ahead for 800 m. On your right, take a small path for 20 m to reach the Vaudoudurne spring with an old hamlet in ruins. Leave the small path at the spring and turn right, continuing straight ahead until you reach a road, then turn right, then left
6) Go up for 400 metres and at the crossroads take the dirt track on the right and not on the left! Continue straight ahead and on your right you will see a small yellow sign (Quinson) which you will take on the way back
7) Continue for about 400 metres and turn left, following the yellow trail towards the gorges. This is a small path, so leave the track and you will arrive at a large orientation table, or what remains of it! start the mega descent by following the yellow trail. There will be iron railings and iron stairs and you will finally arrive at the famous cave, which is really worth seeing! You can't go inside as there are high iron gates with spikes
8) Turn back, follow the yellow line and climb back up. It's quite steep (last elevation gain 100 m). Join the track and return to the yellow sign (Quinson on your left)
9) You will begin a long, steep descent and arrive at the bottom of Quinson on a road. Turn right towards the starting point at the town hall car park. You will have walked for 4½ hours and covered 13 km, so remember to stretch!
I hope my explanations have been helpful for this magnificent and very diverse hike!
Enjoy your hike, everyone!

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Plongeur
Plongeur

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 10, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

it may certainly be more common during the right season. Please note that dogs are not allowed on the trail, even on a leash, to protect wildlife, as your pet may carry diseases. This trail can be extended on the way back by following the wide track until 100 metres before a house, where a small path on your left will take you back, avoiding the fairly steep descent you climbed at the start
Enjoy your walk! A local resident

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Claudaix
Claudaix

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed on 17/07/20. No one else on the trail...
Very good route, although GPS is sometimes useful. Good exercise at the start of the hike and during the descent and climb up the cave.
Superb hike!!!:

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Agnès Rivet
Agnès Rivet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This route is very busy in July and August and should be avoided at all costs.
Please note that all hikers with dogs should be aware that the "Autour de Quinson" and "Les Basses Gorges du Verdon" trails are closed to dogs, even on a leash. Eco-guards are on patrol and fines are €135, which makes for an expensive hike 😳
This is not specified in the Visorando guidebooks, so be sure to check with the local tourist offices.!!!!

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Agnès Rivet
Agnès Rivet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This route is very busy in July and August and should be avoided at all costs.
Please note that all hikers with dogs should be aware that the "Autour de Quinson" and "Les Basses Gorges du Verdon" trails are closed to dogs, even on a leash. Eco-wardens are on patrol and fines are €135, which makes for an expensive hike 😳
Not specified in the Visorando guidebooks, so check with the local tourist offices.

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francis1512
francis1512

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 05, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A little difficult to find the start.
La Beaume is good, but we still don't know what it is!
Beautiful route.
Francis

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ardechom
ardechom
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 25, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Thank you to the author for this beautiful hike. Baume Bonne was a lovely discovery, very close to Verdon. Ending the loop at the prehistoric site was a great idea.

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