Around the Valtrède valley

A circular loop starting from Vallon du Saut and heading towards the valleys of Valtrède, Maximin and Fauconnière. There are a few technical sections and many geological curiosities to discover, such as Roche Percée, Fortin du Saut and rock faces, which are popular climbing sites. On the plateau, there are magnificent views of the Étangs de Berre and Bolmon lakes and, in the background, the Sainte Victoire mountain, the Luberon and the snow-capped Alps, depending on the season.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.70 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,289 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,283 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 663 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 148 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

The hike starts from the large Vallon du Saut car park at the end of the old Martigues road that runs alongside the A55 motorway.

(S/E) Go through the barrier and follow the DFCI CB108 trail in Vallon du Saut. Take note of the beautiful rock formations. Walk for about 200 metres.

(1) Turn left into a hollow in the valley (an old stream bed) to get closer and admire the Fortin du Saut and the Debaussadou cave. Turn around and continue along the track. Pass by Roche Percée. After an S-shaped climb, you will arrive at a plateau with a multi-path junction and a sign for "Forêt Communale de Canton" (Canton Communal Forest).

(2) Turn left towards "Valtrède par Canton" for a long straight stretch with magnificent views of Châteauneuf-Les-Martigues, the Berre and Bolmon lagoons, Marignane and the mountain ranges.

(3) Turn right at elevation 190, continue straight ahead at elevation 199, then follow the quarry visible on the left. You will arrive at a Y-shaped crossroads and some ruins.

(4) Turn right towards the west. Follow the main track or the more shaded path parallel to the left. You will come to a multi-path junction, a sign and a high-voltage line at elevation 140.

(5) Turn left and pass by a high-voltage pylon. The track begins to climb then levels out. You will arrive at an X-shaped crossroads between elevations 190 and 187.

(6) Turn right to rejoin the DFCI CB106 track, which follows the high-voltage power line. Pass elevation 175 (near cistern 331) and arrive at a junction with a path at elevation 158.

(7) Turn right onto this path, which winds downhill to join the Vallon de Valtrède, at the large water reservoir of the Canal de Provence. Go around the basin on the right and look for a path passing above it.

(8) Follow this path westwards. Join the tarmac road at a pumping station and arrive at the Chemin du Trou du Loup (GRP®2013) at elevation 91.

(9) Immediately turn right onto the wide path, which crosses pipelines and alternates between ascents and descents, performing a circular loop to the right to head east again. Pass at the foot of a quarry. You will arrive at a Y-junction.

(10) Turn right, then keep left about 250 m further on, rejoining the GRP®2013 heading east. This is the Maximin valley. Arrive at the summit point with an X-shaped crossroads.

(11) Leave the GRP®2013 by turning left, heading north. You will arrive near the quarry close to elevation 196. On the right, there is a gap in the rocks.

(12) Turn right to descend towards the Fauconnière valley on a very steep and slippery scree slope. Take great care, as there is a risk of slipping. After about a hundred metres, turn right to take an easier path through the rocks. You will rejoin the valley further on. You will come to a Y-junction.

(13) Make a circular route to the right for a beautiful view of the climbing cliffs, then continue through the undergrowth to a junction with a path under a power line.

(14) Turn right and follow the power line. You will arrive in front of a property. Go around it on the left to rejoin the old Martigues road further down. Follow it for about a hundred metres.

(15) Go back up the path on the right, under the power line. Turn left to the Vallon du Saut car park, the starting point of this hike (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 164 ft - Vallon du Saut car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.13 - alt. 197 ft - Valley hollow towards Fortin du Saut
  3. 2 : mi 0.99 - alt. 653 ft - Signpost "Forêt Communale du Canton" (Communal Forest of the Canton)
  4. 3 : mi 1.62 - alt. 623 ft - Cote 190 - Right
  5. 4 : mi 2.52 - alt. 564 ft - Y-junction - Right
  6. 5 : mi 3.09 - alt. 446 ft - Cote 140 - Left under the high-voltage power line
  7. 6 : mi 3.56 - alt. 614 ft - X-shaped junction - Right
  8. 7 : mi 4.3 - alt. 518 ft - Cote 158 - Right
  9. 8 : mi 4.78 - alt. 374 ft - Path above the basin - Left
  10. 9 : mi 5.28 - alt. 305 ft - Cote 91 - Path on the right
  11. 10 : mi 6.31 - alt. 430 ft - Y-junction - Right
  12. 11 : mi 7.1 - alt. 653 ft - X-shaped crossroads - Left
  13. 12 : mi 7.52 - alt. 643 ft - Cote 196 - Gap in the rocks - Right
  14. 13 : mi 7.85 - alt. 240 ft - Y-junction - Right
  15. 14 : mi 8.05 - alt. 203 ft - Power line - Right
  16. 15 : mi 8.49 - alt. 171 ft - Path on the right
  17. S/E : mi 8.7 - alt. 164 ft - Vallon du Saut car park

Notes

For information: the author took 4½ hours to complete this route (excluding breaks).

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.