Baisse de Scuvion and Fort de Pierre Pointue

A beautiful walk in the Mediterranean hinterland. Between forests and rocks, with traces of history (forts and fortifications from the Maginot Line!)
A variety of views between the sea and the mountains.

Details

38055
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.45 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 520 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 520 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,176 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 728 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start and parking available at Col de Castillon.
(S/E) From the pass (in front of the reservoir), take the narrow road heading north towards Baisse de Scuvion (signposts and yellow markings).

(1) About 500m further on, a path on the left allows you to leave the road and climb up towards a reservoir and some antennas, which you should pass.
At the next fork, stay on the middle path, which continues to climb under the trees before turning south-southeast. Continue until you reach Baisse de Scuvion (signposts).

(2) Then head towards the Col de Roulabre, which allows you to bypass
mont Razet (you can follow the signs for Pierre Pointue and Col de Castillon at this point to shorten the route!

(3) At the Col de Roulabre, turn right towards Pierre Pointue, where you can admire the remains of a military fort before tackling the fairly steep and stony descent towards the Fontanelles district.

(4) Continue along this path until it joins the small road taken at the start of the walk.

(5) Follow it to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 728 m - Parking - Col de Castillon
  2. 1 : km 0.61 - alt. 776 m - Trail on the left
  3. 2 : km 2.39 - alt. 1,158 m - Baisse de Scuvion (1154m)
  4. 3 : km 3.28 - alt. 1,091 m - Col de Roulabre (1094m)
  5. 4 : km 4 - alt. 1,171 m - Pierre Pointue (1168m)
  6. 5 : km 6.59 - alt. 766 m - Junction with a road. After the source of the - Careï (fleuve)
  7. S/E : km 7.45 - alt. 728 m - Parking - Col de Castillon

Notes

There is no water on the route and the trail is exposed to the sun, so be careful during hot weather.

Worth a visit

The French Riviera, of course, but also the hinterland with its hilltop villages and the Mercantour National Park.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 35 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Emmanuel Nice
Emmanuel Nice

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

One of the most beautiful hikes I have done in the region.
Much of the climb is shaded, which allowed us to enjoy an incredible array of colours.
The views on both the ascent and descent are superb.
I highly recommend it.

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User 3572722

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike in beautiful weather, with stunning views! I highly recommend it!

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josefa Andreu
josefa Andreu

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very pretty, shaded route

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Crapahuteur54
Crapahuteur54

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route that is well described and accessible to most experienced hikers, except those who are apprehensive about long, steep, and rocky descents.

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Landry06
Landry06
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This route is ideal for summer as there are many shaded areas. Very beautiful views. I recommend this route.

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Franck06
Franck06

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk in the forest

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bebeghislaine
bebeghislaine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Superb hike with a short detour to the Razet Pass and the summit of Mont Razet. 10.50 km with 800 m of elevation gain. I highly recommend it.

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Christian Chauveau
Christian Chauveau

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk, often through woodland, which is pleasant in hot weather, with magnificent scenery. Be careful on the descent... it is slippery on the scree.

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Vistaelmar
Vistaelmar

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An interesting walk from the Castillon Pass. At the foot of Mount Razet is a cistern that looks like a container, from where you can see the mountains of Italy at 1,230 metres, the Mercantour mountains and Menton below.
The changes in direction, particularly for the descent, should be better indicated on the Visorando website, as there are no signposts (No.) and this can lead to mistakes on the way down. The descent is on the same slope as the ascent. If you go around the military fort, do not descend at the back unless you are heading for Menton (10 km). Beautiful scenery, the fort is worth a visit (clean and cool with a torch). Flowers and insects abound in May.

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Enya
Enya

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a very beautiful hike of moderate difficulty, done in the snow, which made it quite challenging... The description was spot on.
i'll be back in the spring...

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Patrick V2.
Patrick V2.

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It's a beautiful hike, not very difficult. Compared to the route described here, at Pierre Pointue we climbed to the top of Razet, which I think would be a shame to miss. Unfortunately, we had fog and the view was almost impossible from up there. However, it gave the landscape a special atmosphere! There were lots of flowers for people interested in botany like me (it was 31 May 2020)! - Curiously, the underground remains of the Maginot Line were very clean. They can be easily visited with a headlamp. Don't be afraid: there were no bats! (Too bad, in my opinion!)

PS: I wrote "good" instead of "very good" because although the view towards Menton was clear, I was a little disappointed with the view towards Mercantour...

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kitos98
kitos98

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

excellent summary, thank you!

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• Edited:

The user account associated with this content has been deleted.

raymondvdb
raymondvdb

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A very pleasant hike. The route is shaded on the way up. It offers varied views of different valleys, and the brave can explore the corridors of the fort. At least, I assume so, because an army of impressive big spiders has taken possession of it. Bring a torch. And anyway, are you serious? I quickly turned back Note that there is a water source at the start/finish point at the foot of the reservoir.

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galli06910
galli06910
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

despite the heatwave, the climb and two-thirds of the route are in the shade, which makes it very bearable. It's a beautiful view, but unfortunately the heat causes a lot of mist over the sea.

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