Malpasset Dam at the start of the Col d'Auriasque

A pleasant hike in the Esterel to discover the Malpasset Dam and an ancient Roman bridge.

Details

10375789
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.43 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 242 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 249 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 234 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 35 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the Col d'Auriasque car park.

(S/E) Be careful not to take the Cante Perdrix track at the end of the car park, but return to the road and take the Auriasque track. After 200 m, stay on the track and continue straight on towards the west.

(1) Turn right at the "Protection Incendie Le Fort" fire station and continue along the Auriasque trail heading north.

(2) At the fork, turn left and continue straight ahead on the Piste d'Auriasque.

(3) Before reaching a barrier, turn right to climb a barely visible path. It may seem as though you are climbing a stream. Do not worry, if there is no path in sight, continue straight ahead. Turn right at the end of the path and walk to the passage under the motorway.

(4) Ford the stream and head towards the underpass beneath the motorway.

(5) Pass under the motorway on the left-hand side, turn right and continue to the Malpasset Dam.

(6) Turn around, go back under the motorway and through the ford.

(4) After the ford, take the track on the left that runs alongside the motorway. A few hundred metres further on, you will see the ruins of a Roman bridge on the right.

(7) Turn around and return to the ford.

(4) Take the track on the left (Route de la Marre à Trache) until you reach a fork.

(8) Turn right here and, after 250 metres, continue on the left to join the Piste de l'Esquine at the next intersection.

(9) Near a cistern, keep left to take the Piste de l'Esquine, heading east.

(10) Turn right and follow another track southwards until you rejoin the outward route, near a cistern.
Then turn left to go back up to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 202 m - Col d'Auriasque (201m)
  2. 1 : km 1.1 - alt. 139 m - Fire protection Le Fort
  3. 2 : km 2.49 - alt. 61 m - Fork in the road
  4. 3 : km 3.06 - alt. 39 m - Wild ascent
  5. 4 : km 3.8 - alt. 38 m - Fording
  6. 5 : km 4.02 - alt. 37 m - Passage under the motorway
  7. 6 : km 5.39 - alt. 46 m - Barrage de Malpasset
  8. 7 : km 7.14 - alt. 39 m - Roman Bridge
  9. 8 : km 8.17 - alt. 69 m - Fork
  10. 9 : km 9.19 - alt. 173 m - Cistern
  11. 10 : km 9.54 - alt. 198 m - Fork
  12. S/E : km 11.43 - alt. 202 m - Col d'Auriasque

Notes

It is hot in summer, so remember to take enough water with you.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
3.7 / 5
JPT06
JPT06

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy hike, mostly along forest tracks.
Other hikers had noted that the noise from the motorway detracts somewhat from the enjoyment of the hike, but we did not find it bothersome.
You learn a lot more about the tragedy of 1959, which makes this a hike that combines history and nature.
There is little shade except on the last kilometre. Be careful, we had to take off our shoes to cross the Reyran.

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sev88
sev88

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A beautiful hike full of emotion with a visit to the Malpasset dam site, where everything is very well explained. A very early morning hike in summer is pleasant under a partly cloudy sky, but should be avoided during the day in summer under the blazing sun.

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Mbur.
Mbur.

We completed this route after heavy rainfall and were unable to reach the dam as it was impossible to cross the fords.

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patgir
patgir

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Not much to see except for the ruins of the Malpasset dam.
The noise from the motorway along most of the route does not help matters...

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Marc Despierres
Marc Despierres

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike whose main attraction is the moving discovery of the Malpasset dam site. Take the time to soak up the atmosphere and read the information panels located throughout the site. They are very well done and provide a good understanding of how the dam collapsed on 2 December 1959. All while remembering the many victims of the disaster. As for the rest, I preferred the sections between points 3 and 4 and between point 10 and the Col d'Auriasque, which are on footpaths. The rest is on rolling tracks, but they are a little monotonous and the proximity of the motorway spoils the tranquillity of much of the route. Thank you for sharing.

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le gobi
le gobi

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

This hike takes place on forest trails and is ideal for families or groups.
However, it can quickly become hot as there is little shade.
The noise from the motorway detracts somewhat from the enjoyment of the hike.
The real interest lies in learning more about the tragedy of 1959.
A good way to get back into shape.

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Bob Timmerman
Bob Timmerman

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
A very interesting hike, which taught us about the history of the dam breach in 1959. I don't think this hike can be described as pleasant, given what happened 62 years ago. The enormous concrete blocks, swept away by the flood of 50 million cubic metres of water and deposited more than a kilometre from the dam, bear witness to the violence of this disaster.
The flowering arbutus trees (and a few red fruits still remaining) soften the atmosphere of this place somewhat.

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darius83
darius83

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

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

Hello. What you saw near the motorway bridge are the remains of an aqueduct, not a bridge. This aqueduct carried water from the Siagnole to Fréjus and was over 40 km long. Many remains of this aqueduct are still visible along its entire length, and its route is still used to carry water today.

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