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At the main entrance to the village of Allauch, take the road on the left that winds up towards the cemetery. Pass it and park on the left in the angled parking spaces.
(S/E) Head towards Chemin du Garlaban. After about 100 metres, you will see a yellow-marked trail on your right. Do not follow the yellow markings along the road, but continue straight ahead on the rocky path that climbs and disappears under the tall pine trees, heading south-east.
(1) At a crossroads, turn left and follow the yellow markings. The path climbs steadily under the trees to the ruins of the Sainte-Croix Chapel, where only a few stones remain.
Admire the view of Allauch, Marseille and the beginning of the Côte Bleue. The path levels out and then descends slightly.
(2) Turn right, following the yellow markings. Be careful, as the descent is steep and rocky. The path winds around several times, then turns left and becomes flat and pleasant.
Pass several houses. The path climbs again, still in the woods, to reach the Col du Puits Rouge, indicated by a sign and next to a shed.
(3) The path then turns into a beautiful track that you follow east-southeast. The track then turns south-southeast. Ignore the two tracks on the left and right that form triangles and continue straight ahead towards a narrower path that turns left and remains relatively flat. You will arrive at a crossroads.
(4) Turn right towards the Baumes des Pestiférés. There are a few rocks to climb over, but access to the Baumes is easy. Turn back.
(4) Then turn right. Walk along the bottom of the Baumes des Pestiférés. At the first intersection, turn left (yellow markings) and descend into the valley. Pass by the Source de Pichoun Ome (little man in Provençal). The path passes on the opposite side of the Baumes.
(5) At a fork, turn left and, at the intersection that appears shortly afterwards (gas pipes), continue straight ahead, leaving a shed on your left and a fire station on your right. The trail is marked in yellow. There is a beautiful view of the Tête Ronde. Continue on and pass by some old bauxite deposits. Some openings are still visible behind the bushes and red earth embankments. Continue on to reach a trail junction. Turn right. There is a beautiful view of the Grande Tête Rouge.
(6) Turn left at a trail junction and continue straight ahead. Notice a large opening on the right, an old bauxite mine. Walk along the facilities until you reach a barrier. Turn left towards Escaouprés
, as indicated on a sign. The trail markers now turn blue.
The track winds downhill to the bottom of the valley. Turn right. The path runs alongside the valley. Follow the blue markings. On the left are the Berger caves and, further down on the right, the Étoile caves. Look out for a sign on the left below you: this is the Source du Chien. Take a detour for a break and admire the rock carvings (on the left above the spring behind a tree). Otherwise, continue along the path.
(7) Turn left, still following the blue markings, with the Pounche des Escaouprés in view.
(8) At the signpost, head towards Allauch
. Keep to the left and follow a path that runs alongside and gradually approaches a large DFCI track. Turn left onto the track. Please note that this track is used by many mountain bikes.
(9) Turn left to avoid a large circular loop in the DFCI track. Arrive at Col de Cante-Perdrix.
(10) Continue straight ahead, go through a large green gate and arrive at the Chemin du Garlaban. Descend this path. Then take a yellow-marked trail on the left that runs alongside the road through the woods. Join the road a few metres before the path you took on the way there. Return to the car park (S/E).
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