Circular route from Soleilhas to Saint-Pierre Chapel

This hike on the edge of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence offers a varied route through forests, rocky outcrops and even a riverbed. It is not particularly difficult, although some descents can be a little steep. It also gives you the opportunity to visit the pretty Saint-Pierre Chapel, tucked away in the woods.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.58 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 552 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 553 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,402 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 935 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐
    Area: Alps
  • ⚐ District: Soleilhas (04120)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.857485° / E 6.650913°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3542ET, 3542OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

The starting point is at the boules court car park (signposted on a small street on the left as you enter the village), where you can park easily.

(S/E) Head south, then turn right twice, heading north towards the village exit. Three hundred metres further on, look for the point where theGR®4leaves the road.

(1) Turn left and begin a steady climb to reach the Col Saint-Barnabé.

(2) Cross the D102 and take the road on the right to the Vauplane resort until you reach an antenna in the first hairpin bend.

(3) Follow an unmarked forest track on the right for about 2 km until you reach an intersection.

(4) Follow the track slightly to the right and join a path marked in yellow.

(5) Continue left on this pretty path until you reach the ruins of Verraillon.

(6) Keep right on the marked path towards Prignolet and Chapelle Saint-Pierre. The balcony trail winds its way between beautiful rock formations.

(7) At the chapel, take the time to walk to a small waterfall on the right (250 m) and back.

(8) Return to the chapel.

(7) Follow the path along an old canal (beal) to reach and go around the beautiful Colettes estate, continuing towards Prignolet.

(9) Just after crossing an old stream in a slightly sharper bend, leave the marked path and take a trail that starts on the right in the forest and leads to the Torrent de la Sagne, which is a peatland.

(10) Cross it (not recommended when the water is high), pass under the high-voltage line and continue until you come to a perpendicular path.

(11) Turn right onto this path and head towards Soleilhas via the Ravin des Colettes. The path roughly follows the route of the high-voltage power line.

(12) Stay in the wide valley on the left. Then begin a long climb up the valley bed. The markings become sporadic, but numerous cairns mark the way.

(13) The ravine becomes narrower and a cairn indicates where the path leaves it to climb up to the right. Shortly afterwards, the yellow markings reappear and you simply need to follow them towards Soleilhas to find the boules court car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,130 m - Soleilhas - Boules court car park
  2. 1 : km 0.39 - alt. 1,141 m - GR 4, leave the road
  3. 2 : km 1.93 - alt. 1,366 m - Col Saint-Barnabé
  4. 3 : km 2.44 - alt. 1,396 m - Forest track
  5. 4 : km 4.52 - alt. 1,338 m - Intersection
  6. 5 : km 4.59 - alt. 1,349 m - Trail marked in yellow.
  7. 6 : km 5.53 - alt. 1,280 m - Ruins of Verraillon
  8. 7 : km 6.97 - alt. 1,083 m - St-Pierre Chapel. Turn-off to the waterfall and back.
  9. 8 : km 7.21 - alt. 1,099 m - Waterfall
  10. 9 : km 8.38 - alt. 1,058 m - Unmarked path
  11. 10 : km 9.13 - alt. 955 m - Torrent of the Peatland
  12. 11 : km 9.64 - alt. 940 m - Towards the Colettes ravine
  13. 12 : km 10.12 - alt. 976 m - Valley bed
  14. 13 : km 11.83 - alt. 1,020 m - Leaving the valley
  15. S/E : km 14.58 - alt. 1,130 m - Soleilhas - Boules court car park

Notes

Access to the mountains is regulated in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region during the summer. It is essential to check before any hike: https://www.risque-prevention-incendie.f....
Some sections of the route (Colettes ravine) are very exposed to the sun and rocky, so it is essential to wear suitable footwear and bring enough water.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
Solgea
Solgea

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello. The elevation gain and distance indicated for the route are incorrect. Of the 553 m elevation gain, we averaged 800 m (figures from three different Garmin watches with average calculation). The same applies to the distance: 14.58 km, but we averaged 17 km including the visit to the waterfall. The hike is very beautiful with an accurate and well-established description. The only downside is that from point 12 onwards, the climb up the riverbed is long and tedious, covering several kilometres at the end of the hike.

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Céline06
Céline06

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The first part of the hike to the chapel was really nice, but we encountered difficulties on the second part. I think that due to bad weather, there may have been landslides on some sections, which made the trail difficult to walk on and sometimes a little dangerous. We were able to get through, but at times it was complicated...

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sergeh06
sergeh06

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A hike with beautiful views and changing vegetation. It's worth it!

Only the last part (from the chapel onwards) seemed uninteresting to us, especially as the only river to see was dry. The atmosphere in the valley was post-apocalyptic. In the end, I would have preferred to take the shortcut instead of the recommended route. But then the hike would have been much shorter.

Be aware that when we did it, there were still lots of fallen trees, but we were always able to get around them.

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Nico0758
Nico0758

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike with varied landscapes and a beautiful waterfall.
In my opinion, the final part is less interesting: a path along the bed of a ravine.
Thank you for the route map and detailed directions.

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M_a_tt
M_a_tt

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Superb circular route, highly recommended. Very varied landscapes: undergrowth, ridges, rocky terrain... There are stunning views all along the route. GPS strongly recommended. No particular difficulties. Depending on the water flow, expect to have to wade through the water several times to cross a few fords. Also note that there are many (really many) fallen trees on the trails, all of which can be easily bypassed. I had a great time. Many thanks, Charlotte.

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christophe Benvenuto
christophe Benvenuto

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant, easy walk with a beautiful river (peatland) and lovely views, as well as a beautiful waterfall.

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ma.delbauffe
ma.delbauffe
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A beautiful hike with varied landscapes.
The return trip to point 8 to see the waterfall (very active in February) is definitely worth it.
At point 10, due to flooding, we were unable to cross. We took the forest track that leads just before the river and goes directly to point 12.
At point 13, be careful not to miss the path that branches off to the left by looking up regularly.
The climb up to the pass is a bit difficult because the path is in poor condition.
Thank you, Charlotte, for sharing.

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