Issole Forest Circular Route

A lovely walk through the Issole State Forest, planted with magnificent pine trees.
Throughout the walk, the gradient is gentle, on a path that’s very easy on the joints and which occasionally alternates with a forest track; both are always very well signposted.

Details

41807031
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.79 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 994 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,010 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 3,907 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,881 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Access and parking by car are straightforward. There is also a very large car park next to the church in the centre of Saint-André-les-Alpes. The area can also be reached by public transport, notably via the Train des Pignes, whose station is less than 1 km away. Depending on your route, park near the petrol station on Route de Nice.

(S/E) Follow the Route de Nice to the roundabout.

(1) Turn right onto Chemin des Espinasses and stay on this road, ignoring the streets on either side.

(2) Continue along the track until you reach the Subis crossroads.

(3) Take the track opposite towards Les Claviages. Continue to the junction of the same name.

(4) Turn right towards the ridge.

(5) Turn left and continue to the crossroads marking the boundary between the Malvallon ravine to the north and the Aiguemond ravine to the south.

(6) Carry on straight ahead towards the hamlet of Le Penas.

(7) Walk along the left-hand side of the clearing until you reach a modern barn. Continue for about a hundred metres until you come out onto a forest track.

(8) Take this track down towards the valley and follow it until you reach the RN202 on the banks of Lake Castillon.

(9) Cross the RN202 with care and head right towards the Plan water sports centre, keeping to the left-hand side of the road.

(10) Take the path on the left which runs alongside the road.

(11) Turn left to cross the bridge leading to the nature trail.

(12) Turn right onto the Chemin des Iscles.

(13) At the bridge, continue straight on along the path beside the Verdon, past the tennis courts.

(14) Carry on straight ahead along the Chemin de Méouilles and stay on it until you reach the junction with Rue du Moulin. Turn left and head towards the Grand Rue.

(15) Follow this road, turning left again and passing the church of Saint-André. Then, turn right to reach the petrol station and the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,923 ft - Petrol station
  2. 1 : mi 0.13 - alt. 2,923 ft - Chemin des Espinasses
  3. 2 : mi 0.53 - alt. 2,969 ft - Start of the trail
  4. 3 : mi 1.07 - alt. 3,199 ft - Les Subis, opposite
  5. 4 : mi 1.53 - alt. 3,484 ft - Les Claviages, on the right
  6. 5 : mi 1.78 - alt. 3,658 ft - Ridge, to the left
  7. 6 : mi 2.46 - alt. 3,796 ft - Crossroads, go straight on
  8. 7 : mi 2.86 - alt. 3,576 ft - Large clearing
  9. 8 : mi 3.12 - alt. 3,638 ft - Forest track
  10. 9 : mi 5.17 - alt. 2,894 ft - RN202
  11. 10 : mi 5.33 - alt. 2,894 ft - Start of the path to Plan beach
  12. 11 : mi 5.45 - alt. 2,887 ft - Bridge - Lac de Castillon
  13. 12 : mi 5.78 - alt. 2,890 ft - Chemin des Iscles
  14. 13 : mi 6.06 - alt. 2,894 ft - Bridge - Verdon (rivière)
  15. 14 : mi 6.31 - alt. 2,910 ft - Méouilles path. Near the - Issole (rivière) - Affluent du Verdon
  16. 15 : mi 6.63 - alt. 2,923 ft - Grand Rue
  17. S/E : mi 6.79 - alt. 2,923 ft - Petrol station

Notes

No shelter or water source. In the clearing leading to Le Penas (between (7) and (8)), there may be cattle grazing freely. As long as you keep a reasonable distance, they will simply watch you, but do not try to approach them.

Worth a visit

Note the _nature trail_ as you walk along the lake after crossing a small bridge. There are several themed information boards (trees, flowers, fish, birds, land animals, etc.) detailing the region’s rich biodiversity.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
Nico0758
Nico0758

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

No difficulties on this hike – a very pleasant route and a lovely discovery!

Thanks to Yangshuo

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sauteur
sauteur

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

The hike is divided into two parts. Part one: a circular loop through the Issole forest, then back to Saint André les Alpes to begin part two: the Rocher des Deux Saints. We had lunch at the end of the first circular, next to the paragliders' landing area. There is a nice little refreshment bar where we were able to quench our thirst and have a coffee. The hike is well marked and the landmarks are very clear

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Ladilafee
Ladilafee

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

An easy hike, except for the start, which can be tough due to the steep climb over the first three kilometres.
After that, you take a track downhill with beautiful views of the lake.
Then you follow the main road for a short while before entering the wetland area..
Personally, I prefer more rugged hikes.

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Hachail
Hachail

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for posting this lovely route. I rarely use the route descriptions; I mainly rely on the GPS track.
Yellow markings from the start until you reach the Verdon and Saint-André-les-Alpes (thanks to the FFRP).
After point 8, when the marked path leaves the track, it’s best to follow the path, as it will be much quicker (though a bit trickier for walkers not used to rocky terrain).
After point 17, it’s best to stay on the road until you reach the Verdon, as there may be mud between points 14 and 15 where we passed on the way there.

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cabriagile
cabriagile

Not done yet

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