Circular Matacharre to Col de Conode

Reach La Roche-des-Arnauds via the D994, then head towards the village centre. Continue on the D418, following the signs for "Les Roux - Les Baux" for just under 2 km. At the large hairpin bend, turn left onto the Route Forestière de Matacharre (a dirt track but passable by vehicle) which climbs gently towards the north-west. Pass the crossroads leading to the hamlet of Les Revioures and continue along the track opposite until you reach the intersection of the Conode and Maison Forestière de Matacharre tracks (there is a cistern here).

It is also possible to avoid driving on the track by parking on the right-hand side of the road, in the large hairpin bend to the right, and then walking up the Matacharre Forest Road (RF).

(S/E) Take the track on the left towards Lodge de Matacharre - Col de Matacharre, following the PR® (yellow) markings. Descend to the Matacharre forest house (consisting of two buildings).

(1) Take the grassy forest track on the left, located immediately after the^second house, to descend in hairpin bends and join the carriage track which also descends from the Matacharre lodges.

(2) Take the track on the left to descend towards the Rif (signpost: Col de Matacharre), heading south-west.
After two hairpin bends, ford the Rif de l'Arc (concrete ground), then continue on flat ground for about a hundred metres before crossing the Torrent de la Pisse on a very discreet bridge.

(3) Continue along the track opposite, heading south-west, ignoring the path that descends towards the torrent.
Follow the track uphill for about 1 km, pass a small fountain and continue to the start of the path towards La Plaine.

(4) Continue along the track opposite to reach a large bend with a crossroads.

(5) Take the track that climbs to the right, heading north-west, ignoring the start of the track in the bend.

(6) Continue climbing left on the track, heading north.

(7) Turn left onto the track, heading south-west, until you reach a hairpin bend.

(8) Continue along the track, ignoring the path that descends to the south-east. Pass another hairpin bend, then arrive at the junction in the next hairpin bend.

(9) Take the track on the right, heading north-west, ignoring the Col des Sérigons track. You will come to another hairpin bend.

(10) At the junction in the hairpin bend, take the track on the left, heading south-west.
After a final hairpin bend, continue climbing, hampered by barriers and electric fences marking the boundaries of the mountain pastures frequented by cows. Reach the wide Col de Matacharre on the left, where the track from the Sauvas side arrives (altitude 1661). This is an ideal place to take a break, between the picnic table and the fountain.

(11) Turn back 50 m and take the GR®94B on the left, towards the Col de Conode, heading east. Pass the Matacharre fountain, then the track gives way to a forest path.
The forest then becomes bare limestone terrain with small scree slopes.^{Be careful}, this tricky section alternates between risky and easy sections. You need to be careful when crossing the ravines, as the path is narrow and sloping, and sometimes discontinuous. However, the rest of the route is on a stable path.
Cross the^first schist ravine carefully via a narrow path, with a drop below. Then join the junction of the direct path that climbs up from the Rif de l'Arc.

(12) Continue along the path opposite to reach the^second ravine. Cross it carefully to reach a more relaxed area, as the path runs through grassy or even wooded terrain.
You will reach scree slopes that are fairly stabilised by vegetation, until you reach the penultimate one, which you must cross carefully via a steep slope with a certain feeling of emptiness.
Continue along much easier passages to the wide Col de Conode.

(13) Descend to the right on the D7 track towards: La Roche - Lodge de Matacharre - Clot de Piarrou. Continue down this track, pass the metal barrier and, after two hairpin bends, you will arrive at a clear crossroads (1624).

(14) Continue straight ahead on the track that descends and ignore the one going up to the Col de Garcinel, to reach the intersection with the Matacharre track (S/E).

⁽¹⁾Mèfi in Occitan means Attention, Alert, Beware, Warning. This hike is located in the Vivaro-Alpine Occitan language area.

Water source at the Matacharre Forest House. Picnic table and fountain at the Col de Matacharre. Fountain in the village of La Roche-des-Arnauds.

This circular is marked PR® (yellow markings), except for the section between the Col de Matacharre and the Col de Conode (GR®94B) where there are GRP® markings (red and yellow).

Taking the forest road up to Col de Matacharre and then descending from Col de Conode is very easy (though perhaps a little long).
However, despite its beauty, the crossing between Col de Matacharre and Col de Conode (GR®94B) involves crossing two tricky ravines and the last sections of the trail are particularly steep. The trail could do with being re-cut.
^Mèfi1! The need to pass through difficult ravines and the "void effect" of certain sections of the GR®94B mean that this circular is "reserved for hikers accustomed to this type of terrain".

An alternative route is possible by climbing directly from the Maison Forestière de Matacharre (2) to the GR®94B (12) via a small, rather steep, winding path.

The Matacharre forest site is home to two renovated ONF lodges (6 and 12 places) in the Sauvas State Forest. Overlooking the Rif de l'Arc torrent, it is a discreet location, hidden in the immense forests that cover the southern slope of the Pic de Bure.

(11) From the Col de Matacharre, you can reach the Lodge des Sauvas (ONF house) by taking the GRP® 94 Tour du Dévoluy (signposted north-west).

(13) At the Col de Conode (a revolutionary French pass at an altitude of 1,789 metres), you can climb to the Sommet des Templiers (altitude 1,962 metres) by following the path on the left towards the north-west (approximately 800 metres there and back - 170 metres elevation gain).