Circular via Caussols, Calern and Cavillore from Gourdon.

A magnificent hike through the wild karst landscapes of the Grasse Pre-Alps. As a bonus, there is a section on a well-preserved Roman road.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.38 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 625 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 620 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,331 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 737 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The hike starts from the village of Gourdon. There is a large car park at the foot of the village (but it can fill up quickly during the tourist season).

(S/E) From the car park, walk past the Auberge de Gourdon, turn right at the roundabout along the Route de Caussol and join a small path at the end of the bend on the right-hand side of the road (sign at the entrance to the path).

(1) Take this path, which quickly joins Chemin du Colombier coming from the right (this is the return route). Turn left and join the road (D12) to cross it (pedestrian crossing) and find marker 8.

(2) Follow the path below the Caussols road (Chemin de Naouq) towards Embarnier. Ignore a path that climbs to the right, continue along the small road and arrive at a crossroads after a right-hand bend.

(3) At marker 14, continue straight ahead due west, climbing alongside the stream. At the fork, keep to the right, still heading west. The climb gradually becomes a little steeper until you reach Embarnier.

(4) From Embarnier, continue north to reach a concrete track and marker 38. Follow this track, which becomes steeper, until you cross the rocky ridge that leads to the Caussols plateau. Continue to a small car park (paragliding launch site) and marker 37.

(5) Continue straight ahead on the plateau in a north-westerly direction until you reach a small car park on a right-hand bend in the track.

(6) Continue straight ahead, keeping north-northwest, until you reach another small car park. Cross this car park. Follow the signs for "Voie Romaine" and continue along the road until you reach a bend on the right. Cross the road and find a path at marker 43.

(7) Follow the path through the woods heading north-northwest. This path will quickly become a well-preserved ancient Roman road. Continue until you reach a junction with the D12 road.

(8) Cross the road at marker 44 and take the tarmac road that branches off to the right, turning north, then west and then north again to reach a junction near a large willow tree. Turn right and, after about 20 metres, you will see a beautiful stone fountain surrounded by rocks on your left.

(9) Just after the fountain, take a barely visible path on the left. The slope gradually becomes steeper. The path joins a track. Follow it to the left, then leave it at a fork and take the path opposite until you cross the rocky ridge that gives access to the Calern plateau when you reach the crest.

(10) At marker 47, turn right heading due east, following the ridge to reach the highest point of the route (Colle de Rougiès). Continue along the ridge heading south-east and reach marker 46.

(11) Continue straight ahead, following the ridge towards the Cavillore plateau. You will arrive at a T-junction and marker 163.

(12) At marker 163, join theGR®51. Turn right towards Gourdon. This section ofthe GR®51is also an ancient Roman road.

(13) At marker 11, follow theGR®51to the left towards the Col Est de Cavillore and marker 10.

(14) At marker 10, begin the winding descent and head south-west to Colle Basse. The trail turns left and reaches the junction with Chemin de la Carraire and marker 9.

(15) At marker 9, at the junction, turn right towards Gourdon. Continue downhill towards the village to find the small path you took on the way up, which, in the opposite direction, will take you back to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 737 m - Parking
  2. 1 : km 0.22 - alt. 752 m - Path on the right
  3. 2 : km 0.33 - alt. 760 m - D12 junction - Marker 8
  4. 3 : km 1.14 - alt. 760 m - Crossroads - Marker 14
  5. 4 : km 3.25 - alt. 1,010 m - L'Embarnier
  6. 5 : km 4.25 - alt. 1,096 m - Small car park - Marker 37
  7. 6 : km 4.46 - alt. 1,102 m - Track/path junction
  8. 7 : km 5.31 - alt. 1,112 m - Crossroads / Marker 43
  9. 8 : km 6.42 - alt. 1,093 m - D12 junction / Marker 44
  10. 9 : km 7.21 - alt. 1,105 m - Fountain - Start of a trail
  11. 10 : km 8.28 - alt. 1,296 m - Crossroads - Marker 47. Towards Colle de Rougiès (1335 m) - Colle de Rougiès (1335m)
  12. 11 : km 10.04 - alt. 1,252 m - Crossroads / Marker 46
  13. 12 : km 11.73 - alt. 1,072 m - Crossroads / Marker 163
  14. 13 : km 12.99 - alt. 1,035 m - Crossroads / Marker 11
  15. 14 : km 13.55 - alt. 1,031 m - Col de Cavillor - Marker 10
  16. 15 : km 14.72 - alt. 806 m - Chemin de la Carrère junction / Marker 9
  17. S/E : km 15.38 - alt. 737 m - Parking

Notes

Toilets at the car park at the start.
Good footwear is essential (very stony ground). Always bring at least a windbreaker as sea spray often blocks the sides of the plateaus, even in good weather. Do not approach the rocky outcrops in foggy conditions.
This hike is not recommended in summer as it is almost always south-facing and there is very little shade.
No particular difficulty, but the ground can be slippery in places if wet. The arrival and descent from the Calern plateau (Colle de Rougiès) are a little steep but do not require any particular skills.
Clear yellow markings, then red and whiteGR® 51 markings to the Cavillore plateau.

Worth a visit

Numerous superb views of Gourdon and the Mediterranean (and Corsica on a clear day) during the ascent, as well as the peaks of the Mercantour on the Calern plateau. You can also see the buildings of the Côte d'Azur Observatory on the Calern plateau.
Half a dozen griffon vultures shared the skies with a few paragliders.

 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

4.5 / 5
Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Thierry83220
Thierry83220

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 02, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Do it in reverse on a hiking trail: brilliant! So there's more elevation gain, but it's perfect, and fine in this direction if it hasn't rained in the previous days.
Avoided the sheepdogs without difficulty.
Thank you.

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Gérald Carlin
Gérald Carlin

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, but some sections are not so easy to find. Between the trail and animal tracks, it is easy to get lost, and within a few metres you can find yourself on the wrong path.

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gréwis
gréwis

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

No difficulty at the start, two steep climbs, but the first is also the last one that can be avoided without walking poles.
I slightly modified the route at point 5, going to Haut Montet and then joining point 7.
A wonderful hike, I highly recommend it.

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Trekkeur06
Trekkeur06

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A rather pleasant hike with beautiful 360-degree panoramic views. The road section between the paragliding area and the plateau is uninteresting, but there is no alternative. In terms of difficulty, I would rate it as Medium++, as some of the climbs are really steep with passages along narrow ledges. There are beautiful and varied landscapes on the different plateaus, with cairns, and I even saw two deer pass in front of me!
I did this hike in early November, and there were a lot of people, especially on the last part going down towards Gourdon.

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sherbrookema06
sherbrookema06

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A superb route from Gourdon taking you through three plateaus, with varied landscapes, beautiful views of both the coast and the mountains, historical attractions such as the Embarnier site, and geological features such as karst formations.

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Randocaz
Randocaz
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

At the end of the route (between points 12 and 13), it is entirely possible to head towards the troglodyte fortress of Gourdon. The detour is worthwhile, provided you find out about the last few metres leading to the fortress (very narrow but secure passage). The return journey is then via the sheep hole.
You should add a good hour to the initial tour for this detour.

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patrick_lebel
patrick_lebel

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant walk, good weather on the day of the hike, beautiful 360° view of the Calerne plateau. On the way down, beautiful view of the village of Gourdon. The descent was a little more difficult after the Col de Rougies. We were flown over by two impressive birds of prey, they didn't let us photograph them up close, but never mind, we enjoyed it.

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filochard_06
filochard_06

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful walk, magnificent view in good weather. A must-do.

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leopal
leopal

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with varied landscapes.
Magnificent views of Cannes Bay, the marinas of Baie des Anges, Cap d'Antibes and the surrounding mountains.
No difficulties on this route except for the distance (allow 6 hours with breaks) and the fairly steep climb between points 9 and 10.
Well done to the creator of this route!

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rinaldopanozzo
rinaldopanozzo
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very interesting and varied route with breathtaking views; from Corsica and Cap Ferrat to Porquerolle, from Mercantour to the Hautes Alpes. Very varied landscape and fairly consistent elevation.

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HLHL06
HLHL06

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike of moderate difficulty, best done in winter.
Beautiful views of the coastline and Corsica on the way up to Embarnier, then of Mercantour from the Colle de Rougiès ridge.
The route follows two Roman roads (Caussols and Cavillore). Jean-Paul's guidebook is very accurate.
My data: 3 hours 30 minutes (actual walking time excluding stops) - 16 km - 700 m elevation gain.

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