Circular on the left bank of Lake Saint-Cassien

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Lake Saint-Cassien covers a total of 420 hectares. This hike follows the GR®49 on the left bank of the lake. The return journey is via a PR® and then an unmarked path before rejoining the GR®49. A shaded route, close to magnificent hilltop villages, offering the opportunity to picnic by the water's edge.

Details

n°88996896
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.16 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 207 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 206 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 343 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 151 m
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Description of the walk

Coming from Les Esterets du Lac, head towards the Fustiere bridge on the D37 to reach the lake (car park).

(S/E) From the car park, leave the road and take the path to the north-east, leaving the Vallon des Vaux on your right.

(1) At the dam on the right, turn left and follow the GR®49. Pass through the Saint-Cassien National Forest (a few paths on the right lead to the lake). Stay on the main marked path, ignoring all the side paths.

(2) At the four-way fork, keep right, continue straight ahead and follow the GR® a short distance from the lake. Leave La Verrerie on your right. You will arrive at an intersection with the water sports centre opposite.

(3) Leave the path on the left and continue opposite the bay. Continue along a cove of the lake.

(4) Move away from the lake by climbing to the left for about 500 metres until you reach a fork.

(5) Leave the GR® and take the PR® on the left at Gayet. Climb up a wooded path. Pass under the high-voltage line and reach the next fork (elevation 301).

(6) Leave the PR® and turn left onto the unmarked path. Cross the forest towards the lake, south-east, for about 1 km.

(2) Return to the GR®49 and follow it to the right until you reach the car park on the D37 (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 156 m - Car park - Lac de Saint-Cassien
  2. 1 : km 0.29 - alt. 157 m - Dam
  3. 2 : km 1.66 - alt. 157 m - Crossroads of the circular loop
  4. 3 : km 5.24 - alt. 173 m - Bay
  5. 4 : km 7.22 - alt. 164 m - Fork - Biançon - Affluent de la Siagne
  6. 5 : km 7.72 - alt. 165 m - Intersection
  7. 6 : km 9.9 - alt. 300 m - Fork
  8. S/E : km 13.15 - alt. 156 m - Saint-Cassien Lake car park

Worth a visit

Lake, beach, windsurfing, water sports centre.

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.

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Reviews and comments

3.7 / 5
Based on 3 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.7 / 5
Route interest
3 / 5
m.a.r.c
m.a.r.c

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 13, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

For a while now, my route has been straight, and my battery is fully charged.

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Denis26
Denis26 ★

Thank you for your comments, I have just resumed the hike accordingly.

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gizzpel
gizzpel

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 22, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : Yes

Very busy hike this Sunday: bicycles, walkers, two quad bikes and three motorcycles.
The path is probably a firebreak road at least 5 metres wide, which is not at all pleasant, with no interesting views and noise from the road on the other side of the lake.
The only decent spot is off the route: at point 5, go down to do the circular PR loop (see IGN map).
We found point 6 easily with the GPS, but we had to go back up after 50 metres of descent because it was overgrown, and we followed the advice of "Lascaud b" and this last part was the most pleasant.

Machine-translated

Lascaud b
Lascaud b
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 09, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The path indicated in point 6 no longer exists. Continue along the track and, a few hundred metres further on, take a path on the left which will bring you back to the GR.

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.