Mountain bike circular to the Malpasset dam

A beautiful, easy circular in the Esterel via wide tracks with a visit to the ruins of the Malpasset dam.

Details

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  • Mountain biking
    Activity: Mountain biking
  • ↔
    Distance: 19.66 km
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 2.5 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 426 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 427 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 347 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 47 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Montauroux (83440)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.551717° / E 6.781908°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3543ET, 3544ET

  • ◶
    Type of surface:
  •  
     
     
     5% Road  90% Byway  5% Path
  • ⇧
    Bike carrying: No
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the route

From the A8 motorway, take exit 39 "Les Adrets".

(S/E) Leave from the car park in the centre of the hamlet of Les Esterets du Lac and head west/north-west along Avenue des Esterets for 300 metres on tarmac, then head north onto the Escolles dirt track.

(1) Continue south-west for 1 km, passing the old Garrot Mine.

(2) 200 metres south-east, take the uphill track on the right. Follow it to an elevation of 296 metres.

(3) Turn left heading due south onto the Magail uphill track. Follow it (uphill then downhill) to an elevation of 51 metres, where you will join the Malpasset road (dirt track).

(4) Turn right and stay alongside the stream until you reach the ruins of the dam.

(5) Turn around until you reach the Malpasset track, which you take to the left (uphill).
Continue to the cistern at elevation 150. Enjoy the view of the dam from here.

(6) Return via the Malpasset track to elevation 51.

(4) Continue straight ahead on this track, keeping to the track at the bottom near the stream bed until you reach the tarmac road just before the pumping station. 150 metres after the tennis courts, take the hairpin bend on the left to return to the centre of Les Esterets (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 112 m - Car park in the centre of the hamlet of Les Esterets du Lac
  2. 1 : km 0.52 - alt. 128 m - Escolles dirt track
  3. 2 : km 2.18 - alt. 103 m - Take the uphill track on the right.
  4. 3 : km 5.35 - alt. 297 m - On the left, heading due south, is the uphill Magail track.
  5. 4 : km 11.36 - alt. 51 m - Malpasset road (dirt track). Turn right.
  6. 5 : km 11.75 - alt. 47 m - Turn around - Barrage de Malpasset
  7. 6 : km 13.28 - alt. 142 m - Cistern. Turn left towards the viewpoint.
  8. S/E : km 19.66 - alt. 112 m - Car park in the centre of the hamlet of Les Esterets du Lac

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
u_cavallu
u_cavallu

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 27, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

I used the beginning of the hike for a horseback ride with 36 riders. I made a few changes, but it is still based on the suggested route.
We didn't do the circular because we headed towards Lake Lavellan afterwards.

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damz06
damz06

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 14, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We did this route on a winter Sunday. No mud despite the rain the day before.
An easy route on a wide path, with no apparent difficulties or thrills.
We met a shepherd with his sheep.
I recommend this walk.

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jlcourand
jlcourand

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hello,
A beautiful hike with unforgettable autumn colours.
Best avoided in July and August due to the heat.
There is a breathtaking viewpoint near the dam, especially when you are at the bottom of it.
Nice...worth doing again in the spring.

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chcorne
chcorne

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful, easy route with stunning views.
Note regarding the route: you must go to the viewpoint overlooking the dam.

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pb77
pb77

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 30, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A circular walk through stunning countryside.
A very moving hike through the ruins of the Malpasset dam disaster, with heartfelt thoughts for the 434 victims.

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mickanatou
mickanatou

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 25, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Superb hike, done with two children aged 13 and 11 in the time indicated.
However, we encountered some motocross bikes, but we remained cautious.

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Francky42
Francky42

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A superb walk with no difficulty whatsoever. It would be worth making it a bit longer!

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tatiminic
tatiminic

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

It is entirely possible to turn this mountain bike ride into a walking tour. We did it in the opposite direction, starting from the Malpasset ford.
The only difficulty is arriving in the village of Les Esterets to pick up the Malpasset trail. You really have to leave the square and take the hairpin bend to the right after the hill.
Duration: 5½ hours of easy walking.

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rogers
rogers

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 08, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello, we actually did a slightly longer circular that also starts from Esterets du Lac, which runs alongside the motorway to the Malpasset dam, then on the GR52 to the junction with the D4 road and on the road towards Bagnols-en-Forêt, about 2-3 km away, at a bend in the road at a place called Les Molieres, climb towards the St. Antoine chapel. Antoine, which is very difficult to climb (about 150 m). We took the Culasse trail to return to Esterets du Lac. Not counting stops, it took us 3 hours and 18 minutes to cover 33 km with a gentle 800 m climb on a beautiful trail. Not recommended after rain.
Best regards

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POULIN Gérard
POULIN Gérard ★

Hello BibouandBibou07,
Thank you for your comment. We will take your suggestion into consideration. You describe the route you have taken and submit it to us for approval. This will be a variation.
Thank you for your contribution.

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BibouandBibou07
BibouandBibou07

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2014
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

I just finished this hike...

A very good route with a very steep climb with a gradient of 8 to 14% over several kilometres.

The descent is nice but lacks technical sections. Only well-maintained paths, which increases speed but limits technical and thrilling enjoyment.

The circular loop at the end of the route is ridiculous and not enjoyable at all. I've mapped out another route that includes a very technical descent and a nice stretch that avoids retracing your steps, which I find much more enjoyable.

I can send you my route for those who are interested.

There's a very nice view of the dam, and if you follow my route, you can even cross the small river by bike and take a shortcut to get to the other side of the dam. The view of the destroyed dam is very impressive from below.

Final figures: 20km, 550m elevation gain, 2½ hours at a leisurely pace...

At your service...

Best regards,

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bibi
bibi ★

I just changed the difficulty setting to medium.

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LALEVEE
LALEVEE

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 06, 2014
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The route is very interesting with beautiful views of the Esterel massif. However, I think the hike should be classified as slightly less easy than it is, as there are some steep climbs right from the start of the route, followed by a steep descent towards the Malpasset dam. I noted a 600m elevation gain. The return journey from the Malpasset dam is very easy, however.

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