Cime de Bercha route from Auron

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A mix of (somewhat) wild and tamed mountain terrain. This route, which takes in both ski runs and off-piste areas, allows you to appreciate the full extent of the Auron ski area.

Details

n°694331
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.15 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 669 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 672 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,270 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,603 m
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Photos

Auron seen from the Berchia cross
View of Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée from the Berchia cross

Description of the walk

Park in Auron at marker 5.

(S/E) Head north-east along the Chemin du Puy d’Auron and follow it to the end for about 1 km, to the water reservoirs at marker 6.
Leave the Promenade de la Ginestière on your left and head north-east.

(1) At the crossroads, about 150 metres further on, take the path furthest to the left to head generally west-north-west, and at each fork, stay on the path furthest to the left. This will take you round the summit of Auron on the left. Reach marker 4a.

(2) Leave the track and turn left onto the fairly steep, slightly banked path.
Caution: this route is a mountain bike descent trail that is rarely used as it is very technical. However, remain very vigilant as any encounter would be very tricky. Reach the Croix de Bercha junction.

(3) Make a round trip to the cross to take in the view of the villages of Saint-Etienne-de-Tinée and Auron.
Return to the crossroads and continue left towards the Cime de Bercha, topped by the arrival points of two chairlifts.
Enjoy the 360° panorama.

(4) Continue along the ridge path, heading south-west towards the southern peak of Bercha, following the mountain bike signposting: Cap Sud Berchia.
Go past this and continue down the ridge, following the same signs. You’ll reach a small concrete shelter.

(5) Carry on straight ahead, leaving the larger-looking path on your left, and continue descending until, a few dozen metres further down, you join the track coming from the hillside reservoir. Continue due south to reach marker 16.

(6) Rather than following the track, take the ski run, heading directly for the Haute-Plane chairlift departure station (elevation 1841m). Pass this station and continue for a further 200m or so until you reach a junction with a track on the left. Follow this track to reach marker 15.

(7) Leave the track and take the path on the left, descending through Bois Gaston until you rejoin the road at marker 8.

(8) Cross the bridge and continue along the road towards the village centre to reach marker 5 (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,608 m - Marker 5
  2. 1 : km 1.17 - alt. 1,708 m - Crossroads of paths and tracks
  3. 2 : km 3.36 - alt. 2,014 m - Marker 4a
  4. 3 : km 3.95 - alt. 2,187 m - Croix de Berchia crossroads
  5. 4 : km 4.37 - alt. 2,269 m - Cime de Berchia
  6. 5 : km 5.38 - alt. 2,118 m - Small concrete shelter
  7. 6 : km 6.16 - alt. 2,006 m - Marker 16
  8. 7 : km 7.21 - alt. 1,815 m - Marker 15
  9. 8 : km 8.07 - alt. 1,647 m - Marker 8
  10. S/E : km 9.15 - alt. 1,607 m - Marker 5

Notes

There are no water points along the entire route.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 6 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Trekeuse
Trekeuse

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The return route along the balcony is lovely. After that, the directions are rather vague... but as we have to go down, we’ll manage!!

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Laurence du Béal
Laurence du Béal

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

This short 3-hour walk offers a first taste of one of the peaks surrounding Auron.
The first section up to the cross is very pleasant. The return via the tracks is a little less so.

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P.Pitta
P.Pitta

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The description mentions the "crossroads" at Croix de Bercha twice. It would probably be useful to mark this on the map. When you get there, you can clearly see two tracks crossing, but they aren’t shown on the map.
It’s very good that the mountain bikes have been marked, as they come down very fast; on another occasion, I had to press myself against a tree trunk to let three mountain bikers pass, who completely failed to notice me. By some miracle, I wasn’t hit.
One final detail: I met a hiker who’s been from the area since he was three years old; he was at least in his fifties. He told me that in the region they say BERCHIA and not BERCHA, but on all the signposts it’s clearly written BERCHA... who’s right???

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migar
migar

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk: a pleasant climb in the sunshine under the trees, a descent whilst trying to avoid the ski runs, and a finish in the rain. We were happy with the day, the exercise, the fresh air and the little shower.

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lynda83
lynda83

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 27, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A magnificent view on arrival!!!!

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grandin
grandin ★

Thanks, erdna06 – correction made

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erdna06
erdna06

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Please note that the peak is called BERCHA (not BERCHIA)
Otherwise, it’s a lovely walk, but the signposting is rather haphazard, which is surprising, so choose your route carefully! It’s just a shame to have to come back via the ski runs!

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