Cime de Piagu

de fr

A magnificent mid-mountain hike offering a variety of landscapes: the village of Saint-Martin-Vésubie, the Boréon forest and, finally, a rocky landscape with a 360° view of the surrounding peaks.

Details

n°98098442
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.88 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 10h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Very difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 5,249 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 5,233 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 7,635 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,182 ft
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Photos

Chamois near the summit of Piagu
Boréon Forest
Lake with views of the summit of the Agnel, the Cougourde cirque and Mont Pelago
The summits of Agnellière and Gélas as seen from the summit of Piagu

Description of the walk

Head up the Vésubie valley to Saint-Martin-Vésubie. After two hairpin bends in the village, turn right and park in one of the many spaces near the media library.

(S/E) Walk round the media centre on the left to find marker 60.

(1) Head left up the Chemin des Colettes, following the signs for the Cime de Piagu, to reach marker 61.

(2) Follow the signs for Cime de Piagu to the right, then climb the stairs to reach marker 76 at the M94 (Boulevard Sainte-Marthe).

(3) Cross the road carefully and take the path opposite. Leave the village of Saint-Martin-Vésubie until you reach a junction.

(4) Continue to the right, following the yellow markings. The path runs alongside a track near a water tank, then veers off to the right before rejoining the same track further up.

(5) Continue uphill until you finally reach marker 387.

(6) Take the path on the right towards the Cime de Piagu. Cut across the track, rejoin it further up and keep heading in the same direction to quickly reach marker 386.

(7) Turn right and continue climbing through the Saint-Martin-Vésubie forest until you reach marker 385.

(8) At the small pass of Collet Cotignol, take the path on the right. Head up through the coniferous forest until you reach a junction.

(9) Head left: the landscape becomes more rocky. Follow the ridge to reach the Cime de Piagu. The view of the surrounding hills is magnificent: to the west, the Cime du Gélas rises up before you, along with Mont Ponset and the Cime du Neiglier. To the north, you can make out Mont Pelago, and to the east, the Monts Archas, Pepoiri and Giraud.

(10) Head back down the ridge towards the east, passing a tiny pond on your left to reach marker 431a.

(11) Follow the path furthest to the left, which descends to marker 431.

(12) Head left, pass the Maïris refuge and descend through the forest to reach marker 432.

(13) Follow the sign for “Saint-Martin-Vésubie” on the left along a long, flat stretch of path through the Boréon forest, with a few unobstructed views of Mont Pelago. You’ll reach marker 384.

(14) Head towards Lac du Boréon and you’ll soon come to marker 383.

(15) Head towards Saint-Martin-Vésubie to the left. Walk through a long stretch of around 3.5 km through the Saint-Martin-Vésubie communal forest to reach marker 385 at Collet Cotignol.

(8) Then retrace your steps along the same path you took on the way there to reach the car parks near the Saint-Martin-Vésubie media library (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,182 ft - Car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.09 - alt. 3,232 ft - Marker 60
  3. 2 : mi 0.27 - alt. 3,297 ft - Marker 61
  4. 3 : mi 0.37 - alt. 3,438 ft - Marker 76
  5. 4 : mi 0.61 - alt. 3,720 ft - Junction
  6. 5 : mi 1.15 - alt. 4,268 ft - Return via the track
  7. 6 : mi 1.47 - alt. 4,469 ft - Marker 387
  8. 7 : mi 1.85 - alt. 4,839 ft - Marker 386
  9. 8 : mi 2.32 - alt. 5,643 ft - Marker 385 – Junction of the circular loop
  10. 9 : mi 2.96 - alt. 6,739 ft - Junction
  11. 10 : mi 3.96 - alt. 7,612 ft - Cime de Piagu (2338 m)
  12. 11 : mi 4.92 - alt. 6,955 ft - Marker 431a
  13. 12 : mi 5.01 - alt. 6,975 ft - Marker 431
  14. 13 : mi 5.67 - alt. 6,191 ft - Marker 432
  15. 14 : mi 7.36 - alt. 6,050 ft - Marker 384
  16. 15 : mi 7.46 - alt. 5,840 ft - Marker 383
  17. S/E : mi 11.88 - alt. 3,182 ft - Car park

Notes

There is a drinking fountain near marker 60.

Make sure you have suitable sun protection for the rocky section of the walk between point (7) and marker 431.

The walk is clearly signposted throughout.

Worth a visit

Visit the villages of Saint-Martin-Vésubie and Venanson, situated near the start of the walk.

Enjoy the indoor activities at Vésubie Mountain Park.

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