Country:
District:
From Nice, drive up the Vésubie valley to Saint-Martin-Vésubie, where you will then need to take the M89 towards Boréon. Once you have passed the lake, turn left towards the Col de Salèse and Col de Mollière passes. The trail starts at marker 370, a few metres after the bridge. You can park along the road or, if necessary, in the Boréon car park next to the lake.
(S/E) At marker 370, take the small road on the left towards the Col de Cerise. At the first bend, a path cuts across the road. Take this path and rejoin the road a little further up. Turn right to rejoin the road until you reach some private properties and a sign marked "Sentier" (path) at the next point. The "Sentier" sign invites you to cross private land: follow it to a memorial stone.
(1) Turn sharply left towards Vacherie du Cavalet and Col de Cerise. The climb up the valley is very pleasant, in the shade of the forest.
(2) At marker 373, turn left. At marker 374, turn right and continue north towards Col de Cerise, walking through the forest. You will arrive at a small plateau where the trees gradually disappear. You will reach Lac de Cerise (which is just a small puddle in summer).
(3) Continue climbing north-northwest.
(4) Turn right towards Lac du Mercantour (be careful to spot the path, which is not very visible; leave the path that continues north-west towards Col de Cerise). Follow the cairns and climb north-north-east towards the Lac du Mercantour pass. Reach the lake, from where you can finally see the summit to the north-east, at the end of the ridge.
(5) Go around the lake on the right, crossing a scree slope (follow the numerous cairns). Roughly halfway across the lake, turn right (northeast) towards an unnamed pass between the Cime du Mercantour and the Caïre Nègre. Climb up the scree slope, following the cairns. Find a path for the last few metres and arrive at the pass.
(6) Follow a path that heads northwest before turning north-northeast. This will take you to the Cime du Mercantour (view of the Vésubie Valley below and the Argentera on the Italian side).
(7) Descend to the unnamed pass.
(6) You have two options:
- The simplest option: descend via the same route you took on the way up.
- Option for experienced walkers: as marked on the map and described below, leave the path to the south-east. The start is marked by a cairn (after that, there will be none for quite some time). Descend carefully, as the slope is steep. When you reach a scree slope, head east to reach Combe Guilié. You will come to a stream.
(8) Cross the stream and head south (the cairns reappear). Descend southwards following the cairns, passing at the foot of Caire des Erps on the left. A path eventually reappears along with the trees: you will arrive at the edge of a small plateau (magnificent view of the Vallon des Erps below).
(9) Continue down the path to find the shade of the forest below. Follow a few switchbacks and you will find some water sources. You will arrive at the Vacherie des Erps (marker 378).
(10) Continue south then south-west towards Boréon. At marker 377, turn right and keep heading towards Boréon to find the stele.
(1) Back at marker 371, retrace your steps to return to the starting point (S/E).
Visorando member
Difficult 
Moderate 
