Cime Nègre and Mont Mounier

Go back up the Tinée valley and turn left 9.2 km after the village of Isola. Cross a bridge and continue to follow the M61 road to its end after the hamlet of Roya: you will find the car park at marker 140.

(S/E) Follow the signs for Col de Crous along the Roya valley to reach marker 142.

(1) Turn left and continue to follow the signs for Col de Crous and the yellow markings. Go down the path, cross the bridge and climb up the Alp valley, keeping to the right of the stream. The path is lined with fir and larch trees at first, then the landscape opens up as you climb. You will come to a signpost.

(2) Cross the dry stream bed and climb the path, continuing to follow the yellow markings: you will see Mont Férant, Rocamaire and Mont Rougnous, among others, from east to west. You will reach Col de Crous at marker 95.

(3) Leave the path and the yellow markings and continue climbing south-west, following the cairns: the landscape becomes more rocky. Pass to the right of the scree to reach the ridge of the Montagne de l'Alp.

(4) Follow the ridge line: the 360° panorama shows the Tinée peaks to the north, including Mont Tenibre and Grand Cimon de Rabuons, and to the south-west, the peaks stretching from Mont Saint-Honorat to the summit of La Frema. Arrive at Cime Nègre.

(5) From the summit, you can see the ridge perfectly from Mont Ferant to Montagne de l'Alp. Descend carefully from the summit towards the east, continuing to follow the ridge to Montagne de l'Alp.

(6) Enjoy the view one last time and descend towards the Col de Crousette (marker 93).

(7) Turn right towards Mont Mounier (GR®5 white and red markings). You can see the ridge of Montagne de l'Alp that you have just crossed as far as Cime Nègre. Arrive at marker 48.

(8) Continue towards Mont Mounier and leave the white and red markings to follow the yellow markings to reach Petit Mounier.

(9) Follow the yellow markings on the western ridge of Mont Mounier until you reach the summit. The view takes in the entire Mercantour mountain range, as well as Mont Viso and the Barre des Écrins. To the south, you can also see the ski resorts of Beuil and Valberg.

(10) Return to the Col de Crousette without making the detour via the Petit Mounier.

(7) Follow the signs for the hamlet of Roya and the red and white markings of the GR®5. Enjoy the green landscape throughout the descent, which leads to a marker C

(11) Take the path on the right towards the hamlet of Roya to reach a new fork.

(12) Continue towards the hamlet of Roya, turning right to descend the Sallevieille valley: you will see the peak of Las Donnas ahead of you.

(13) Cross a footbridge and continue downhill, following the red and white markings of the GR®5. You will see a waterfall on your left and pass through a conifer forest. You will arrive at marker 143.

(14) Go back up the path and head to the church in the hamlet of Roya.

(15) Take the road on the left, following the signs for Col de Crous. Pass marker 137, then arrive at marker 139.

(16) Leave the road and take the path opposite, rejoining it further on and following it to the starting point at marker 140 (S/E).

You can get water on the climb up the Alp valley and on the descent down the Sallevieille valley: there are two springs near marker 110.

In case of bad weather, there is a blockhouse near the Col de Crous (3).

At the start of the trail, you can explore the hamlet of Roya and its church.

There is a trail from the hamlet of Roya that climbs up to the Chamois viewpoint. The latter offers unobstructed views of the surrounding peaks.