Mercantour route via the GR®52

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TheGR® 52 is a route that crosses the Mercantour National Park, through the Alpes-Maritimes from Saint-Dalmas-de-Valdeblore to Menton.
ThisGR® route is very challenging due to the varied terrain and significant elevation changes.
You’ll reach altitudes of up to 2,700m, where you can admire the high-mountain landscapes, flora and fauna. Then, in the second half of the route, you’ll encounter panoramas that are more southern in character but just as extraordinary.

Details

n°498665
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 65.54 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7 days 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Very difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 21,585 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 24,639 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 8,822 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 36 ft

Photos

Col du Razet
Menton
Chamois
Lac des Merveilles

Stages of the route

This route needs several days, find the details below:

  1. S
    Saint-Martin-de-Vésubie - Saint-Dalmas de Valdeblore

    Saint-Martin-de-Vésubie - Saint-Dalmas de Valdeblore

    ↔4.01 mi ↗1,821 ft ↘732 ft
    The GR®52 starts in Saint-Dalmas de Valdeblore. This first stage is a transition to reach the starting point of the GR®.This is a lovely hike that passes through the small resort of La Colmiane and offers a relatively easy climb, following the GR®52 A through the woods for just over 6km.
    View the route
  2. 2
    Saint-Dalmas de Valdeblore - Le Boréon

    Saint-Dalmas de Valdeblore – Le Boréon

    ↔12.91 mi ↗4,491 ft ↘3,720 ft
    Second stage of the route and first stage on theGR®52. A long 21km stage taking in the Col de Veillos, numerous lakes, the Col du Barn, the Vacherie du Collet and the Col de Salèse, ending at a place called Le Boréon. A spectacular stage thanks to its landscapes and views, but very difficult.
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  3. 3
    Le Boreon - Refuge de Nice

    Le Boreon - Refuge de Nice

    ↔10.85 mi ↗5,971 ft ↘3,678 ft
    The most difficult stage of thisGR®, but the most beautiful for its landscapes, flora and fauna: chamois, marmots, ibex. After the Pas des Ladres, we chose to take theGR®52via the alternative route that passes close to the Col de Fenestre, then descends to Lac de Fenestre before reaching La Madone de Fenestre. Three sections are particularly difficult: between Lac de Trecolpas and the Pas des Ladres, the ascent of the Pas du Colomb, and the descent from the Pas du Colomb.
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  4. 4
    Refuge de Nice - Refuge des Merveilles

    Nice Refuge - Merveilles Refuge

    ↔5.74 mi ↗1,995 ft ↘2,303 ft
    Starting from the Refuge de Nice, the fourth stage of this journey through the Mercantour is the shortest. Short but just as difficult. You’ll pass the Baisse du Basto, the highest point ofthe GR®52. You’ll cross over to Lac du Basto, then it’s the climb up the Baisse de la Valmasque, before descending into the Vallée des Merveilles.
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  5. 5
    Refuge des Merveilles - Baisse de Camp

    Refuge des Merveilles - Baisse de Camp

    ↔8.26 mi ↗1,946 ft ↘3,150 ft
    The fifth stage ofthe GR®52, where southern landscapes give way to mountain scenery. Challenging due to its elevation gain, this stage follows the old Italian border, where you’ll discover numerous military remains. Notably at Authion, where one of the last battles in France took place, resulting in the deaths of 273 French soldiers just a few weeks before the armistice of 8 May 1945. The views here are fabulous.
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  6. 6
    La Baisse de Camp d'Argent - Sospel

    La Baisse de Camp d'Argent – Sospel

    ↔13.53 mi ↗1,670 ft ↘6,289 ft
    The sixth stage ofthe GR®52, where the landscapes change dramatically. Due to its length and significant descent of nearly 2,000 metres, the stage is very difficult. The descent to Sospel, which makes up two-thirds of the route, puts a real strain on the knees and ankles. Please note, it gets very hot in summer on this section.
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  7. E
    Sospel - Menton

    Sospel - Menton

    ↔10.24 mi ↗3,691 ft ↘4,767 ft
    This is the last stage ofthe GR® 52. It is certainly not the highest in altitude, but it is difficult due to its distance and the passage of certain passes with steep ascents and descents. The Mediterranean views are splendid, especially those from the Col du Razet and Col du Berceau, which rises to 1,100 metres above the town of Menton, the end point of theGR®. You walk along the Italian border throughout the route. Be warned, in summer this stage is very challenging due to the heat, especially the descent from the Col du Berceau.
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Notes

We completed this route in 7 stages, as detailed above. We added the stage from Saint-Martin-de-Vésubie to Saint-Dalmas. This first stage is offthe GR®52. We did it to reach Saint-Dalmas after taking the bus from Nice station via Saint-Martin. We undertook this journey during the first week of August 2017. It was our first multi-stage route. I would recommend it to anyone who, like us, would like to try their hand at multi-day hiking.
Seven stages, covering nearly 7,000 metres of ascent and over 7,000 metres of descent over 105 km.
You’re in the high mountains, so caution is essential. High-top hiking boots are recommended, given the numerous scree slopes and significant elevation changes on each stage.
Very gruelling in the heat, especially for the last two stages in August.
Make sure you take enough water with you, as natural water sources are scarce, particularly towards the end.
We stayed in stopover lodges, in tents and in mountain huts. The establishments mentioned in our journey are of very good, even excellent quality, in terms of hospitality, meals and accommodation.
A camera is essential, not only for the scenery but also for the proximity to wildlife.
The "Le Mercantour" guidebook is essential.
Below is a list of what we packed in each of our rucksacks for our first trip; it might be helpful:

  • Hiking rucksack (a 70-litre one for me and a 50-litre one for my wife) / Rucksack cover x1
  • Sleeping bag x1 / Mattress (self-inflating or foam) x1
  • Hiking boots x1 / Hiking socks x2 / Sandals or flip-flops x1
  • Underwear x2
  • Relaxation shorts x1 / Relaxation T-shirts x1
  • Hiking trousers x1 / Long-sleeved hiking T-shirt(s) x1 and short-sleeved T-shirts x2
  • 3-in-1 waterproof jacket x1 / Pouch x1
  • Woolly hat x1 / Gloves or mittens x1 / Cap or hat x1
  • Head torch x1 / Emergency blanket x2 / Water bottles x1 / Water pouches x1 / Knife + spoon x1 / Mobile phone x1 / Phone charger x1 / Trekking poles x1 / Pole tips x1 / Sunglasses
  • Personal toiletries: Toothbrush x1 / Towel x1 / Wipes (feminine hygiene)

Shared equipment:

  • Tent x1
  • Adhesive tape x1 / Thread and needle x1 / Safety pins x4 / Lighter x1 / Bin bags or plastic bags x2 / Spare batteries x1 / IGN map x1 / TOPO Guide / Map cover x1 / Compass x1 / First aid kit x1 / Shoelaces x2 / Portable power bank x3 / Pen x2 / Notebook or paper x1 / Camera x1 / Washing powder x1 /
  • Mountaineering rope x1 / Carabiners x2
  • Toothpaste x1 / Toilet paper x2 / Soap (biodegradable) x1 / Sun cream / Lip balm x1 / Comb x1 / Nail clippers x1 / Insect repellent x1
  • Cash / Cheque book x1 / Credit card x1

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

5 / 5
Based on 3 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
madydou
madydou ★

Hello,
This page is dedicated to reviews of the hike.
To avoid cluttering this page, it would be a good idea to create a post to share your tips on how to tackle the hike.

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le dd
le dd

Hello
I was talking about splitting the stage from Le Boréon to the Nice refuge in two.
We camped near the Boréon lodge. I think there’s a camping area near the lake. Check with the town hall.
Kind regards

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Mercantour50
Mercantour50

Hello

Thank you for your feedback.
That’s fine to split the second stage.

What about the first stage? Is it relatively easy to manage? It’s 20km with quite a bit of elevation gain, so I was thinking of camping at the Vacherie du Small Pass
Or St Dallas Boreon would do the trick 😅.

Is it possible to camp near the Vite du Boreon?

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m30
m30
• Edited:

Good evening, Mercantour50
I agree with the suggestion to cut the second stage
Best regards, m30

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le dd
le dd

Good evening,
If you want to shorten certain stages, I’d advise skipping the Boréon / Refuge de Nice section and stopping at La Madone de Fenestre instead. Admittedly, the stage is shorter, but the elevation gain is very steep. From memory, it took us 11½ hours. The Pas du Colomb is very difficult.
The second stage is very manageable despite the two passes.
Good luck with this superb route
Best regards
Le dd

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Mercantour50
Mercantour50

Hello,

I’m planning to do your GR52 route

However, given that the first stage looks quite tough, I was thinking of doing St Dalmas and a bivouac at Vacheire at the small pass. Or does the stage go smoothly as far as Boréon?

What do you think?

Thank you for your feedback

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m30
m30
• Edited:

Good evening,
Personally, I book all my lodges in advance on this route; there’s no problem.
I’ve also hiked with a tent.
The DD camps in a bivouac, I stay in a lodge – both are fine, it’s up to you.
Thanks to the DD for letting me do this lovely route.
Best regards, m30

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le dd
le dd

Hello,
The Mercantour crossing was our first GR route lasting more than a week. We had decided to stay in mountain huts. However, whilst planning the route, the Boréon hut was fully booked, so we took a tent for that stage.
Since that trip, we’ve been setting off every summer on a GR hike, camping near mountain huts or lodges. Without breaking the bank on high-tech gear, Decathlon has a ‘trek’ tent weighing 1.8 kg. It’s a brilliant tent that we’ve had ever since the Mercantour.
I find that camping near mountain huts and lodges is a really great solution.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need anything
Best regards
Le dd

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Mercantour50
Mercantour50

Thank you for your feedback.

Just one more quick question (I might have a few more 😅).
Is it possible to do this route without a tent and sleeping mat? Given that you can sleep in a mountain hut every night.
Or is it better to have a tent in the mountains to sleep in if you’re too tired, or even to shelter from a storm?

Thanks

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m30
m30

Good evening,
I agree with the post; it’s true that the Boréon/Refuge de Nice stage is difficult – it was on this stage that my colleague
really struggled to finish it.
Don’t worry about the cost; just enjoy this magnificent route.
Be careful on the final stage too, particularly the descent to Menton
Happy hiking
M30

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le dd
le dd
• Edited:

Good evening,
Splitting this stage in two is an excellent option. Especially as I readily admit that the Le Boréon / Refuge de Nice stage is extremely difficult, with the ‘Pas du Colomb’ as the final pass. From memory, it took us 11 hours and 30 minutes.
I think the best option is to split this stage in two:
- Le Boréon / La Madone de Fenestre
- La Madone de Fenestre / Le Refuge de Nice

Good luck! It’s an exceptional route
Be careful on the last two stages – there’s no water on the route.
Best regards

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Mercantour50
Mercantour50

Hello,

I’m planning to walk the GR52 route

However, given that the first stage looks quite tough, and the second one too,
I was thinking of adding two stages to the route: Boréon, Courgoudes Refuge
and Courgoudes to Madone de Fenestre.

This would mean shorter stages to allow for recovery, but it would add extra time and costs.

What do you think?

Thank you for your feedback

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isa13
isa13

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A fabulous route I did during the last week of August. The scenery is magnificent and very varied.
At that time of year, I only really felt the heat on the descents of the last two stages. Otherwise, the weather was rather unsettled, even stormy in the evenings. So it might be better to stay in a mountain hut at the end of the season.
It’s still a lovely time of year for picking the wild berries that dot the route (raspberries, blueberries, blackberries).
With good training, stages 4 and 5 can be completed in a single day.
Now that the route is complete, our minds are filled with wonderful memories.
Thank you for suggesting this route.

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m30
m30
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Hi,
We did the GR52 from 27 June to 2 July, the two of us, from St Dalmas de Valdeblore to Menton (6 days) – a lovely route with a few sections in the snow. The first two stages are long and very difficult, as is the last one, especially the descent to Menton. You need to be reasonably fit to tackle it – both the ascents and descents are tough – but the scenery is lovely, with plenty of lakes, chamois, ibex and marmots. It was a challenging route for my colleague, who was on his first high-mountain trek. We used a GPS for the route.
Best regards, Michel

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le dd
le dd

Good evening,
Thank you for this very positive review, the first one since we did the route last year. I can see that conditions really do vary from one year to the next. We did the route in the first week of August 2017 and really struggled with the heat, particularly on the last two stages.
Well done to you
Kind regards

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Other walks in the area

Walking Saint-Martin-de-Vésubie - Saint-Dalmas de Valdeblore

Visorando Member
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The GR®52 starts in Saint-Dalmas de Valdeblore. This first stage is a transition to reach the starting point of the GR®.This is a lovely hike that passes through the small resort of La Colmiane and offers a relatively easy climb, following the GR®52 A through the woods for just over 6km.

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Walking Caïre Gros

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Walking Saint-Dalmas de Valdeblore – Le Boréon

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↔12.91 mi ↗+4,491 ft ↘-3,720 ft ◔10 hrs ▲Very difficult
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Second stage of the route and first stage on theGR®52. A long 21km stage taking in the Col de Veillos, numerous lakes, the Col du Barn, the Vacherie du Collet and the Col de Salèse, ending at a place called Le Boréon. A spectacular stage thanks to its landscapes and views, but very difficult.

Walking Lac du Mercantour and Col de Cerise

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