Cirque de Férisson and Cime de la Valette de Prals

A circular hike starting from the Férisson cattle shed and passing through all the ridges around the Férisson cirque.
Superb views all along the way, with the sea on one side and the Mercantour peaks on the other.
As the end of the route is off-trail and unmarked, a good sense of direction and route-finding skills are essential.

Details

139998
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.91 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 806 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 814 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,489 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,899 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking at the Férisson cattle shed.
Access via the Belvédère and the Route de la Gordolasque (D171).
Look out for a turn-off to the left towards the Vacherie de Férisson. Once you have passed the last houses, take the track on the right at a hairpin bend, still heading towards the cattle shed. The track is about 4 km long and is not always in very good condition. Park just before the cattle shed (picnic tables).

(S/E) From the car park, walk behind the Vacherie de Férisson (marker 296) on a track that quickly turns into a path (yellow markings are more or less faded along almost the entire length).

(1) Stay on the right-hand path, which gradually climbs up through the mountain pastures. Just before Baisse de Férisson, the climb becomes steeper and the hairpin bends become tighter.

(2) From Baisse de Férisson (2,254 m - marker 297), a short round trip takes you to the summit of Mont Lapassé (2,351 m) on the left, where you can enjoy a 360° view of the peaks and the sea in the distance (there isn't really a path, so just follow the slope).

(2) Back at Baisse de Férisson, continue the hike straight ahead, staying on the trail that follows the ridge line (signpost towards Vallon de Prals, Madone de Fenestre).
The official trail sometimes passes below the ridge line. We preferred to stay as high as possible to make the most of the view. It goes up and down constantly, but it always offers a magnificent view of the Mercantour peaks.

(3) Pass successively the Tête de Cinant (2314m), the Tête de la Lave (2351m - marker 298), the Cime du Pertus (2437m), to finally reach the Cime de la Vallette de Prals (2496m - marker 299), the highest point marked by a cross.

(4) From Cime de la Vallette de Prals, take the path that descends slightly towards Cime de Montjoia (2366m - marker 300), continuing to follow the ridge line as closely as possible.
A few cairns will help you reach a shoulder from which you can begin the descent, more or less on sight, to return to the starting point.

(5) Head down the slope towards the forest, staying roughly on the ridge line for at least ten minutes, until you reach a clear gully. Follow it to find a small, poorly maintained path on the right that leads back to the picnic area before the cattle shed.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,909 m - Férisson cattle shed
  2. 1 : km 0.88 - alt. 1,977 m - Intersection towards Baisse de Férisson
  3. 2 : km 2.24 - alt. 2,241 m - Baisse de Férisson (2255m)
  4. 3 : km 4.12 - alt. 2,302 m - Tête de Cinant (2314m)
  5. 4 : km 5.75 - alt. 2,489 m - Cime de la Vallette de Prals (2496m)
  6. 5 : km 7.58 - alt. 2,285 m - Shoulder marking the descent in plain sight
  7. S/E : km 8.91 - alt. 1,899 m - Férisson cattle shed

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 16 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.1 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Eugene Jacques
Eugene Jacques

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,
Access track in poor condition (SUV, 4x4).
Route very good, except for the final section (return to the cattle yard) which is dotted.
Thank you for the GPX.

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alezane
alezane

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, we enjoyed magnificent weather while the valley was shrouded in fog. The 360° view from the highest peak is stunning, and we were able to enjoy this panorama for quite some time as most of the hike was along the ridges. The only slight downside is at point 5, where you really need a GPS to avoid getting lost among the rhododendrons. Thank you to Visorando for providing the route, which was very useful in guiding us. This tricky section is likely to discourage many people.

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patrick55
patrick55

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, the cirque is entirely accessible via the ridges. The descent to the cattle farm is through rhododendrons.
As mentioned above, the descent back to the cattle farm is tricky, but entirely doable.
A GPS is essential to stay on the trail, which is in excellent condition.
Well done for this reconnaissance.

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Christian 06300
Christian 06300

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Shortly after the Férisson descent, the ridge trail offers views of La Cime de l'Agnelière, La Madone de Fenestre and Le Gélas.
At the end of the hike from the Montjoia shoulder, you need to be careful to find a way down to the Férisson cattle farm.

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thomdul
thomdul

Hello Yolande,
Thank you for the information about the shepherd's path on the descent. We couldn't find it.
If you have a GPX track, I'd appreciate it if you could send it to me, so I can adjust the suggested route accordingly.

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Yolande
Yolande

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful autumn hike with magnificent views and a moderate elevation gain. Excellent effort/reward ratio. Very accurate and reliable description. For the descent, you can take a shepherd's path that starts before the climb to the summit of Vallette de Prals (marked by a cairn at the edge of the main path), which makes the descent easier.

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Alex06410
Alex06410
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A sublime hike along the ridges with panoramic views of the sea and the "Gelas" side. Follow the ridge closely and not the path just below if you want to enjoy the view!
Follow the GPS map carefully for the descent (a little slippery but short)
Alex

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Alex06410
Alex06410

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A sublime hike along the ridges with panoramic views of the sea and the "Gelas" side. Follow the ridge closely and not the path just below if you want to enjoy the view!
Follow the GPS map carefully for the descent (a little slippery but short)
12 km, not 8👍
Alex

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bertille09
bertille09

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed on 25 October 2023. Wonderful hike, breathtaking views, whether on the sea side (Menton Bay) or the mountain side (Madone de Fenestre), all these landscapes are present throughout the hike. The only downside: the last part: no path, then a very steep section. As a result, the last kilometre was very difficult, in the grass, rhododendrons, pebbles, in short, difficult. But this passage in no way detracts from this superb hike

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FredR06
FredR06

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We arrived there by chance after choosing the Prals Lakes circular hike (the road was closed, so GPS took us as close as possible...). We searched Visorando to see if there were any hikes in the area. What a lovely surprise!
After walking 6 km on a difficult path (rocky and uneven in places), we arrived at the Ferisson cattle farm.
Apart from the last kilometre, the hike is in full sun (few pine trees). The view is magical from start to finish. At the highest point (2,490 m), there is a breathtaking 360° view!
The only downside was that my Garmin watch showed 12 km, whereas the description said 9 km.
The end is a bit difficult because it is not marked and is covered in vegetation (no path)
We were alone for the entire hike.
overall, a very beautiful hike, provided the weather is nice and clear!

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Bjeko1801
Bjeko1801

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike. Very few people. We weren't blessed with good weather, as it was very cloudy. We were able to enjoy beautiful scenery, particularly at Madonne des Fenestres and in the Gordolasque Valley. Two chamois came to cheer us up, treating us to a beautiful display of nature

We'll have to come back when the weather is better!
Otherwise, the climb is quite steep and the descent is a bit tricky with a poorly marked route. However, with the help of the app, it's fine.

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richardd
richardd

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

We couldn't find a path between the summit of Montjoia and the Ferrisson cattle farm.

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untram
untram

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike with splendid views (a little fog at the end spoiled it). However, an important recommendation: DO NOT FOLLOW THE YELLOW MARKINGS when you reach the ridges. You really have to follow the ridge line to reach all the peaks.
The end of the route is a bit rock 'n' roll without markings, but you'll find your way.

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Jerome06000
Jerome06000

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

We went on the hike as a family with a large dog on 12 July 2019.
Please note that the access road to the dairy farm is closed for two months from 24 June due to water supply works, but the people there are friendly and will let you through.
It is best to drive to the end of the track to the cattle farm: be aware that the track is quite rough and uneven and is probably not suitable for small passenger vehicles.
The hike went very well until signpost 300 and point 4. We never found the unmarked path that would have taken us back to the cattle farm.
So we took a long detour to signpost 301 and then walked back up the track to signposts 295/296.
This route is preferable and less dangerous than venturing into the steep, slippery forest with no landmarks (we were caught in a cloud with visibility of only 10 metres).
We do not recommend that families try to find this path (unless you have a GPS device, which we did not). On the plus side, there is 4G coverage at the ridge, which is useful for connecting your phone and finding your approximate location.

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ericaubertin
ericaubertin

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike without too many people and with a lovely view of the sea.
Access via the track isn't great by car, but for the more adventurous, you can park at the start of the track and take the marked path to the cattle farm, which is an extra hour's climb through the larch trees.

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