The Clues of Aiglun and the Riolan

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A very pleasant walk through a mixed forest offering some beautiful scenery. The views of the two gorges are magnificent, particularly that of the Riolan. The section running alongside the upper Estéron valley offers a sumptuous panorama and allows you to make out the peaks of the Mercantour in the distance.

Details

n°41867019
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.94 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,923 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,900 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 3,527 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,811 ft
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Photos

Clue du Riolan
View of the Haut Estéron and the Mercantour

Description of the walk

Park in the car park just before the entrance to the village of Sallagriffon.

(S/E) Continue along the road to reach the village.

(1) Before entering the village, take the Route de la Vignasse on the right until you reach the start of the footpath.

(2) Follow this path towards the Clue d’Aiglun, join a forest track and follow it to the left for about fifty metres.

(3) Turn left onto the path that continues from there. Keep to the right at the junction that appears shortly afterwards to head towards the Collet de Mongardi and reach it.

(4) A stunning view of the Clue d’Aiglun. Continue to the next junction.

(5) Take the path on the left leading to the Aire du Mont. Further down, cross a small pass overlooking the Aire du Mont and carry on until you reach a four-way junction.

(6) Turn left towards Sigale and the Clue du Riolan. Pass a stunning viewpoint over the Esteron valley, then follow the path eastwards.

(7) Further on, the path turns north and the descent continues in hairpin bends down to the ford over the Riolan. Cross it at the spot that seems best: the trail marks where we were looking that day and the option we chose (see § Practical Information). Carry on to reach a crossroads of paths.

(8) Turn left, cross the bridge over the Riolan and follow the path, which becomes a forest track, to a gate at the exit of the Gorges de l’Estrech.

(9) Turn left onto the Route de la Caoude until you reach this hamlet, then carry on to the village of Sallagriffon. Walk through the village along the narrow streets to return to the junction where you started.

(1) Carry on along the road to the left to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,461 ft - Sallagriffon car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.12 - alt. 2,500 ft - Junction of the circular loop
  3. 2 : mi 0.24 - alt. 2,497 ft - La Vignasse, start of the trail
  4. 3 : mi 0.42 - alt. 2,388 ft - End of the forest track
  5. 4 : mi 0.78 - alt. 2,467 ft - Small pass of Mongardi, viewpoint
  6. 5 : mi 1.13 - alt. 2,589 ft - Start of the climb towards the pass
  7. 6 : mi 2.03 - alt. 3,510 ft - Aire du Mont, junction
  8. 7 : mi 2.99 - alt. 2,933 ft - Change of direction
  9. 8 : mi 3.89 - alt. 1,946 ft - Junction, near the bridge over the - Rioulan (rivière)
  10. 9 : mi 4.96 - alt. 2,136 ft - Forest barrier
  11. S/E : mi 5.94 - alt. 2,461 ft - Sallagriffon car park

Worth a visit

There are no water sources or shelters.

The overall difficulty of the walk is rated as ‘difficult’ because the ascent between (5) and (6) requires a good level of fitness, and the descent towards the Riolan, with an elevation drop of nearly 350 m (see the photograph taken at the summit), along a path that is at times quite steep, demands concentration and sure-footedness.

Check the weather forecast for the past few days. The Riolan ford can be dangerous if recent rainfall has significantly increased the river’s flow. The route deliberately shows the best crossing point found on that particular day, which was crossed barefoot.

The return journey through Sallagriffon reveals a very well-maintained and picturesque village.

Reviews and comments

4 / 5
Based on 2 reviews
Reliability of the description
3.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
User 26670488

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It’s difficult to find without a GPX track
The walk doesn’t go through the Aiglun gorge and could do with highlighting the opportunity to go for a swim in the Riolan gorge more clearly

Machine-translated

Orson
Orson

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route with some very pretty scenery and a variety of views. The path is in good condition and presents no particular difficulties, apart from crossing the Rioulan ford (the route should be avoided if heavy rain has caused the stream to swell).

Machine-translated

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