Colorado Provençal via La Croix de Cristol

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk in Provençal Colorado.
The climb is quite steep at the beginning, so remember to stay hydrated, especially in hot weather

Machine-translated

Date of your route : May 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A slight climb at the start, but no difficulty. Nice view of the plateau above

Machine-translated

I am the leader of a hiking club and, as such, I was scouting this hike.
This hike is currently impossible to do.

Here are my comments:
1) There is no parking available at the designated starting point.
All parking spaces in the surrounding area are private.

2) The passage between points 3 and 4 is impossible because you have to cross a stream with a significant flow at this time of year. We gave up. The bottom of the stream is full of sand.

We were therefore unable to complete the hike.
I think the content of the hike needs to be thoroughly reviewed.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jan 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely little walk in beautiful surroundings
Beautiful views of the Colorado River.
Very few people at this time of year
Hike done in December outside of school holidays.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : May 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, easy hike through the woods

Machine-translated

Date of your route : May 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

An easy, well-marked hike in a popular area offering splendid geological sights of ochre cliffs. Avoid doing this in rainy weather as the ground can be muddy in places and there are many large puddles.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Apr 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The car park is indeed as indicated, and now there is one for the tree-top adventure park. This hike along the ridges is very beautiful, and the description was very useful. There are no signs to follow to get up to the ridge, so you have to use your intuition, especially a compass... Once you reach the top, there are still no signs, but turn left and the view is magnificent. Further on, there are signs for the descent.
The trail is quiet, but when we arrived at Colorado, it was like a pedestrian motorway...

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Mar 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route allowing you to discover Colorado and its history through a few ruins.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Feb 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk to do in spring or autumn; avoid the heat of summer

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Nov 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We preferred to do the "Tour and visit of the Colorado de Rustrel" hike, which avoided passing through the ravine, which is often flooded.
Please note that parking is prohibited where you suggest, including the inn's car park (unless you are a guest), which is clearly marked as private parking. You are almost obliged to pay €5 for parking at the ochre site (and a pass is compulsory!!!) or drive up to the village of Rustrel and park there before walking down to the ochre site.
The Colorado section was very busy (follow the orange markings), but the rest of the route along the ridge was much quieter, apart from mushroom pickers, and varied with beautiful views, lavender fields and forest.
Avoid setting off after rain as many sections are slippery, particularly the descent after the Croix de Cristol.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

While the two loops offered by this hike are beautiful, the central section is much less so and is completely impassable in wet weather as it includes four fords (three of which must be crossed twice), which are prohibited by municipal decree during storms or heavy rain. As mentioned above, this hike is best done in good weather, as the colours are much more beautiful under a blue sky.
The tourist area is regulated and some of the passages suggested here are no longer authorised. Follow the orange markings and you will discover most of the site. The tourist site may also be (completely or partially) closed. It is best to check their website for information.
Please note: the starting point is a private car park! There is a sign indicating that the gate may be closed 'AT ANY TIME'. The only place to park your vehicle is near the Auberge du Colorado. Alternatively, you can park at the Colorado Provençal tourist site in Rustrel (€5).
Personally, we preferred the 'Sentier des Ocres' in Roussillon (€3 per adult), which is more impressive than the Colorado Provençal in Rustrel.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a lovely walk with my 8-year-old grandson. No particular difficulties. Highly recommended

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jun 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike in the Luberon. The Colorado Provençal site is remarkable. We had already been there with the children, but only to the Colorado site.
The first part is very interesting, following the Doa, a stream that runs alongside the trail and allows you to discover the hut with the remains of the machines that were used to extract ochre, as well as the settling basins...
And there was no one else on this first part... There were lots of people on the second part, at the Colorado site. It's essential to respect the area and stay on the marked paths. There are authorised people there to protect the site, which is fortunate... Just one person walking through is equivalent to a year of erosion, which says it all...
The fairy chimneys are spectacular!
On the way back, don't hesitate to stop at the Rinsoulette refreshment bar, where you'll find a charming gentleman who has been there for 50 years and can give you great advice on drinks! The restored aqueduct is a beautiful, well-preserved structure!
A GPS is recommended for this hike and the description is accurate.
Another tip: do this hike in very good weather with a clear blue sky to bring out the contrasts between the blue, orange and ochre colours and the green of the trees. It's magnificent!
Be careful in stormy weather, as the Doa can rise very quickly and become a trap...

Machine-translated

Date of your route : Jun 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Although we didn't complete the entire hike described (GPS problem), discovering this little piece of Provençal Colorado was very enjoyable and, unlike the original route, can be done with the family.
Although access to the fairy chimneys is closed for safety reasons, you can still admire them from above as you follow the route.
Thank you for this excellent hiking idea.

Machine-translated

Date of your route : May 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We discovered some magnificent landscapes in the Luberon that we didn't know about.
There were no difficulties following the route until we arrived at the tourist park, where the numerous "return to car park" signs confused us.
The transition between the first part of the route, where the path is very quiet, and the second part, where we found ourselves surrounded by dozens of tourists (it was Ascension weekend) stepping off the path to take selfies and being guided back by the guides, was particularly jarring, to the point that we wondered if we had strayed from the path.

Machine-translated