Crête de la Montagne des Ubacs

de fr

An easy circular walk along a small ridge path offering magnificent views of the rear of Sainte-Victoire, Pic des Mouches, and on the other side, the Jouques and Rians plain. An easy return via theGR®9and a DFCI track.
I recommend downloading the maps before you set off, as you may find yourself in areas with no mobile phone coverage.

Details

n°42150432
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.87 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 258 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 263 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 696 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 524 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Vauvenargues (13126)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.578778° / E 5.619673°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3244ET, 3344OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather
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Description of the walk

To reach the car park, go around Sainte-Victoire via Puyloubier or via the north, and head towards Vauvenargues. Then turn left onto the D11, the Jouques road. Park in the car park at the foot of Grand Sambuc.

(S/E) Take the path that runs perpendicular to the road, towards the hill. Follow the ridge of the Montagne des Ubacs. Continue along this easily identifiable path at ground level. Stay on the ridge to enjoy a magnificent view of the surrounding area. Alternate between ascents and descents to reach theGR®9crossroads.

(1) Take the path on the right and follow the red and white markings. Continue until you reach Lambruisse.

(2) Turn right onto the DFCI track, which also supports theGR®9. You will soon reach a crossroads.

(3) Leave the DFCI track and keep right on the GR®. Follow this path for a few hundred metres until you reach the DFCI track in the middle of the Vallon des Massacans.

(4) Take the track and theGR® again, ignoring all the turnings on the right and left until you reach a four-way crossroads.

(5) Here you have two options:
- leave theGR® and turn right uphill to find the D11 at a bend and follow it to the right to return to the car park (S/E).
- continue straight ahead on theGR® (marked on the map) to reach the D11 crossroads.

(6) Take the D11 on the right and follow the gentle climb back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 615 m - Car park on the D11
  2. 1 : km 3.03 - alt. 599 m - GR9 crossroads
  3. 2 : km 4.1 - alt. 531 m - Lambruisse
  4. 3 : km 4.48 - alt. 538 m - 1st DFCI-GR9 junction
  5. 4 : km 5.22 - alt. 582 m - 2nd DFCI-GR9 junction
  6. 5 : km 7.17 - alt. 574 m - Four-way crossroads
  7. 6 : km 7.79 - alt. 553 m - D11
  8. S/E : km 8.87 - alt. 615 m - Car park on the D11

Notes

(2) Lambruisse: you can stop here for a picnic in a shelter with a fireplace where you can make embers and cook your meat. Several tables are available.

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.

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Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 11 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
KALLISTEBELLA
KALLISTEBELLA

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The start of the description has changed; there is barbed wire blocking the start of the trail, probably due to hunters, so we were unable to reach the ridges of the north-facing slope.

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francoise philippe
francoise philippe

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello, the car park is private and reserved for Grand Sambuc activities. It is very difficult and dangerous to park several cars along the road, so it is better to go a little further to the Concors car park; you can then easily take the beautiful GR 9 trail to hike to the UBACS.

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mamiclo
mamiclo

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We had a little trouble finding parking because there is no car park, just a few spaces along the roadside. It's not always easy to find the trail, but thanks to GPS, we were able to follow it.
Other than that, it was a very nice hike with magnificent scenery, beautiful oak forests and a pleasant stop in Lambruisse. Thank you.

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mounine
mounine

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful ridge walk but path sometimes unclear; a few cairns on the ridge path would be welcome.

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JT
JT

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The section along the ridge offers magnificent views!
The path along the ridge requires a little care, but is not difficult with GPS.

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Nasta18
Nasta18

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Up to point 2, you need to stay focused to follow/guess the path.
The ridge and woodland section is really nice, while the GR section is nothing special but quiet and easy.
Thank you for this route!

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damu
damu

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A beautiful hike along the ridges... Views of the Alps, the Luberon and Sainte Victoire.
The path along the ridges is easy to follow.

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phildaix
phildaix

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Magnificent views of the snow-capped Alps under beautiful sunshine.
An easy hike, the ridge path is not difficult to follow, just follow the small cairns that mark it out.

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Crapet
Crapet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A fairly easy hike, well described, with beautiful scenery. Just be careful on the ridge trail, which is not always easy to follow. We were welcomed at the Lambruisse refuge by a group of cheerful revellers (who had arrived on sidecars via the trails) who invited us to share their feast!

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steinlin
steinlin

The path is indeed not easy to follow, but if you stay on the summit, all the paths converge and you can easily reach your destination.

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jaulneau
jaulneau

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Beautiful hike and superb views on the first part between the start and point 1. However, the path on the ridge and in the undergrowth is not easy to spot. (Thank you to the Visorando app and the associated GPS).

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AUDO13
AUDO13

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A really pleasant and easy hike in beautiful sunny weather with no wind. Magnificent views along the 3 km ridge. The picnic area with tables and chairs is really very good.

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steinlin
steinlin

Indeed, one might get that impression, but we never encountered any fences or prohibition signs along the entire route.
I think it's definitely public property.

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AUDO13
AUDO13

Hello, on Google Street View, the trailhead appears to be on private property because there seems to be a fence. Are you sure access is permitted?

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