Crêtes du Pilon Saint-Clément

A walk through the Var forests, alternating between trails and wide tracks, and from Pilon Saint-Clément, a path along the cliffs with magnificent views of the sea.

Details

56483
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.83 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 413 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 414 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 698 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 327 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Néoules (83136)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.309366° / E 6.013261°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3345OT, 3445OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the school car park along the D68 in Néoules.

(S/E) Follow the D68 eastwards for just under 1 km and take the Chemin de la Servette, which starts on the right.

(1) Continue straight ahead on Chemin Saint-Thomé and after the last house, take the track that starts slightly to the right, then keep right on the small path that goes under the trees.

(2) This path is not marked and does not appear on maps, but it is clearly visible enough to avoid getting lost. It follows and sometimes crosses a small rocky valley, which you must climb until you reach a wide track.

(3) Take this track, marked in blue, to the left.

(4) At the next crossroads, continue to follow the blue markings, taking the track that branches off to the right.
Continue until you pass under a high-voltage power line and come to a track running perpendicular to it, which you should take to the left.

(4) In a large hairpin bend, a path marked by two cairns starts on the right and climbs up the slope. Continue on this path, even after passing under the power line again, and join the GR®.

(6) Continue to the right to reach Pilon Saint-Clément. Follow the ridges to the right, continuing to follow theGR® to Pas de Cuers and a crossroads with signposts.

(7) Take the only unmarked track on the right and descend towards the power lines and a wide track, which you must cross to continue in the same direction. A few metres further on, you will find the blue markings, which you must follow to the end. Pay attention so as not to miss the point where the markings leave the track to follow a path that starts on the right and enters the forest.

(3) When you reach the first track (the one that leads to the valley you took on the way there), continue to the left until you reach the small road called La Verrerie.

(8) Follow it to the right and look for a trail junction in a hairpin bend.

(9) Take the shortcut that starts on the left and follow the signs to reach the Écoles de Néoules car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 335 m - School car park
  2. 1 : km 0.89 - alt. 329 m - Chemin de la Servette
  3. 2 : km 1.61 - alt. 355 m - Small unmarked trail
  4. 3 : km 2.89 - alt. 472 m - Trail marked in blue
  5. 4 : km 3.46 - alt. 483 m - Crossroads
  6. 5 : km 5.04 - alt. 551 m - Wide track after the high-voltage power lines
  7. 6 : km 6.19 - alt. 603 m - Turn right towards Pilon Saint-Clément
  8. 7 : km 8.29 - alt. 595 m - Pas de Cuers
  9. 8 : km 11.83 - alt. 471 m - Small road of La Verrerie
  10. 9 : km 12.89 - alt. 401 m - Shortcut
  11. S/E : km 13.83 - alt. 335 m - School car park

Notes

The trails are rocky, so sturdy footwear is recommended.
The first part of the trail follows a stream, which can be dangerous when it rains.
There are some vertiginous viewpoints.
Please observe the rules for accessing the forest during the summer months.

Worth a visit

The Sainte-Baume Massif.
The Var coast.

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

4.5 / 5
Based on 53 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
User 21682426

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

On this very cloudy autumn Sunday, we only came across one hiker and two hunters! After a pleasant climb through a wooded valley, we particularly enjoyed the 360° panorama offered along the rocky ridges, despite limited visibility.

A hike to be repeated, pushing further west to the Cuers cliffs

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Esgu
Esgu

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike to do in good weather to enjoy the view from the top of Pilon St Clément.
The climb is gradual along an unmarked but very accessible trail with Visorando!
The descent on the other side of Pilon offers stunning views of the sea and the islands of Porquerolles, Levant and Port Cros! A beautiful hike!

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francoise philippe
francoise philippe

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike with a gradual climb and beautiful views from the ridge.

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itinerant83
itinerant83

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Local hiker, had never done the Pilon via this route. The climb through the woods was tricky yesterday due to heavy humidity in some places. The view to Pas de Cuers after the climb is still as beautiful as ever (despite the grey skies yesterday). Weekday hike, we didn't meet anyone else on the entire route. Be sure to follow the trail carefully as there are one or two places where it can be easy to lose your footing if you're not paying attention.

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randoleshautes
randoleshautes

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Hike with sections on roads and slippery trails, best done with a navigation app and avoided in rainy weather. Beautiful view from the summit.

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DONQUICHOTTE1951
DONQUICHOTTE1951

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

nice short hike, followed with Visorando, a few deviations but nothing serious for those who are used to it, varied route

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RandoMichou
RandoMichou

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike with magnificent 360-degree views from the St Clément pilon, with the added bonus of seeing the snow-capped mountains as you walk along the ridge.
It would be a shame to miss out on a geological curiosity without going to see the standing stone located after point 7, about 100 metres after leaving the road. Take a small path on the left perpendicular to the road for 50 metres, and you will see this magnificent stone resembling an obelisk.

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nissarts06
nissarts06

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful, varied loop with no particular difficulties and precise descriptions. Highly recommended

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Les Cailloux
Les Cailloux

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike with extraordinary views from the summit of the pilon. Superb views all along the ridge: magnificent.

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kgyorffy
kgyorffy
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

From point 1 to point 6, the hike isn't particularly interesting. The start on the small road with cars is quite stressful. Until you reach the summit, you follow a long, fairly monotonous track. That said, it's perfect for cycling.
Up to Le Pilon, I had my doubts about this hike, but once at the summit, the atmosphere changes, as does the scenery, and the hike becomes a real treat.
I would do it again, but starting from somewhere else.

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vébé83
vébé83

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk with magnificent 360° views from the summit.
A little tip: to avoid the busy road at the start, go through the centre of Néoules via the cemetery and the tennis courts to reach the Chemin de la Servette.

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acraudesoleil
acraudesoleil

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with no difficulty. We personally covered 15.7 km with an elevation gain of 435 m. The climb to Pilon Saint-Clément was gentle, with autumn colours and very pleasant weather. We had a picnic at the summit and had a very enjoyable day. Great!

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COLIBRI 83
COLIBRI 83

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

some delicate passages
should be avoided with children

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COLIBRI 83
COLIBRI 83

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

some delicate passages
should be avoided with children

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stefaix
stefaix

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike with sea views, no difficulty.

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