From Casterino to the Refuge des Merveilles via Mont Bégo

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Second stage of the five-day Vievola–Saint-Martin Vesubie hike.

⚠️ 18/08/2026: Route amended at point 4.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Circuit Vievola - Saint Martin Vésubie

Details

n°106092
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.66 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Very difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 3,917 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,034 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 7,444 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5,049 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐
    Areas: Alps, Mercantour
  • ⚐ City: Tende (06430)
  • ⚑
    Start: N 44.096203° / E 7.508111°
  • ⚑
    End: N 44.057337° / E 7.451715°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3741OT, 3841OT
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Description of the walk

Start at marker 391 on the edge of the Casterino road.
With your back to the car park, turn right and walk up the Vallon de Fontanalba to the junction at marker 390.

(1) Leave the path leading up to Lac des Grenouilles on your right and continue towards the Refuge de Fontanalba.

(2) Walk past the refuge and continue along the path to another junction, marker 387

(3) Ignore the path on the right leading to Lac Vert de Fontanalba and the rock carvings, and take the track climbing to the left, below the Baisse de Vallaurette. You’ll reach the junction with the path descending from the Baisse.

(4) Continue straight on towards the Baisse de Valauretta (2,279 m). Then begin the descent via the Gias de Valauretta.

(5) Turn right towards the Cabane de Valaura Supérieur and reach a bridge crossing the Vallon de la Minière.

(6) Turn right again, cross another branch of the Vallon de la Minière, and head uphill towards a fountain.

(7) Continue the ascent, passing by the Lac long inférieur.

(8) Carry on to the Refuge des Merveilles (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : mi 0 - alt. 5,056 ft - Starting point: Route de Casterino
  2. 1 : mi 1.92 - alt. 6,342 ft - Lac des Grenouilles junction
  3. 2 : mi 2.32 - alt. 6,588 ft - Refuge de Fontanalba
  4. 3 : mi 2.87 - alt. 6,962 ft - Junction at Lac Vert de Fontanalbe
  5. 4 : mi 3.09 - alt. 7,277 ft - Junction with the Baisse de Vallaurette path
  6. 5 : mi 5 - alt. 5,410 ft - Junction
  7. 6 : mi 5.56 - alt. 5,581 ft - Bridge
  8. 7 : mi 6.05 - alt. 5,902 ft - Fountain
  9. 8 : mi 7.31 - alt. 6,867 ft - Lower Lac Long
  10. 9 : mi 7.58 - alt. 6,926 ft - Lac Long Supérieur
  11. E : mi 7.66 - alt. 6,962 ft - Refuge des Merveilles

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Reviews and comments

2.5 / 5
Based on 2 reviews
Reliability of the description
1.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
2.5 / 5
Route interest
3.5 / 5
Nicolas Planchenault
Nicolas Planchenault

Overall rating : 2 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

/!\ DO NOT GO ON THIS HIKE.
At any rate, not the off-trail section!
- It takes you off-trail through the ‘Merveilles’ restricted area, which is prohibited
- the route description does not make it clear exactly where to go off-trail without putting yourself in danger
- It’s rated as ‘difficult’, which is completely inappropriate. ‘Difficult’ hikes on Visorando are generally quite long with significant elevation gain, possibly requiring you to use your hands. Here, however, we’re talking about having to use your hands continuously – effectively climbing – where we were. High-mountain kit would have been essential.

=> Take the route via the pass; it’s longer on the map, but doesn’t take any longer in terms of time.
Even so, there’s still a section where you have to use your hands quite a bit to reach the summit.

We set off for a day trip, so we were travelling light compared to those doing a multi-day trek.
We reached the Refuge des Merveilles in about 6 hours, and then it took us 2 hours to walk back down to Lac des Mesches to catch the bus.

This hike offers magnificent scenery and views!

Machine-translated

funky83
funky83

Hello
Having walked the GR20 in September, from Calenzana to Vizzavone, I don’t think I’m the sort of person who’s keen on ‘a little Sunday stroll’.
But I’ll say it again, as a warning to anyone thinking of venturing there: this section is dangerous.
Kind regards

Machine-translated

henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

Thank you for your comment.

This is a dangerous hike if you take the steep, unmarked slope!

Indeed, this walk is not suitable for beginners but is intended for experienced walkers.

You’d have to be reckless to recommend such a route!

On the Visorando website, you’ll find everything from ‘a gentle Sunday stroll’ to very challenging hikes. That way, every Visorando user can find something to suit them.

Kind regards

Machine-translated

funky83
funky83

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

I’ll come back to the difficult part of this hike.
It is completely inappropriate!
It’s a dangerous walk if you take the steep, unmarked slope!
You’d have to be reckless to recommend such a route!

Machine-translated

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