From Gréoux-les-Bains to Vinon-sur-Verdon via the ridge and back via the plain

From Gréoux-les-Bains to Vinon-sur-Verdon, a circular walk with a section along the ridges offering views of the Durance and Verdon valleys through gaps in the forest, a walk through the old village of Vinon-sur-Verdon
and a return journey through the Verdon Valley.

Details

830689
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.69 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 689 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 686 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,558 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 899 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Park along the Verdon, at the start of the walking routes, next to the restaurant.

(S/E) Set off following the flow of the river, go under the bridge and continue straight on. Pass the small dam, then go through a barrier blocking vehicle access.

(1) At the Y-junction, turn right then carry on straight ahead. At the municipal sports centre, turn right and continue straight ahead until you reach the D952 (Route de Vinon).

(2) Turn right. After 150m, cross the road and turn left onto Chemin de l’Oumède, then carry on straight ahead.

(3) At the three-way junction, marked by a yellow post with a white roof, turn left and start the climb.

(4) At the top, at the “Parabus” signpost, turn left towards Vinon and follow this 4x4 track.

(5) When you reach a clearing marked “reserved parking”, keep to the left. Continue until you reach a junction with a large electricity pylon.

(6) Go straight on, past the fire tank, and enter the Vinon State Forest. Follow the signposts.

(7) At the signpost marked “Drovers' Road”, turn left and head down towards Vinon. At the next junction, turn right, head towards the village and go straight down the road (Chemin Bouyte). At the Stop sign, go straight on, passing the “Les Aires” residential complex.

(8) At the next stop sign, turn left towards the town centre. At the small roundabout, carry on straight ahead, cross the bridge over the Verdon and then, at the bend, turn left. Carry on straight ahead, passing the Town Hall, and turn right as the road bends.

(9) Turn left onto Place de l’Horloge, then continue straight on along Rue du Barri. Turn left, then left again onto Rue des Fours.

(10) Turn left onto Rue de la Montée de l’Horloge, walk past the Clock Tower and take two consecutive ‘right-left’ turns to reach Place du Barri.

(11) At the end of the square, head down the steps to the left onto Chemin de la Renarde. At the junction at the bottom of the steps, turn right and enter the woodland.

(12) When you reach the canal, turn right. In front of the power station, turn right to join a small road; follow this to the left, running alongside the power station fence.

(13) At the exit, turn right (be careful – gunshots may be heard from the clay pigeon shooting range). Continue straight ahead along the path, then, at the junction with the D69, follow this road to the right until the first bend.

(14) Turn left towards Aurabelle and cross the bridge. 100m further on, leave the road and take the track on the left. Then continue straight on for about 5km.

(15) At the junction by the campsite, take the path opposite and carry on until you reach the D8.

(16) Turn left, cross the bridge over the Verdon, then turn right to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 994 ft - Map of the Gréoux-les-Bains walking routes - Verdon (rivière)
  2. 1 : mi 0.76 - alt. 984 ft - Y-junction, turn right
  3. 2 : mi 1.46 - alt. 984 ft - D952, turn right
  4. 3 : mi 2.06 - alt. 1,093 ft - Yellow post with a white roof, on the left
  5. 4 : mi 2.64 - alt. 1,552 ft - Parabus signpost, on the left
  6. 5 : mi 3.51 - alt. 1,526 ft - Clearing, on the left
  7. 6 : mi 4.56 - alt. 1,371 ft - Large electricity pylon
  8. 7 : mi 5.37 - alt. 1,280 ft - Drovers' road signpost, on the left
  9. 8 : mi 6.23 - alt. 909 ft - Turn left at the Stop sign
  10. 9 : mi 6.59 - alt. 906 ft - Place de l’Horloge on the left
  11. 10 : mi 6.69 - alt. 945 ft - Climb up to the Clock Tower on the left
  12. 11 : mi 6.79 - alt. 997 ft - Take the Chemin de la Renarde on the left
  13. 12 : mi 7.03 - alt. 899 ft - Canal, on the right
  14. 13 : mi 7.58 - alt. 912 ft - On leaving the factory, turn right
  15. 14 : mi 8.51 - alt. 955 ft - Turn left
  16. 15 : mi 11.06 - alt. 1,030 ft - At the junction by the campsite, go straight on
  17. 16 : mi 11.5 - alt. 1,020 ft - D8, turn left
  18. S/E : mi 11.69 - alt. 994 ft - Map of the Gréoux-les-Bains walking routes

Worth a visit

On the ascent, between points (3) and (4), turn round to enjoy the view of Gréoux-les-Bains.
As you walk along the ridge, enjoy views of the Durance Valley and the Verdon Valley.
On the descent towards Vinon, there’s a view of Cadarache.
In the old village, you’ll pass the Clock Tower monument; you can take a short detour to visit the church.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
3.5 / 5
cailloutin
cailloutin

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Issue 5 (no parking sign and sign 7 cannot be found)
Otherwise, the return journey – a 5-km straight stretch across the plain between fields – is rather dull and very, very long
If anything, it’s better to do a return trip along the ridge

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nicoletta48
nicoletta48

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 23, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk, but the route consists of a lot of track; it’s a shame there are quite a few ‘substantial’ clear-cuts!!!!! !!!! This takes some of the charm out of the walk.

You can do the walk starting from the D 952 before entering GREOUX LES BAINS; this is also a circular route that returns to the starting point and is easier.

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Gerard C4.
Gerard C4.

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 25, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Unfortunately, this walk doesn’t offer any remarkable views, and the return journey down to the valley is rather monotonous.

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daisybrown
daisybrown

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 25, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk – long but fairly easy, despite one steep climb over large pebbles to reach the highest point. The scenery is varied, and the old town of Vinon is really charming.
A few minor details to clarify the description: at (3), it’s at the third yellow post with a white roof; at the fork in the road, turn left and start the climb.
Between (4) and (5) there are several electricity poles, but only one is actually at a crossroads. The path seems long, but the description is entirely accurate.
At (14), you cross the bridge. 100 metres on, you leave the road and take the track on the left (not on the right as stated).
Thank you for this new walk…

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