From Sainte-Baume to Chemin des Rois via the Huveaune springs

This is a family hike that allows you to visit the Huveaune springs via a rather unusual route starting from the Hôtellerie de la Sainte-Baume.

Details

5037491
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.40 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 278 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 272 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 704 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 441 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park just after the hotel in the first car park heading east when coming from Plan d'Aups.

(S/E) Cross the road and head west behind the north buildings. On the right, you will find a well-marked path that climbs straight north.

(1) Turn right and follow the path that turns left 100 m further on. Follow this path through the oak trees.

(2) Take the path downhill, ignoring the first turn-off on the right. This is the start of a muddy and stony slope that is best avoided on wet days. Take care with a short section above a small cliff for young children. After 500 m, ignore the path on the left that leads to the Grotte de la Castelette cave, unless you want to visit it.

(3) The Huveaune springs consist of several resurgences, which must be respected by not crossing the wire fences that restrict access to them. The same applies to the magnificent pools that dot the course of the river.

(4) 500 metres further on, take the path on the right, ignoring the first path that climbs 150 metres before it. Follow the path through the forest, keeping to the right until you reach a track.

(5) Once on this track, turn right and walk about 400 metres until you reach a path on the right.

(6) This is the Chemin des Rois, a well-marked path that climbs up to the right and takes you back to the plateau. There are a few oratories dotted along the path, some with helpful explanatory signs.

(7) Cross the D80 with caution and follow the well-marked path for 700 metres to the last wayside shrine on this climb. Opposite this shrine, a path leads to the Tumulus de Miette, but nothing remains of it.

(8) Turn left at this point, then 150 m further on, turn right towards the south. After 700 m, you will reach the road. Walk along the right-hand side of the road, staying behind the wire fence that marks the boundary of the land.

(9) After a pleasant 400 m walk among the oak trees, including one with a hollow trunk that delighted the children, cross the road and take the path opposite for 200 m to reach a track. Turn right and continue along this track towards the west.
After walking for 800 metres, you will return to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 670 m - Hotel car park
  2. 1 : km 0.53 - alt. 673 m - Turn right
  3. 2 : km 1.11 - alt. 683 m - Downhill path
  4. 3 : km 2.2 - alt. 472 m - Sources of the - Huveaune (fleuve)
  5. 4 : km 2.75 - alt. 457 m - Turn right
  6. 5 : km 3.35 - alt. 448 m - Track
  7. 6 : km 3.68 - alt. 441 m - Turn right onto Chemin des Rois
  8. 7 : km 5.08 - alt. 617 m - D80
  9. 8 : km 6.08 - alt. 687 m - Turn left
  10. 9 : km 7.36 - alt. 679 m - D95
  11. S/E : km 8.4 - alt. 670 m - Hotel car park

Notes

Only the descent to the springs is a little tricky for little legs, but my 5- and 7-year-old grandchildren galloped ahead of us without any problems. However, be careful with them on a fairly short section above a cliff between points (2) and (3).

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 16 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
POISSONDAVRIL
POISSONDAVRIL

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I have travelled these routes via different circuits that are not connected to each other

Machine-translated

Le Tampon
Le Tampon

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

There are not many markers on the plateau, but the northbound direction is interesting
Be careful not to miss the path down to the spring.
A pleasant, enjoyable hike.

Machine-translated

Thierrya83
Thierrya83

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful hike with access to stunning springs. Explanations are somewhat unclear at the start, so follow the map carefully. For the climb back up, simply follow the red and yellow markings.

Machine-translated

rhodanie
rhodanie

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike along these gorges. The descent is physically demanding but not dangerous. The colour of the water is very beautiful and very clear.
The climb is a bit tough, quite rocky and less shaded. Everything is very well marked. It is a very beautiful hike that is well worth doing.
Thank you, Visorando, for offering us such beautiful hiking trails.

Machine-translated

gisyl
gisyl
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, pleasant hike that was less crowded in this direction. The springs were full. A very good day

Machine-translated

Gisèle Lallement
Gisèle Lallement

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Full description.

Machine-translated

raymond2A
raymond2A

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a very pleasant walk along the springs in the Sainte Baume forests, a protected forest with trees and bushes that are not found elsewhere in Provence, including some surprising three-metre-high holly trees

Machine-translated

symy
symy

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The walk was very shady and very pretty in the forest
However, it was very poorly signposted.
There was no water in the Huveaune, which was a shame.
The section from 6 to 8 was very difficult because it was very rocky and very steep

Machine-translated

symy
symy

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

It's a shame that the Huveaune was practically dry. As for the hike, it was almost entirely in the shade. Don't forget your GPS, as there are no markings. We got lost several times and had to turn back. Sections 6 to 8 were very tiring, with lots of rocks and a very steep hill.

Machine-translated

Marc Vandevelde
Marc Vandevelde

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 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 hike, partly through woodland on the way down and through magnificent forests on the plateau. It was a shame that the springs were largely dry and the river completely empty.

Machine-translated

Eric8313
Eric8313

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike, mostly in the shade, with magnificent springs. It's a shame they're dry, but we'll definitely go back when there's water. Thank you to whoever took the time to map out the route

Machine-translated

Nouba2
Nouba2

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 13, 2022
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, very pleasant!
We were able to see the turquoise blue pools, although I regret that metal wires have been placed all along the route to protect the area. Having been there before this installation, it takes away from the charm of the place. Hikers need to be respectful!
The landscape is varied throughout the route, from rugged undergrowth to wider paths that also offer their share of surprises.
As we are not keen walkers, it took us a little longer than the estimated time at the start, but not by much.
The route is well thought out and well assessed.
Thank you for this suggestion.

Machine-translated

alain83400
alain83400

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very interesting route for discovering the sources of the Huveaune and the Castellette cave. We searched in vain for the Moulins cave; I wonder if it is actually in the place indicated.
There were quite a few people at the source of the Huveaune despite the cold weather.
Thank you very much

Machine-translated

cocodgi
cocodgi
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike, starting through the oak forest.
A very pleasant descent into the valley to the spring resurgences.
There is one very narrow passage where you will need to be careful with children.
Visit to the cave. A "sonorous" descent as you can hear the spring.
After point 8, we preferred to follow the GR to the hostelry.
We'll definitely be back!

Machine-translated

lpietri
lpietri
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

GPS track.
A beautiful route through the estate's forest. Beautiful views.
The Huveaune springs are a remarkable sight. We were lucky: there weren't many people at the springs.
The climb up the Chemin des Roys is really pleasant and fairly gentle despite the advertised elevation gain. You should do this hike in the direction indicated.
Highly recommended.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.