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

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.22 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 912 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 892 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,310 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,447 ft

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 : mi 0 - alt. 2,198 ft - Hotel car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.33 - alt. 2,208 ft - Turn right
  3. 2 : mi 0.69 - alt. 2,241 ft - Downhill path
  4. 3 : mi 1.37 - alt. 1,549 ft - Sources of the - Huveaune (fleuve)
  5. 4 : mi 1.71 - alt. 1,499 ft - Turn right
  6. 5 : mi 2.08 - alt. 1,470 ft - Track
  7. 6 : mi 2.29 - alt. 1,447 ft - Turn right onto Chemin des Rois
  8. 7 : mi 3.16 - alt. 2,024 ft - D80
  9. 8 : mi 3.78 - alt. 2,254 ft - Turn left
  10. 9 : mi 4.57 - alt. 2,228 ft - D95
  11. S/E : mi 5.22 - alt. 2,198 ft - 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 20 reviews

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

I have nothing to say about the Sainte Beaume hike
Kind regards
GONTIER

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Idefyx
Idefyx

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Be careful, the descent is a bit steep. I’d rate it as somewhere between moderate and difficult.
As for the rest, the ‘tour’ of the springs is a bit rushed.
But in any case, it’s a lovely hike – thanks for the route.

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User 29314247

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 10, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,

Please note:
Dogs are not permitted in the Sources de l'Huveaune – Vallon de la Castelette area, even if kept on a lead.
Please respect the regulations in force within the nature reserve.

The Sainte Baume Regional Nature Park

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MALTERRE Thierry
MALTERRE Thierry

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 16, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely hike with plenty of narrow paths; as for the springs, there are some beautiful pools with turquoise-blue water – I was lucky enough to see a fairly strong flow. There were quite a few people at the springs, which must be easily accessible from Nans.

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phildaix
phildaix

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 25, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent walk to the source of the Huveaune; I knew the route starting from the north but not this route coming from the south. Beautiful landscapes starting with chaotic rock formations and leafless deciduous trees, then magnificent views and finally beautiful undergrowth. Of course, the highlight is the river, which, unusually, was very full following the rains of recent weeks.
We did come across a few families during this school holiday period.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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