From Damias to Antonaves

(S) At the ‘Les Damias’ sign, take the path towards the Crête de Chanteduc.

(1) Once at Chanteduc, turn right towards the Col de Branche, following the ridge line until you reach it.

(2) At the pass, head straight on towards the Col de Garasse – Antonaves. After about ten minutes, at the Fork in the road, keep left, descending slightly before climbing up to the small, beech-covered summit of Les Bayles. Continue for about 300 m past the summit of Les Bayles.

(3) Descend via a hairpin bend to the left to leave the ridge via a very faintly marked path (there are usually cairns).

(4) Take a path on the right which descends quite steeply to reach the Col de la Garasse.

(5) Follow the path to the right towards the Col du Vieux Bus – Antonaves. You’ll come to a fork.

(6) Turn right and head up the valley running parallel to the Crête du Travers until you reach another fork.

(7) Turn left and head for the Col de Saint-Pierre.

(8) Then follow the signs for Pic Saint-Cyr – Antonaves.

(9) Once on the Crête de Saint-Cyr, follow it due north until you reach the sign for “Crête de Saint-Cyr”.

(10) Follow the signs for Antonaves, leaving the ridge and turning left into the forest.

(11) Keep to the left: the path on the right joins the route a little further on anyway. Reach Antonaves via the Montée Saint-Joseph. Then head down to the right along Rue de la Fontaine to the car parks (S/E).

If you’re carrying a rucksack and walking at a moderate pace, allow a good five hours of actual walking time.

Accommodation in Les Damias: The hamlet of Les Damias, campsite, lodge, guest rooms.

Hike in the Baronnies Provençales Regional Nature Park.
This hike is best undertaken in April–May–June and September–October. In summer, it can get very hot in the Baronnies Provençales, and in winter, some paths may be impassable or snow-covered.

Make sure you take plenty of water with you, as most springs are not monitored and some may have a very low flow at any time of year.

Please note that between the Col de Branche and the Col de Garasse, the signposting is patchy: follow the directions carefully.

Between the summit of Les Bayles and the Col de Saint-Pierre, it is also possible to take the Crête du Travers. However, the path has not been cleared of undergrowth for ages and progress is far from easy.