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Departure from Chemin de Garlaban, next to the Allauch boules court (La boule de craie): plenty of parking spaces. Accessible by public transport (bus line 144 from La Rose metro station, get off at the Allauch Village terminus, Place du 11 Novembre.
(S/E) Follow the sign for "Montée Notre-Dame du Château" on Mont Rodinaccus, whose earliest remains are a castle built between 1141 and 1148. Head to the chapel and enjoy the panoramic view from the Gineste massif to the Chaîne de l'Étoile.
(1) Take the steps to the left of the chapel, which will lead you to a promontory overlooking the chapel. Continue straight ahead and begin the descent from the rocky peak where the chapel is perched. From this promontory, follow the yellow/orange fluorescent markings along the entire route.
(2) When you reach the bottom of the valley, take the path climbing up in front of you. You will come to the ruins of an old chapel and continue along this ridge path sheltered by pine trees.
(3) The path turns to your right and begins a fairly steep and stony descent before turning 90° to the left to go around the hill and arrive at the end of the Chemin de Peynaou.
(4) Start climbing up through the undergrowth on your right and head for the Col du Puits Rouge hunters' shelter.
(5) Continue straight ahead on the path, which widens.
(6) At the three paths ahead of you, take the middle one; it will turn left twice and descend along the Baume des Pestiférés. The name "Baume des Pestiférés" comes from the history of the plague that ravaged Marseille in 1720. The inhabitants of Marseille fled the epidemic by isolating themselves in caves to protect themselves from the disease. Pass the Pichoun Ome spring and you will arrive at a hunters' hut.
(7) Take the path on your right towards the Vallon des Escaouprés. After crossing the hollow of this valley, follow the path up on your right to reach a track at the Col du Sauvage.
(8) Take the track on the left towards Tête Ronde, which you will go around on the left. At the three-way junction, head right, then right again at the next intersection to reach the Jas de Batisto crossroads.
(9) Continue straight ahead and stay on this main track until you reach the crossroads (Pas du Loup).
(10) Head straight ahead towards Pic du Taoumé. Pass in front of the Grotte de Grosibou, then when you reach a signpost, follow the yellow markings on your right to reach Pic du Taoumé, the highest point of this hike at an altitude of 667 m. Enjoy a 360° view of Montagne Sainte-Victoire, Cap Canaille, Chaîne de l'Étoile and the whole of Marseille.
(11) From there, take the path on the left down the other side of the peak, following the yellow markings to Col des Escaouprés.
(12) At the signpost, take the path on the left towards Vallon des Escaouprés. Continue straight downhill until you reach the next signpost at the Chien spring.
(13) Keep left, ignoring the blue markings, which you will find again a little further on. Follow the stream bed with its numerous pools until you reach a junction.
(14) Take the path on the right, cross the hollow of the valley, then climb up through a maze of boulders. Follow the yellow markings carefully as the path is not clearly marked. You will reach a wide track opposite some ruins.
(15) Head left, then leave the access to the antenna on your left and further on, turn right at the three-way junction and continue for about 50 metres.
(16) Look for the start of the path on the right that will take you to the summit of Grande Tête Rouge. The climb is quite short but very steep, although there are no technical sections. Reach the summit of Grande Tête Rouge (512 m): 360° view.
(17) Take the path down the other side, staying as close to the ridge as possible. You will come out onto a track; turn left.
(18) Immediately turn right onto a wide, clearly marked path towards Pounche des Escaouprés.
(19) Leave the yellow trail and head for the rocky peak. Retrace your steps and rejoin the yellow trail on the right. Pass close to the Col des Escaouprés and bear left to join the wide DFCI track.
(20) Follow it to the left for about 500 m.
(21) Leave this track to take a path on the right and rejoin a wide path further down.
(22) Follow it straight ahead. Look for a slightly hidden path on your right: use the earth embankment just before a private road (white posts connected by a chain) as a landmark. Pass in front of an old bauxite quarry (burgundy-red rock). Continue along this same path, ignoring all paths on your right, and you will reach the junction of Chemin de la Colline (also known as Chemin du Jas de Moulé) and Chemin de Galarban.
(23) Turn right, cross the tarmac road and look for a path opposite that will wind its way above the road before joining it. Continue left on the road to return to the car park (S/E).
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Easy 
Moderate 
