From Col des Portes to Montagne des Ubacs

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A beautiful hike offering varied panoramic views of Sainte-Victoire, the Vauvenargues valley and the Durance riverbed from the crest of Montagne des Ubacs.

Details

n°34859064
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.05 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 334 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 337 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 721 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 524 m
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Photos

Ste Victoire
The Sinne Observatory
The Ubacs ridge
The Ubacs Mountain

Description of the walk

Departure from the Col des Portes car park, well known to all Provençal hikers.

(S/E) Take the track heading north-east on the other side of the small road for about 500 m.

(1) Turn left onto a path that leads diagonally away. Walk for about a kilometre until you reach a fork where a few cairns mark the path to take on the right.

(2) Continue along the path that runs along the ridge, offering beautiful views of Sainte-Victoire. Keep going straight ahead until you reach the Citadel, a rocky promontory overlooking the valley, and walk around it to find the path again.

(3) Head straight north-east for about 800 metres.

(4) At this point, cut left across the meadow to join a track heading west. Follow this track for 4.5 km, ignoring the adjacent tracks branching off to the right and left. You will come to a new track where the GR®9 and 69 meet.

(5) Turn left until you reach the nearby junction.

(6) Turn right, leaving theGR®. The path begins to climb gently. Continue for about 500 m.

(7) Notice a wide, poorly maintained path littered with wood debris on the left. Follow it to reach the ridge of Montagne des Ubacs.

(8) Turn right onto a path that is not very obvious. You will need to go a little further to enjoy the view over the Durance valley. Follow the ridge for about 1.5 km. Ignore the first mountain bike descent on the right (not shown on the IGN map) and continue for about 50 metres.

(9) Turn right onto theGR®9trail, which descends southwards.

(10) Turn left at the bottom of the descent, then keep to the right a little further on. Continue on theGR®9towards the Lambruisse estate and you will arrive at a plain with some old buildings. Cross it towards a large white building.

(11) Turn left to continue following theGR® until you reach a left-hand bend in the track.

(12) Take the clearly visible path on the right, which is quite steep and serves as a shortcut to the track; you can also continue straight ahead on a gentler slope, but this will make the route longer.

(13) Turn right and continue to the Sinne Observatory.

(14) Stay on theGR® and continue south to find the fork in the road from the outward journey.

(1) Continue straight ahead to return to the Col des Portes car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 583 m - Car park - Col des Portes (631m)
  2. 1 : km 0.6 - alt. 588 m - Crossing of the circular loop
  3. 2 : km 1.51 - alt. 667 m - Cairns, path on the right. Near the - Cause (rivière)
  4. 3 : km 2.66 - alt. 703 m - Crossroads
  5. 4 : km 3.35 - alt. 654 m - Shortcut on the left
  6. 5 : km 6.75 - alt. 603 m - GR®9/69 junction
  7. 6 : km 7.19 - alt. 596 m - Track on the right
  8. 7 : km 7.73 - alt. 584 m - Ascent on the left
  9. 8 : km 8.29 - alt. 641 m - Crête Montagne des Ubacs
  10. 9 : km 9.85 - alt. 599 m - Descent to the right GR®9
  11. 10 : km 10.27 - alt. 528 m - End of descent, turn left
  12. 11 : km 10.96 - alt. 529 m - Domaine de Lambruisse
  13. 12 : km 11.78 - alt. 553 m - Path ascending to the right
  14. 13 : km 12.06 - alt. 613 m - Track on the right
  15. 14 : km 12.53 - alt. 605 m - Sinne Observatory
  16. S/E : km 14.05 - alt. 583 m - Col des Portes car park

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 9 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
XAM
XAM

Hello
Sorry, but I didn't walk this exact route.
However, I did walk route No. 9854665: Citadel Circular, for which I wrote a comment.
Have a nice day
XAM

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User 183830

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An excellent, easy hike accessible to all. Beautiful views of Sainte-Victoire and the Durance valley.

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XAM
XAM

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello
The only slight downside is that the first 150 metres from the car park could do with a bit of clearing, with
at least one clear signpost (sign or arrow) to indicate the start of the trail.
The option of reaching the Col des Portes by following the rather narrow D20 road seemed dangerous to me.
Have a good evening
XAM

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godillot1
godillot1

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

On Thursday, 20 February 2025, the weather was gloomy. We did most of the hike in fog. As a result, we didn't get to see any of the views described. What a shame!
Definitely something to do in good weather.

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randopascalou2018
randopascalou2018

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Hike completed on 19 January 2025, starting at 10:00 a.m. From point 1 to point 3, a very narrow path through the woods, not great! From 3 to 4, a small stony path through heath with a view of Sainte Victoire. From 4 to 6, a beautiful, easy firebreak track. From 6 to 8, a steep climb through the woods! From 8 to 9, a stony path through the woods with a few clearings where you can see the Durance plain. At point 9, a very steep, even dangerous descent with nothing but rocks!At 11, there is a firebreak track; at 12, there is a shortcut that climbs very steeply. It may be better to take the detour to 13, and then there is an easy firebreak track to the finish. A physically demanding and very strenuous hike with absolutely no interest. Very disappointed!!!!!

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BCC
BCC

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The number of visitors was very reasonable for a sunny Sunday, and we mainly encountered very courteous mountain bikers.
A very beautiful route, especially in autumn, as the deciduous trees (sessile oaks and Montpellier maples) mingle with the conifers. Unobstructed views of the rear of Sainte Victoire and very wide views to the north and east in the first part at the top of the Citadel. There are numerous picnic areas, particularly near the Lambruisse estate.
The best place to park is in the La Sinne car park on the right coming from Vauvenargues. The trail starts just opposite.

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Marie Pedrosa
Marie Pedrosa

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant and easy route!

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Campagne bessons
Campagne bessons

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Easy route with a table for lunch around midday

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louphifour
louphifour
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

1) It is impossible to judge visitor numbers at this time of year!
2) The starting point is not the Col des Portes car park (which does not exist or no longer exists) but the Puits d'Auzon car park! Important clarification

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phildaix
phildaix

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice route, shame everything was blocked today.
Otherwise, a few minor details: between points 4 and 5, it's not 4.5 km, but 3.4 km; and to get to point 9, it's actually 100 m after the mountain bike trail.

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