Between the source and the waterfall, starting from Rognac

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A short, peaceful family walk along wide paths, with a magnificent view of the lake, which is even more beautiful at sunset. To see a beautiful waterfall, plan your walk a few days after rain, as this is Provence.

Details

n°2855941
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.01 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 64 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 64 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 162 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 98 m
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Photos

view of the Étang de Berre
view from the start
Backlighting of the waterfall
The Étang de Berre

Description of the walk

Starting from Rognac, take the road that climbs to the Rognac cross, Chemin de Sarragousse, and arrive at the car park near a cistern. The hike is divided into two parts:
- the upper part, which is the source,
- the lower part, which is the waterfall.

(S/E) The starting point of the route is at the end of the car park. Turn right and walk along a large field on your left. Continue along this path until you reach the first intersection. Take the path on the right that runs along the cliff.

(1) After the olive grove and the stream on your left, a small path climbs 130 metres to the left towards the spring (be careful, the ground is slippery). Retrace your steps and turn left to reach a new intersection that marks the end of the upper part.

(2) Take the path that turns right and descends. Join the Malagas path, which is the third intersection. Turn right towards the waterfall. Continue along the cliff.

(3) Pass near the waterfall and reach the crossroads with a tarmac road, Chemin de Sarragousse.

(4) Turn right and start climbing. Be careful at this point: keep well to the right as the road is narrow. Continue to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 162 m - Parking near a cistern.
  2. 1 : km 0.83 - alt. 136 m - The source - Fontaine de l'Oule (Rognac)
  3. 2 : km 1.15 - alt. 133 m - End of the upper section
  4. 3 : km 1.77 - alt. 103 m - Cascade de Malaga
  5. 4 : km 2.61 - alt. 112 m - End of the lower section
  6. S/E : km 3.01 - alt. 162 m - Parking near a cistern.

Notes

To reach the source, the path is very slippery after rain.
In summer, check the Bouches-du-Rhône prefecture website to verify access authorisation in the massif.

Worth a visit

(1) On the right, you will arrive above the waterfall. Be careful of the cliff, as there is no guardrail. You can climb up along the stream (20 m) to get behind the waterfall.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 15 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
Denis Guenneau
Denis Guenneau

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

The waterfall was dry, which was to be expected.
It should be emphasised that some sections are very rocky and that it is best to be well equipped with hiking boots, which was not the case for my wife, who had difficulty with her city shoes.

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Pimienta
Pimienta

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

An easy walk offering several route options around the waterfall hike, allowing you to get close to the various cliffs and caves without too much risk.
You will encounter cyclists, joggers and walkers, some with their families or dogs, and everyone is friendly and smiling.
Be careful on the walk back, depending on the route you take, if you rejoin the road about 1 km from the car park on the plateau.

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Iyarri
Iyarri

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A pleasant little walk, although the spring was not active in May. A lovely route with beautiful views of the Étang de Berre lagoon and Rognac.

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Greenhornet
Greenhornet

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk, beautiful scenery!

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Oliver13
Oliver13

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb discovery of a remarkable site, even though the waterfall was dry.
Next time, we'll come back after some rain.

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Lina1350
Lina1350

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful, easy walk with views of the Étang de Berre lagoon. Luckily, the waterfall was flowing. With the trees in bloom and overcast weather, it's fantastic! Avoid in hot weather: there is no shade.

We met a few walkers and mountain bikers.

Thank you for this walk description

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Rollin Monique
Rollin Monique

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

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JDB
JDB

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

In fine weather but windy at the top.
We couldn't find the descent at point 1. But we did see the cliffs where the fountain is located during heavy rain.
So we came back via the upper path.
BEAUTIFUL VIEWS OF L4

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Mickey69
Mickey69

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Not a drop of rain on 11 March 2022, but it hasn't rained since 14 February...

Beautiful view of the Berre lagoon and the cliffs of the Vitrolles plateau.

An alternative route to finish and avoid the long climb up the narrow and dangerous tarmac road on foot: at the large stone walls and before descending to point 2, take a path on the right through the bushes that climbs up under and parallel to the road to the car park. This shortens the route and avoids the dangerous section.

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nicoulina
nicoulina

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Only visited when the waterfall is flowing; today, 17 July, there is no water and few people! The trail does not lead to the Oule fountain, which is accessible via a path in the stream bed, easier to reach from above from the last car park.

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pirlouitt
pirlouitt

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, full of flowers at this time of year.

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Miicky
Miicky

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

hike, or rather a short walk, done today for the first time for us!
we are very satisfied, it was quite well explained.

we live 15 km from this place and didn't know about it... Very beautiful setting but unfortunately no water at the waterfall.

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begru
begru

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We did this 35 km walk on a Monday afternoon. The landscape with its successive cliffs (Baou) is very impressive and from this plateau you have a beautiful view of the Etang de Berre and the upper Baous.

Unfortunately, this route is not marked by signs or lines on trees or on the ground. As a result, we missed the descent to the waterfall. After checking aerial photos, we assume that the descent is via a path that starts at an olive grove.

We imagine that the narrow, winding road that leads to the plateau, where this and other hikes begin, is too busy on Sundays and public holidays. It is probably best to avoid these days.

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kapucine13
kapucine13

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful walk. It was truly surprising to see this waterfall in the middle of Rognac. Admittedly, there isn't much water, but that's just how it is in this region... Thank you for this wonderful discovery

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carrie
carrie

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

I had already been for a walk on the plateau a few years ago. This walk is only worth it for its view of the valleys, as the waterfall is non-existent unless you go when it is raining heavily (but hey, the writer warned us), and the spring is of little interest.

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