Paillon State Forest

A walk through the Mediterranean forest of the Nice Pre-Alps.

Details

5515366
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.17 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,007 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 991 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,178 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 404 ft

Description of the walk

The route starts at Pointe de Blausasc on the D2204. Park in the car park in front of the “Lu Nistou de la Pouncha” nursery at the junction of the D2204 and the Chemin de Vienne.

(S/E) Head towards the roundabout and follow the road until you reach a small, steep street on the right between numbers 33 and 35.

(1) Join the Chemin de la Pallarea, which you take by heading uphill to the left. After about a hundred metres, turn left onto a small, sloping road and, after three bends, take the path on the right.

(2) This path is easy to follow, with a gentle, steady climb but a few quite rutted sections where you need to take care. Join the Chemin de la Pallarea a few hundred metres from the small pass and follow it to the left as far as the wayside shrine.

(3) Turn right and, opposite the oratory, follow a path to the right through the forest, downhill, to join a track which you follow uphill to the left for about 400 m.

(4) At the bend, veer right and follow a path that passes under the power line, winds its way uphill and joins another track.

(5) Highest point of the walk. Take the track on the right, heading downhill.

(6) At a water tank, take a pleasant path to the right which joins the track further on. Follow it to the right, ignoring a turn-off to the left.

(7) At the end of the track, turn left then continue straight ahead onto another track (Les Nartas).

(8) At the fork in the road, take the path on the right which descends a small valley and then joins the Chemin de Vienne at a hairpin bend. Continue to the left and head for the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 410 ft - Car park at the “Lu Nistou de la Pouncha” nursery
  2. 1 : mi 0.14 - alt. 417 ft - Short, steep road on the right
  3. 2 : mi 0.35 - alt. 502 ft - Path
  4. 3 : mi 2.19 - alt. 971 ft - Oratory
  5. 4 : mi 2.8 - alt. 902 ft - Bend, path to the right
  6. 5 : mi 3.11 - alt. 1,175 ft - Highest point of the walk
  7. 6 : mi 3.42 - alt. 1,115 ft - Citerne
  8. 7 : mi 4.01 - alt. 991 ft - Junction, turn left
  9. 8 : mi 4.32 - alt. 899 ft - Fork in the road, turn right
  10. S/E : mi 5.17 - alt. 410 ft - Car park at the “Lu Nistou de la Pouncha” nursery

Notes

Please note: there are no signposts along the route.

Do not undertake this route after rain, as the ascending and descending paths may be muddy and slippery.

On these same paths, there are a few fairly narrow sections with ledges. Trekking poles are essential.

Reviews and comments

3.6 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
3 / 5
Frida
Frida

Overall rating : 1.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : No

I completely agree with Martine A’s review from September 2023: the path is dangerous and, what’s more, uninteresting.

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MartineA
MartineA

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : No

I did this route yesterday, 11 September 2023. It was very hot and I thought it would be nice to go for a stroll in the woods. I was on my own and didn’t come across a single soul.
The description mentioned that the path could be dangerous in wet weather. I think it’s dangerous regardless! During the first hour and the last half-hour, you cross a stretch of marl, and in many places the path is barely there or has disappeared altogether; the trail is rutted and sloping, and the marl, with all its tiny gravel, makes it slippery, with a ravine on one side. So if you slip in the places where there’s no path, you could fall a long way! I had a few scares and wanted to turn back several times, but I told myself it would end in the middle of the forest and, above all, I had absolutely no desire to go back through the places where I’d been scared. What’s more, to be honest, I don’t find the path at all interesting; it’s rather unattractive all the way along. I don’t recommend it, and it’s definitely not suitable for children! Finally, there really are no signposts; you really do have to follow the Viso Rando GPS step by step.

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millepat06
millepat06

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello marcheur06,
In the description of the starting point, it refers to a one-way street on the right between numbers 33 and 31. Otherwise, this walk through the woods is really relaxing. Thank you for this route – I’ll definitely be doing it again.
millepat06

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shumshum
shumshum

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk, with a very manageable elevation gain and lovely scenery
Noisy at the start of the route
Two or three slightly slippery sections; best avoided in wet weather

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Patb2
Patb2

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice. No breathtaking views, but some interesting rocks.
Some sections are a bit crumbling and slippery in wet weather.

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Ivan de Nice
Ivan de Nice

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Please note: the road is closed due to a rockslide near the small pass.

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