From the Belle Barbe Pass to the Ravines of the Estérel

fr

Very beautiful hike close to Agay which enables you to discover the Estérel away from the usual routes.

Technical sheet

n°225173
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 16.99 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 461 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 465 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 475 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 20 m
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Photos

The Bear's tooth
The man shouting from the tree at Bear Peak
Cap Roux Massif

Description of the walk

Start at the Belle Barbe Pass.

(S/E) Take the GR trail (Red and White waymarking) above the Grenouillet valley.
Continue on to ford.

(1) Take the path on your right and then stay horizontal to (or almost going up) the Ravin des Lentisques until you reach the road.

(2) Cross the road and take the path opposite which climbs to the 'Baisse des Sangliers', going along the road. At the 'Baisse', stay on right-hand side of the road for a few hundred metres up to the Lentisques Pass (picnic tables).

(3) Take the path on your right in the direction of 'Dent de l'Ours' (the 'Bear's tooth') via the Uzel Cave (4). You shouldn't encounter any difficulties here. Carry on until you each the 'Dent de l'Ours'.

(5) Continue to your right in the direction of 'Pic de l'Ours' ('Bear's Peak') which you then go around. When you arrive at the road, take the path opposite you which goes downhill in the direction of the Notre Dame Pass, three hours after departing.

(6) From the pass, go down towards Lake Écureuil (via the GR51) which you will reach in about 45 minutes. The lake has been empty for years.

(7) Go around it on the right-hand side and go along its banks up to the next ford. Then head back into the Vallon (valley) du mal Infernet. At the crossing point, stay on the path (on your right you will see a variation of this path which will take you back to our departure point via the Aubert Pass) and continue up to the ford (1), then return on the ame path as the outward journey without any difficulty back to the car park at Belle Barbe Pass (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 45 m - Col de Belle Barbe
  2. 1 : km 1.16 - alt. 29 m - Foré
  3. 2 : km 4.38 - alt. 165 m - Route
  4. 3 : km 5.01 - alt. 250 m - Baisse des Sangliers (249m)
  5. 4 : km 5.38 - alt. 263 m - Col des Lentisques
  6. 5 : km 6.93 - alt. 301 m - Uzel cave
  7. 6 : km 8.33 - alt. 384 m - Dent de l'Ours
  8. 7 : km 10.06 - alt. 324 m - Col Notre-Dame
  9. 8 : km 13.24 - alt. 85 m - Lac de l'Ecureuil
  10. S/E : km 16.99 - alt. 45 m - Col de Belle Barbe. Close to the - Agay (fleuve)

Practical information

There is no drinking water point in the Estérel massif. Avoid the summer and high temperatures when undertaking this hike.

In the nearby area

Uzel Caves on the left after the Lentisques Pass - the Pic de l'Ours with a view over the îles de Lerins, after Lake Ecureuil, the very beautiful Vallon du Mal Infernet.

 Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during 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

4.7 / 5
Based on 15 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
JF
JF

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A pleasant walk with no major difficulties, to be done in spring when the flowers are in bloom and before the heat of summer. It is not very busy, which makes it even more enjoyable.

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Espedaillac
Espedaillac

It will be a pleasure to help you enjoy the Massif de l'Esterel.

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Taram
Taram

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very pleasant walk, no particular difficulties.
I had a little trouble finding the path after the Lac de l'Ecureuil, but with the track I eventually got there
The Ravine du Mal Infernet is magnificent, thank you for showing it to me.

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Espedaillac
Espedaillac

Thank you for your appreciation. I was in the Esterel yesterday Sunday in the Col du Testanier lac de l'Avellan then Reyran barrage de Malpasset sector. See you soon on the trails

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CHASDO64
CHASDO64

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very interesting hike that went off without a hitch. Passed the fords as there was very little water. Priority should be given to weekdays as there are quite a few people on Sundays. The route is marked as difficult but there are no technical difficulties, just the length of the walk, which is long but very pleasant as there are lots of flat stretches.

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Espedaillac
Espedaillac

Well done for a great ride to end the year. Keep it up in 2022.

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didqnk83
didqnk83
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Error!!! The hike we did was: "Boucle des ravins du Perthus et l'Infernet via Baisse Violette", a hike that takes in most of the western Esterel. We've added a slight variation at the start, taking in the Gratadis ravine, Aubert pass, Baladou pass, Perthus pass, before returning to the proposed route via the Perthus ravine. The route has no particular difficulties, apart from its length and the large number of mountain bikes on the main trails. 21.25 km, 568 m ascent, 07h00 ride.

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Espedaillac
Espedaillac

Thank you for continuing your journey

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MHnrt
MHnrt

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

We came across a lot of mountain bikers, with more pedestrians on the first part of the route (the first ravine). A hike with varied landscapes and lovely views. There was a lot of water (in May) in all the beds, but the fords were very passable. Only the end, from the bridge at Le Perthus, is a bit tedious as it is on tarmac, but the view makes up for it... The map is a little difficult to read: we had to double-check the IGN map, particularly at the first ford, because we had doubts about the "lake": there were no visible signs and there were more paths than indicated.

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Legall Yves
Legall Yves

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Lovely walk, with a few tricky fords.

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Espedaillac
Espedaillac

Bjr merci Quand vous évoque le point 6 c'est le col Notre Dame rien de particulier on descend vers le lac de l'Ecureuil point 7 votre situation particulière suite à fortes pluies est exceptionnelle Merci pour ces informations les sentiers ont subis de gros dommages ces changements doivent prêter à être prudent Cordialement

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Espedaillac
Espedaillac

Hello and thank you for your comments. Rest assured, I've been hiking in the Esterel for years and I've never found the entrance to the cave. If you look on the Internet you'll find photos.

Bonne Randos

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brigitte_aloth@hotmail.fr
brigitte_aloth@hotmail.fr

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 18, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

at point 3, a return journey to the Pic d'Aurelle is well worth a look
not seen the Uzel cave?

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Espedaillac
Espedaillac

Hello,

Thank you for doing this route. You're right. My mistake: it's on the left towards the Uzel cave.

Good hiking

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