Gordolasque walks

A beautiful loop in the Gordolasque valley that takes you close to five lakes, including the superb Lac Autier and Lac Niré. There are also some beautiful waterfalls, including the vast Cascade de l'Estrech. Numerous chamois can be seen throughout the hike. A few ibex and marmots can be spotted below the Lac de la Fous dam.

A round trip that will see you cover nearly 600m of elevation gain in 4 hours and enjoy this magnificent lake.

Discover the Gordolasque Valley and the Mercantour.

A very pleasant family walk in the Gordolasque Valley, with no particular difficulties and wonderful scenery.

Discover the Vallée des Merveilles by connecting the Vallée de la Gordolasque to the famous Refuge des Merveilles.

The destination of a hike starting from Pont du Countet, the traditional entry point to the Vallée des Merveilles, Lac Long is relatively uncrowded and exudes an atmosphere of serenity in its rocky setting dominated by the elegant Cime de la Malédie. Reaching this lake allows you to enter a wild and mineral valley located near the very popular Refuge de Nice. Ibex and chamois will probably be your only companions.

Four-day route in the Mercantour Massif. Passing through the unmissable Vallée des Merveilles, continuing on to the Refuges de Nice and Madone de Fenestre, then ending the circular at Pont du Countet, the terminus of the Gordolasque valley road.

This beautiful circular route takes you from valley to valley, each time revealing a new landscape, from a wild valley to the lakes around the Refuge des Merveilles in a stunning rocky setting.

Mont Clapier (3,045 m) is one of the five 3,000-metre peaks in the Alpes-Maritimes, and probably the most accessible. The ascent does not present any particular technical difficulties, but you do need a good sense of direction to navigate the scree slopes from the Lacs du Mont Clapier. At the summit, there is a superb panorama of the peaks from the Italian-Swiss border to Corsica, passing through the Po plain, the ever-isolated Mont Viso, and closer by, Mont Bégo, Grand Capelet, Gélas and Argentera.

Capelet Inférieur is one of the southernmost peaks of the Mercantour. The viewpoint over the 3000-metre peaks of Gélas, Malédie and Clapier is superb, with beautiful panoramic views over the Gordolasque valley and, on a clear day, the Baie des Anges in Antibes.

A circular route in Gordolasque to discover this pretty valley, the starting point for long hikes in the Mercantour. You will climb up opposite the Cascade de l'Estrech waterfall, then pass by the Mur des Italiens, a place where chamois and ibex are often seen, before descending on the right bank, which offers a beautiful view of the valley with the Cime du Diable peak in the distance. Please note that the return route on the right bank is currently inaccessible, see description.

This itinerary allows you to discover the wonders of this valley. In particular, the famous engravings such as Christ, the Tribal Chief and the Altar Rock. But be careful, these areas are monitored!

Mont des Merveilles or Caïre des Conques is a peak located between the Vallée des Merveilles and the Vallée de la Gordolasque. This hike from Pont du Countet will take you up Pas de l'Arpette via Vallon d'Empuonrame. On the agenda: beautiful panoramic views of several lakes and the peaks of the Mercantour, as well as encounters with chamois and marmots if you're lucky.

This route, which runs parallel to the border, is dominated throughout by the large peak of Gélas, the highest summit in the area.

The Balcon du Gélas, which rises to over 3,000 metres, is a minor peak in the Haute Vésubie, situated close to its larger counterparts, the iconic Gélas peaks. The ascent, however, offers superb views of the highest peaks of the Gordolasque, Lac Long, as well as the Argentera and even the Viso on the Italian side. This hike, starting from Pont du Countet, takes you up the Gordolasque valley to Lac de la Fous, then leads you to the peaceful Lac Long before a climb to the Terrasse du Gélas—the only tricky section—and an easy final ascent to reward you with this beautiful summit, at the foot of the highest peak in the Mercantour massif.

TheGR® 52 is a route that crosses the Mercantour National Park, through the Alpes-Maritimes from Saint-Dalmas-de-Valdeblore to Menton. ThisGR® route is very challenging due to the varied terrain and significant elevation changes. You’ll reach altitudes of up to 2,700m, where you can admire the high-mountain landscapes, flora and fauna. Then, in the second half of the route, you’ll encounter panoramas that are more southern in character but just as extraordinary.

A short additional hike if you arrive at the Nice refuge too early. The lakes of Mont Clapier are a lovely and charming destination. As in the rest of the Mercantour, chamois and ibex are everywhere. The lakes may still be frozen in mid-June. The path is not signposted, but is clearly visible. The same instructions appear on the map and on the suggested walks displayed at the entrance to the refuge. The elevation gain is approximately 300m.

A challenging hike to reach the Tres Crous viewpoint, characterised by its three crosses and the panoramic view of the Vésubie valley stretching all the way to the sea.

A demanding hike through steep terrain to reach the summit of the Grand Capelet, offering a 360° panorama from the Mediterranean to the Argentera, and a return via the famous Vallée des Merveilles, allowing you to discover some of the rock carvings in the area. This circular route is very long and very difficult; it is reserved for seasoned mountaineers.

Starting from the Refuge de Nice, the fourth stage of this journey through the Mercantour is the shortest. Short but just as difficult. You’ll pass the Baisse du Basto, the highest point ofthe GR®52. You’ll cross over to Lac du Basto, then it’s the climb up the Baisse de la Valmasque, before descending into the Vallée des Merveilles.

This challenging route will take you from the Roya Valley in the east to the Gordolasque Valley in the west. Over the course of these five days, you’ll have the chance to pass close to the highest peak in the Alpes-Maritimes, the Gélas. You’ll climb a legendary summit, Mont Bégo. You’ll make your way from valley to valley, crossing a series of mountain passes: the Pas de Pagari, the Pas du Mont Colomb, the Pas du Trem and the Baisse de Valmasque. Every day, chamois, ibex and marmots will keep you company.

Route linking the Vésubie and Gordolasque valleys.

A very beautiful circular in one of the wildest valleys in the Southern Alps. It offers landscapes of rare beauty in an exceptional setting. The refuge is a welcome place to take a break. Keep an eye out for wildlife: chamois, marmots (outside hibernation period) and ibex.

The aim of this fourth stage is to reach the Merveilles mountain refuge. The route is less well-travelled than the classic one via the Pas de l’Arpette. You’ll discover the Verrariers valley and the Pas du Trem. This small pass lies at the foot of the Cime du Diable, which you simply must climb. This magnificent viewpoint offers a 360° panorama of the Mercantour, as well as the Authion, the Col de Turini and all the way to the sea. You’ll then walk alongside the lakes of La Muta, Le Trem and Fourca.

This magnificent circular will take you to the two main peaks of the Vallée des Merveilles: Mont du Grand Capelet and Mont Bego. You will encounter numerous chamois around the Pas de l'Arpette and Lac Autier.

This hike is mostly off-trail, with significant elevation gain, and is reserved for experienced walkers. The view from the summit of Grand Capelet, at the crossroads of the Gordolasque, Merveilles and Valmasque valleys, is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in the Mercantour.Please take note of the practical information.

The most difficult stage of thisGR®, but the most beautiful for its landscapes, flora and fauna: chamois, marmots, ibex. After the Pas des Ladres, we chose to take theGR®52via the alternative route that passes close to the Col de Fenestre, then descends to Lac de Fenestre before reaching La Madone de Fenestre. Three sections are particularly difficult: between Lac de Trecolpas and the Pas des Ladres, the ascent of the Pas du Colomb, and the descent from the Pas du Colomb.

This third stage is less demanding than the previous two. The entire route follows a marked path. Only the start of the descent from the Pas du Mont Colomb and the sections over scree require a little care. This is the classic route linking the Madone de Fenestre valley with the Gordolasque valley. The scenery along the way is magnificent, and the Pas du Mont Colomb offers two completely different views from its eastern and western sides.

This route, deliberately named “Around Mont Clapier”, will take you to discover this magnificent peak, rising to 3,045 m. Situated in the north of the Alpes-Maritimes, on the French-Italian border, it offers a magnificent panorama of the main peaks of the Mercantour and Argentera ranges. Over the course of these three days, you’ll be able to admire it from various angles. You’ll also have the opportunity to climb it. Before setting off, please see the ‘Practical information’ section .

This second day will take you to the foot of the Cime du Gélas (just 200 m below the summit); you’ll walk for a long time alongside Lac Long and the superb Malédie. You’ll then head into another small valley to admire the Cime Saint-Robert. The Lac Blanc, from which the stream flows, is none other than the Vésubie, and of course, the Gélas on its western face. The route will become more familiar and less strenuous once you rejoin the path coming from the Lac de la Fenestre.