Croupatier Cave via Le Broussan

Leaving from Garde Pass, a beautiful hike through the Croupatier massif.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.50 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 255 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 249 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 509 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 272 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Évenos (83330)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.170612° / E 5.888113°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3346OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Start at the Garde Pass (there is parking next to the big cistern). Access is from Toulon in the direction of Revest-les-Eaux then Broussan (D51). Be careful, the road is narrow.

(S/E) Take the road for a few metres and then head straight away to your left onto the wide path which goes downhill through the valley of the Garde Pass.

(1) Be careful not to miss the narrow path heading off (south-west direction) which will follow along the contour level.

(2) Turn sharply to the left along the small (dry) stream.

(3) Ignore the path heading off on the right and continue to climb. The path becomes more and more stony and steep. Go under an electricity line and ignore the paths heading off on both sides, instead continue uphill until you reach the GR®51.

(4) Take the GR®51 to the left and continue to climb, going back under the same electricity line until you reach a large cairn which indicates the branch to take to go down to the cave.

(5) Keep going up to the cliff and then take a very narrow and steep path which, in a few dozen metres, leads to the cave in the cliffs. Go back up to the last branch (cairn).

(5) Turn right onto the GR®51. Go in front of the ruins and, a bit further on, ignore the D262 path heading off to the right and instead continue on the GR® until you reach a crossroads with the D262 path.

(6) Turn left and then follow the GR®51 back downhill until you reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 394 m - Car park - Col du Corps de Garde (391m)
  2. 1 : km 1.02 - alt. 313 m - Small path on the left
  3. 2 : km 1.83 - alt. 277 m - Turn left along the dry stream
  4. 3 : km 1.98 - alt. 273 m - Turn right up the path
  5. 4 : km 3.87 - alt. 373 m - Turn left onto the GR 51
  6. 5 : km 4.86 - alt. 480 m - Behind a large cairn, path to the cave
  7. 6 : km 6.49 - alt. 505 m - Follow the GR on the left for the return journey
  8. S/E : km 7.5 - alt. 394 m - Col de Garde

Notes

No water on this relatively-short, but difficult route, due to the % of the gradient.
You need to wear good shoes due to the stones and rocks. It is essential to take a sufficient amount of water.
For BBQs in the cave, take paper and a light. There is a large area in the centre and BBQ grills. Collect dead wood on the path just before you get there.

Variation at point (6): Turn right and do a return loop (2km) to Bau de Quatre Auros (wonderful panoramic view), not described on this hike,

Worth a visit

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.

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 41 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
User 13552947

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The first third of the route (1/3) takes you through the forest with no views. The second third involves a fairly steep and rugged climb – you have to work hard to earn the view!
At the top, a motorway-style road followed by a lovely path.
Although we aren’t particularly keen walkers, we usually stick to the planned times, but not on this walk! At least 45 minutes longer!

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Denis8361@
Denis8361@

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 17, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk
Please note that the descent to the cave is a bit tricky
I can confirm that the summit of the hike has been completely cleared of trees to make way for an electricity pylon.

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Aude1401
Aude1401

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 23, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, but be careful – some of the paths are a bit tricky to find 😉. It’s a shame that just before reaching the cave (5), there was some work going on along the G51: trees had been cut down and the ground dug up. It felt like we were on the motorway 🥴; some walkers were having a fire in the
cave; apparently it’s a tradition. Very beautiful view

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User 28529706

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 22, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I completed the route in reverse order to the description, but had no difficulty following it.

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APM#83
APM#83

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The announced time of 02:50 is wrong unless you do it running!!! given the uneven and rocky sections! Between points 3 and 4, be careful not to miss the little path that goes up on the left. Otherwise a nice walk.

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rendominique
rendominique

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

A very pleasant and easy walk. Varied terrain. Track very useful for avoiding trail errors, as there is little signposting. Lovely views.

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V-P
V-P

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Just a point of clarification: following the storm, a tree fell on the route at ridge level and it was very difficult to cross it as the branches were still fresh! It should also be noted that the route took longer than indicated.
Otherwise a lovely hike with beautiful views, a bit sporty all the same.

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guybigot
guybigot

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hi, very nice walk with a variety of landscapes, views and paths. Good signposting with Visorando. For the Croupatier cave, the path is before the signposted point 5, it has the base of a cairn, on the right follow the trace on the map, steep descent and take an inconspicuous path that runs along the cliff face, 70 metres, the cave.

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Smac Team
Smac Team

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Pleasant walk... picnic in the cave!

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robertisa
robertisa

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

varied circuit, great views on the second part of the loop.
You can't go wrong if you follow the GPX track.
If you go via the Croupatier cave, allow around 3h30 -4h.

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memededu83
memededu83

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We got the wrong sign at a crossroads and got a bit lost.

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ACAHIER
ACAHIER

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We used the downloaded track and everything went well. We enjoyed the walk, the views, the different rocks, etc. The path is often in the undergrowth, which suited us very well as we quickly became uncomfortable in the heat. The path is often in the undergrowth, which suits us very well, as we are quickly bothered by the heat. It took us 5 hours because we took the time to take photos, admire the scenery and have a picnic.
Thank you for this route

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freetime
freetime

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice walk with no particular difficulties
The GPS track really helped us as there were lots of paths on both sides.
We did option 6 and enjoyed the magnificent panorama.
However, we did it at our own pace (5 hours).

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Freco
Freco

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Really nice walk ,
beautiful forest for the descent into the valley & ascent along the Destel towards the croupatier (not such a steep ascent ...)
However, the caïrn indicating the fork to the cave has been taken down! but the configuration of the area doesn't leave much room for error, otherwise no problem with the GPS tracking on the app. access to the cave is really easy.
The alternative route up to the small summit of the Col des 4 Our and the rest up to the Cap gros du Bau des 4 Our are worth the trip for the totally different environment and the panoramic view ...

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stephane.anquetil
stephane.anquetil

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We've done it in reverse with great success. The uphill start poses no problem in this respect.
DO bring suitable footwear for the many rocky passages / scree / paths through the rock, which are sometimes uncomfortable on the feet and knees (on the way down). There are no cliffs, so it's fine for those prone to vertigo. Be careful, the path between 4 and the ridge known as "Le télégramme" on the boundary between Evenos and Ollioules is not signposted, although it is easy to follow. Once at the top, it's the GR (with a blue trail).
Time is completely underestimated if you have children, are not in top form, etc...

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