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Isola walks
Cime del Lausfer and Cima Tesina loop
This magnificent French-Italian hike allows you to discover the middle and upper reaches of the Mercantour: pastures, ungulates, lakes and panoramic views. This hike has a significant elevation gain and includes an exposed section between the Pas du Bœuf and the Col de la Guercha: not recommended for anyone who is afraid of heights or unsure-footed in the mountains.
Tour of the lakes starting from the Sant'Anna di Vinadio Sanctuary
Superb hike starting from the Santa Anna di Vinadio Sanctuary in Italy. This 4-hour Lakes circuit can be done clockwise or anti-clockwise.
Be sure to read the warnings about snow and equipment to bring with you in the practical information section.
Lacs d'Orgials, Martel and Aver
A superb circular hike, allowing you to discover no fewer than five lakes through magnificent landscapes at the foot of Mount Malinvern. It is located entirely in Italian territory, close to Isola 2000, starting from the Col de la Lombarde road on the Vinadio side.In addition to the lakes, the hike offers superb views of the peaks overlooking the Rio Freddo valley at the foot of Malinvern, which is omnipresent during the first part of the circuit.
Mount Malinvern via the Terre Rouge Lakes.
A technical hike starting from Isola 2000 that will take you to the highest point in the area, with breathtaking views of the resort and the Italian Alps. Up to the beautiful Terre Rouge Lakes and Baisse du Druos, this route is accessible to all; things get a little more challenging once you reach Italy.
Lakes of Terre Rouge and Baisse du Druos
An easy round trip hike that allows you to discover a wild area very close to the Isola 2000 ski resort.
During the ascent, you will pass close to the 5 Lacs de Terre Rouge lakes before arriving at the Baisse du Druos, which offers a beautiful view of the many Lacs Supérieurs de Valscura lakes.
Although this route is outside the Mercantour National Park, you may encounter some chamois.
From the Lacs de Terre Rouge to Lac de Tavels circular
A very beautiful hike starting from Isola 2000, allowing you to discover six lakes, some of which are in Italian territory.
The hike is varied in that it follows a fairly busy route offering magnificent views, as well as a much wilder and less frequented section.
The numerous lakes and water sources along the way are an invitation to cool off.
Please note: there are some difficulties on the terrain => see § Practical information.
Tour of Mont Férant
This walk is accessible to most people thanks to the very even gradient along the route. The trail is entirely located within the Mercantour National Park and takes us through the little-visited mountain pastures around the hamlet of Roya.
Tour of Mont Brussière via the hamlet of Ars
This mountain hike is accessible to people who are prone to vertigo. As you walk along the Ars ridge, you will have a 360° view of Mont Brussière and the summit of Le Content. In summer, you may be lucky enough to see a golden eagle and a rich variety of mountain flora, with many different butterflies fluttering overhead. You may also encounter cows, sheep and goats, but please take care not to disturb them.
Longon refuge via Mont Autcellier
A challenging hike. Ascent through the superb larch forest of La Fracha. Most of the route is through forest, except for the climb to Autcellier and Pervoux.
Short circular in the Forêt de la Fracha
The hike through the Fracha Forest, starting from the village of Roure, follows a well-marked trail that gradually winds its way up through the larch trees. The route, which is not particularly difficult, offers a moderate elevation gain and regular passages through the undergrowth, ideal for warming up. The viewpoints over the valley allow you to appreciate the Cime de Roubion and the neighbouring ridges, before returning via a comfortable and perfectly marked circular route.
Mont Riounet from the village of Roya
Starting from Roya, a hike through a wild valley to Mont Riounet, which overlooks the resort of Auron and offers a beautiful panorama of the surrounding area (the Tinée peaks, the Mounier chain, the Mercantour-Argentera massif) and other more distant peaks to the north (Col de la Bonette, Aiguille and Brec de Chambeyron, Tête de Moïse, Pics de la Font Sancte, Mont Viso, etc.). Ideal in autumn, to admire the colours and, with a little luck, to hear and see the deer bellowing.
Col de Crous round trip
The military structure built at Col de Crous provided passage between the Tuébi and Péone valley to the south and the Roya (Tinée) valley to the north.The small structure was built between 1932 and 1939 by military labour (MOM), more specifically by a detachment from the27th Algerian Rifle Regiment under the supervision of personnel from the7th Engineer Regiment.The support structures were built underground, dug several metres into the rock, while the combat structures, scattered across the surface in the form of blocks, were protected by thick steel armour plating and layers of reinforced concrete. The underground facilities housed barracks for the crew.High-altitude climatic conditions, a lack of resources and the non-priority nature of the project delayed progress. In June 1940, fighting against the Italians cancelled all work planned for the summer season.
Cime Nègre and Mont Mounier
This trail allows you to discover a little-visited valley in the Mercantour: you can see marmots and chamois here. The landscape is very varied, alternating between coniferous forests, meadows and ridges which, in good weather, offer views of the peaks of the Mercantour, Queyras and Écrins.
Trou des Corneilles, Baudric valley and Croix du small pass
A very beautiful hike in the little-visited Roya valley, then, as you climb higher, panoramic views of the surrounding high peaks, the northern ridge of Mounier and Mont Rougnous. The first part of the hike allows you to explore the Roya valley as far as Trou de Corneilles, a natural bridge under which the torrent flows and where many corvids nest. At the end of September, you can enjoy the sound of deer bellowing in the nearby forest. The rest of the hike follows the Baudric route, which alternates between passages under the cliffs and paths along former farmland and barns. A final climb takes you to the Croix du Small Pass and its beautiful panorama. On the way back, the return to the village is from marker 13b along a stony path running alongside old barns.
The Falcon Wood starting from Roubion
A short hike at the foot of the Falcon rock faces, in a varied landscape: climb through a sparse forest of spruce and Scots pine, enjoy beautiful views of the valley from the Falcon ridge, then descend among the sheepfolds and hamlets of Falcon and Les Vallons.
This hike is featured in the short guidebook "Rando Passion" published by the Roubion tourist office.
The elevation gain is lower than that indicated by Visorando, at around 400 metres.
The Col de la Couillole and Pin Pourri in a circular route from Roubion
This is a magnificent hike that starts in the picturesque medieval village of Roubion, with part of the trail already described on Visorando. Partly shaded by the forest, it will guide you through the Bois du Falcon and the meadows to the foot of Mont Buissière, at the Col de la Couillole, then to the Pin Pourri, where you can admire the Tête de Giarons and its vast meadows. The return journey will take you through the charming hamlet of Villars.
Mont Mounier from the Col de l'Espaul
Mont Mounier (2,817m) is one of the must-see peaks in the Alpes Maritimes: magnificent panoramas, 360° views from the summit, a beautiful ridge at the end, a fairly steady and easy 1,100m climb with views of the summit almost all the way.
Pin Pourri from Beuil
A very beautiful walk/hike that begins with a crossing of the beautiful Couillole valley. The Ibac de Frache is a magnificent coniferous forest. The descent through the mountain pasture areas from Pin Pourri is still used for transhumance.
From Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée to Roure via the canal
This route begins in woodland where wild strawberries grow, followed by an unusual, little-used canal, before joining the GR®5. The beautiful village of Roure is well worth a visit: original wash house, fountains, a wealth of renowned local heritage.
Lac de Beuil and Tête du Garnier
Starting from the hamlet of Les Launes, this circular hike takes you to Lac de Beuil, nestled in a sinkhole at the foot of Tête de l'Ubac, before climbing to Tête du Garnier for a magnificent panorama over the entire Beuil-Valberg area, as far as Mont Mounier and Mercantour in the distance.
The Mont Ténibre circular from Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée
A long and demanding circular in the Mercantour National Park that will first take you to Lac de Rabuons, the largest lake in the Alpes-Maritimes, which is worth the detour in itself, before climbing Mont Ténibre, the highest peak in the Tinée at 3,031 metres.
You are in the Mercantour National Park, where there are regulations to be observed, with fines of up to €1,500 for non-compliance. See practical information.
Read the reviews before committing.
Tête de Méric
A lesser-known and less-frequented secondary summit of the Mercantour, located above the pretty village of Péone, the Tête de Méric nevertheless offers a magnificent panorama stretching from the Tours du Lac d'Allos to the peaks of the Vallée des Merveilles, via the Val d'Entraunes and the Gorges de Daluis. The final ridge allows you to gradually discover this panorama.
Lacs des Millefonts - Col du Barn
The Millefonts lakes hike will take you to no fewer than five lakes at the foot of the Mercantour. The Col de Barn offers breathtaking views of the Molières valley and the lakes.
Cime des Lauses and tour of the Lacs des Millefonts
Starting from the Millefonts car park, this hike will take you via Lac Petit to Cime des Lauses, a peak offering exceptional views of the Mercantour.
After a section off the marked trail along the Têtes des Margès and Barn ridges, you will reach Col du Barn and descend to the other beautiful lakes of Millefonts: Lac Gros (slightly heart-shaped) and Lac Long (entirely colonised by aquatic plants).
Crossing Mont Pépoiri
We offer a hike in the Valdeblore mountain pastures, with an ascent of one of the major peaks in the area, Mont Pépoiri, offering exceptional views over the entire ridge of the Mercantour massif.
View of Corsica on a clear day.
Refuge de Vens - Camp des Fourches
Thisthird and final stage of the Tour du Mont Aiga starts from the Refuge de Vens and crosses a balcony below the slopes of the Aiguilles de Tortisse to the north-east of the Lacs de Vens. After passing the Crête de la Côte and descending to the Maisons Forestières de Tortisse, you will walk along a balcony path beneath the slopes of the Tête des Mourres to reach the Morgon plateau and climb back up to Laussets and finally to the Lacs de Morgon. At the large Morgon lake, you will descend eastwards into Salso Moréno to rejoin the path of thefirst stage and Camp des Fourches. It is possible to see chamois early in the morning and, of course, marmots throughout the day.
Mont Pepoiri, Petoumier and Lacs de Millefonts
This is a beautiful circuit that allows you to discover the Baus de la Frema and Mont Pétoumier with incredible views of the Argentera and Gélas massifs, then the Lacs de Millefonts with the final climb to Mont Pépoiri, which offers an extraordinary panorama of the entire Mercantour and the middle country.
Caïre Gros
A magnificent viewpoint, the summit of Caïre Gros, between the Tinée and Vésubie valleys, offers superb views of the Franco-Italian mountain range and the main peaks of the Mercantour.
The Lacs de Vens from Le Pra
A magnificent hike in the Haute-Tinée offering varied panoramas and one of the most beautiful series of lakes in the Mercantour!
The climb from Le Pra is gradual and easy, with the Cime de la Bonnette behind you. You then pass under the strange Aiguilles de Tortisse before arriving at the Col du Fer (view of Mont Viso).
After the Collet de Tortisse, you arrive at the arch, where you can enjoy a splendid panorama of the Lacs de Vens and the peaks of the Trou de l'Âne!
More walks in Isola
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