The Crête de l’Estret, the Cirque des Pételins and the Vallon de Chalabran

Park at the Col de la Gineste. Use the shaded car park on the right-hand side when coming from Marseille and on the left-hand side when coming from Cassis.

(S/E) Head towards the pass along the path running alongside the departmental road and make your way to the signpost next to the information board about the Calanques National Park and the regulations in force on the site.

Red and green markings

Take the wide, stony path branching off to the left. After running almost flat for a while, the path climbs steeply to a high point, then levels out again before reaching a junction that is not very clearly marked on the ground.

Red Markings

(1) Leave the green markings and continue straight on; you will very quickly reach another junction marked by a large, shapeless pile of stones serving as a cairn. Keep to the left, and further on you will come out onto a track suitable for vehicles; follow this to the left, downhill, to the bottom of the valley. Then leave the track and turn right onto a path that enters a narrow valley lined with pine trees; you will soon reach a three-way junction at the foot of a small rock face (markings on the ground and on the rock face).

Red + Green + Blue markings

(2) Head left to reach another junction with markings on a rock on the ground.

Red + Blue markings

(3) Ignore the green markings and continue straight on. The valley narrows and the path eventually comes to a rocky ridge that blocks the way. This is followed by a very steep, winding climb with a few rocky sections where you’ll need to use your hands. You’ll emerge onto the ridge at a large cairn; continue past it for about twenty metres to reach a wide cross-country track.

Yellow markings

(4) Turn left to follow this track, which winds gently along the Crête de l’Estret , offering superb views of Cassis and Cap Canaille. Pass a huge cairn on your left and continue, alternating between gentle ascents and descents, until you approach the 440-metre mark.

No markings

(5) Look out for the cairn on the right-hand side marking the start of the Cirque des Pételins path. Turn right here and begin the descent, following the well-marked path on the ground which draws closer to the rock face and runs alongside it. The going is tricky on very unstable ground on the steep sections due to loose stones rolling underfoot: caution is advised. After a short, easy section of scrambling downwards, the path splits in two: take the left-hand path, which is better marked and easier to follow, and eventually joins the thalweg path at a large cairn.

(6) Turn left to follow this winding path which descends the Vallon des Rampes and leads out onto a track opposite a large, solitary pine tree.

(7) Continue in the same direction and head straight on until you reach the junction with the access path to the Calanque d’en Vau.

Red markings

(8) Turn left. At a hairpin bend to the right, the path becomes tarmac and climbs steeply, winding through a series of hairpin bends.

Brown markings

(9) Turn left onto a stony path which climbs straight up the slope and then levels out after a 90° bend to the left. Follow the path as it curves widely to the right (the path branching off to the left no longer exists on the ground) and you’ll come out onto a cross-country track.

Yellow markings

(10) Turn right, pass the underground cistern no. 27 and continue until you reach a forest gate giving access to the vast open space of the Col de la Gardiole, where the tarmac road of the same name intersects with several tracks and paths. Head left towards a marker post.

Red and Green Markings

(11) Take the path starting at the foot of this post. Cross the Route de la Gardiole twice, ignore a path branching off to the right, and reach a junction located on a bend and marked by a stone with signposting.

Green Markings

Leave the main path and the red markings, which continue to the right. Head straight on along a much narrower path which joins the Route de la Gardiole one last time opposite a forest gate.

(12) Cross over and go round this barrier to follow the wide track, which is suitable for vehicles but closed to traffic, as it winds almost flat through the Vallon de Chalabran, in the shade of the pine trees.

(13) Turn right onto the narrow path, the start of which is marked by two cairns and a green marker. After an initial very steep climb, the path levels out and runs along the hillside, alternating between flat sections and short, awkward, stony inclines, before reaching the first junction from the outward journey.

Red + Green markings

(1) Turn right and follow the ascent route back to the car park where you started (S/E).

As is the case throughout the Calanques Massif, there are a great many different types of trail markings, often overlapping: no fewer than five different types of markings on this route. This can make it difficult to find your way. The route description and the GPX track will therefore be essential.

Hiking boots with good, deep-treaded soles are strongly recommended. Walking poles will be useful on the downhill sections, particularly in the Cirque des Pételins.

There is no water along the route. Please bring plenty with you.

Some very steep sections, both uphill and downhill, must be tackled with care. This is particularly the case:

• between (3) and (4): you will need to use your hands.
• between (5) and (6): a very unstable, stony path on the steep downhill sections. Short section requiring downclimbing.

Calanques National Park