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The start is from the Col des Portes car park, 8 km east of Vauvenargues, on the D10 towards Rians.
(S/E) Look for the start of a track with a barrier and signs pointing south: this is the path to take as the slope is gentle and easy on old legs. Note that a more direct but steeperGR® trail starts from the second car park a little further on.
(1) Once you reach the first plateau, take the track on the right immediately after passing through a sheep gate. The view of the snow-capped mountains of the Southern Pre-Alps is already superb. Follow this track for a little over 1 km and after a left-hand bend, you will see the Oratoire de Malivert.
(2) Follow the well-markedGR® 9 trail on the right, which will take you to a first ridge above Bau Nègre. Continue straight ahead on the gently ascending path and stop on the right at Garagaï de Cagoloup, a rather interesting chasm.
(3) A little further on, leave the path on your right, which will be the return route, and continue straight ahead to the Pic des Mouches, a summit equipped with an orientation table and an anemometer.
(4) Retrace your steps for about 250 m.
(3) Turn left onto the path that leads back to the Col des Portes. Despite the presence of several trails on the map, stay on the main path; it is impossible to go wrong. The descent is steeper and more uneven than the climb, but nothing too difficult.
(5) When you reach the D10 at the pass, cross the road and directly opposite, start a small climb marked with yellow arrows.
(6) After 400 m, turn left onto a path marked by several small cairns. At an elevation of 683 m, an old sheepfold borders the cliff. Join the path a little further down and tackle a first climb, then a second one that leads to the Citadelle, a cliff offering views of Sainte-Victoire.
(7) Continue along the path for 500 m until you come to a half-destroyed cairn on the right.
(8) Turn right to begin the descent that leads back to the track serving the Sinne observatory, which you can visit if you wish by making a detour to the left.
(9) Turn right onto the track and after 1.5 km you will rejoin the D10. Drive carefully up the hill to the right to return to the car park (S/E).
Visorando Member
Difficult 
Easy 
