The Sainte-Victoire circular via the Cols de Saint-Ser and Vauvenargues

A challenging circular walk in the Sainte-Victoire mountains, starting from the Saint-Ser car park. The ascent is via the Col de Saint-Ser and the descent via the Col de Vauvenargues.
The Saint-Ser ‘black’ trail is closed from 1 February to 15 July 2023 (between 4 and 6). See practical information.

Details

n°176757

Creation:
15 Nov 2015

Last update:
02 Sep 2026

Last review:
04 May 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 3.40 mi
Duration according to the author: 3 hrs
Difficulty: Very difficult
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 1,919 ft
Descent: - 1,903 ft
Highest point: 3,146 ft
Lowest point: 1,329 ft

Country: France
Area: Sainte-Victoire (Massif)
City: Puyloubier (13114)
Start/End: N 43.528007° / E 5.64324°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3244ET, 3344OT
Hour-by-hour weather

Avalanche risk assessment bulletin

Discover Visorando Premium

Downloads

Open in the mobile app

Download GPX GPX

Download PDF PDF

Photos

Description of the walk

Park your car in the Saint-Ser car park.
(Start/Finish) From the car park, take the path towards the Ermitage de Saint-Ser, signposted by a sign.

Red markings

The path runs alongside a meadow on the left and passes the Relais Saint-Ser on the right. It climbs gently towards the Hermitage of Saint-Ser. Ignore a green-marked path on the right and continue until you reach a junction.

(1) On a large slab, a brown trail is signposted to the left and the red trail to the right. Continue to the right to reach the Hermitage.
The Red trail continues below the chapel via a steep section where two sets of chains aid your progress. Beneath the Grotte des Champignons – access to which is no longer equipped with chains following a fatal accident – the trail veers left beneath the vegetation and emerges onto a scree slope that you will need to climb.

(2) At a large cairn in the middle of the scree slope, there is a sign indicating a path marked with red dots on the right and the Red Trail on the left. Continue to follow the Red Trail on the left, which leaves the scree slope and climbs towards the ridge and the Col de Saint-Ser.

^GR®® red and white markings

(3) On reaching the ridge, join the^GR®®9, which leads to the right towards the Pic des Mouche and Puyloubier and to the left towards the Croix de Provence. Follow the^GR®® to the left for about 600 metres to the Col de Vauvenargues.

Black markings

(4) A large cairn marks the Col de Vauvenargues, and the black-marked path starts from this cairn. Turn left and descend rapidly along the mountainside to reach a scree slope, which you’ll need to descend for about a hundred metres.

(5) The path emerges to the left of the scree into the vegetation. The route is not always very visible. Cross another scree slope, then take a relatively easy descent which leads to a final scree slope. At the bottom of this, you’ll join the Brown-marked path.

Brown markings

(6) Take the Brown-marked path on the left and follow it to the junction where it crosses the ascent.

Red markings

(1) At the junction with the Red trail, turn right to head back down towards the car park and the starting point.

Waypoints

S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,329 ft - Saint-Ser car park
1 : mi 0.82 - alt. 1,995 ft - Saint-Ser Hermitage
2 : mi 1.09 - alt. 2,690 ft - Cairn: follow the red-marked path to the left
3 : mi 1.21 - alt. 3,041 ft - Col de Saint-Ser
4 : mi 1.72 - alt. 3,018 ft - Col de Vauvenargues
5 : mi 1.88 - alt. 2,539 ft - Exit from the scree slope
6 : mi 2.15 - alt. 1,946 ft - At the junction, take the brown trail on the left
S/E : mi 3.4 - alt. 1,329 ft - Saint-Ser car park

Notes

Temporary closure of the Sainte-Ser black trail:
https://www.grandsitesaintevictoire.com/...

A very difficult hike with some exposed sections and steep ascents and descents over scree.

Please note: from 1 June to 30 September, access to the mountain range may be restricted: further information: http://www.ancien.paca.gouv.fr/files/mas...

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5

Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5

Route interest
5 / 5

Olivier-S

04 May 2025 at 19:49 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,

Hike completed on 29 April 2025 by two people, round trip via the red trail (then red dotted line to Pic des Mouches, altitude 1011m), the circular planned by the itinerary with descent via the black and brown trails being impossible at this time of year as these two trails are closed from 1 February to 15 July to protect seasonal nesting sites.
(See https://www.grandsitesaintevictoire.com/...)
Please note that for those who would like to do a variant circular with a return via the green trail further east (Vallon de la Tine), the latter was closed during our hike due to a rockslide (and the closure seemed to be indicated and protected with nets for some time to come?!).
The ascent route is spectacular, but with passages exposed to the risk of falls (by hikers) and, above all, the risk of rockfalls! We were there on a weekday and alone on the trail beyond the chapel, but we would have been less confident with hikers below and above us in this second section. Wearing helmets might be a good idea... This section is also strongly discouraged in case of rain, which would make the descent very slippery and dangerous.
In any case, make sure you have good shoes for the mandatory passages over small scree...
This route is also not recommended in summer, as the south face can be extremely hot. (Even in April, we each emptied our 1-litre water bottles!)
But in good conditions, as we had, the trail is unique, superb, and undoubtedly the most direct route to the highest points of La Sainte Victoire.

So be prepared and careful!

Enjoy your walks!
Olivier.

Machine-translated

hostey

04 Mar 2025 at 13:04 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The SV offers us more magnificent passages... I think it's the easiest of the very difficult ones (but be careful anyway) with a few tricky passages.
A must-do.

Machine-translated

BackPacker

27 Jan 2025 at 12:10 3600 • Edited: 27 Jan 2025 at 12:13 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

As always, the southern slope of Sainte Victoire is difficult, with its share of scree, rocks and chains.
We wanted to return via the green route but found that it was closed from 1 January.
We climbed the Bau de l'Aigle to enjoy a 360° view of the landscape, then headed back towards the Col de Vauvenargues and joined the brown trail via the black route (which was open according to information we received by telephone that morning).
When we reached the brown trail, we saw the closure notice for 1 January to 15 July!
Clear, visible signage – like on ski slopes, for example – at the main car parks would be welcome.
This path is difficult and requires the utmost attention.
We were too confident. A quick look at the website www.grandsitesaintevictoire.com would have saved us this disappointment.

Machine-translated

gibou7

29 Nov 2023 at 10:37 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This hike is not particularly difficult, as there are no highly technical sections and the effort required to climb is moderate.
However, it is advisable to wear shoes with soft soles and crampons, as the descent involves quite a steep drop over scree and can be quite slippery.

Machine-translated

cezens15

15 Feb 2021 at 08:21 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Please note that the black route is closed every year from January to August due to bird breeding season.

Machine-translated

ptit coeur

14 Mar 2020 at 21:32 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely walk, with some nice climbs.

Machine-translated

Netra

10 Dec 2019 at 21:32 3600

Hello Sheriff44, and thank you for your comments.

A more detailed description of the route would be welcome.

Does this comment apply to the entire route, or are there certain sections that are more affected than others? How can we improve the description? Thank you in advance.

Machine-translated

Sheriff44

10 Dec 2019 at 21:08 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 08, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A physically demanding hike in the upper reaches of a magnificent environment. A more detailed description of the route would be welcome.

Machine-translated

sage@petitfute.com

19 Nov 2018 at 08:21 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 19, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Superb hike in beautiful mid-November weather.
As seniors, it took us 4½ hours (excluding breaks), and we got lost on the descent from the Col de Vauvenargues, despite the warning in the description. The black markings are inadequate: a cross could have been placed at the end of the scree slope and a clearly visible mark for those descending to turn left at the right time. Do not set off without a GPS!
Thank you for this hike, which I would simply describe as DIFFICULT.

Machine-translated

J?rôme

26 Dec 2017 at 18:02 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 23, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike on 23 December in bright sunshine, climbing via the route green at La Tine.
At that time, the descent via the Col de Vauvenargues was open.

Machine-translated

babybelle

10 May 2017 at 08:41 7200 • Edited: 10 May 2017 at 08:43 7200

Hello, we went hiking this weekend, it was great! Once we reached the ridges, we headed for the Pic des Mouches and came back down via the green trail, the Vallon de la Tine. Fantastic scenery, a beautiful circular!
Happy hiking, everyone!
Babybelle

Machine-translated

chatissimus

13 Jun 2016 at 21:48 7200

Hello,

I am sorry for the disappointment, but I edited the listing at the end of winter to indicate that the GSSV had temporarily closed access to the Vauvenargues Pass.

Cedric

Machine-translated

LaFeda868

13 Jun 2016 at 17:22 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike that I only did partially because I like to extend my walks, but also and above all because the COL DE VAUVENARGUES IS CLOSED at the moment!

Machine-translated