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

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A challenging circular in Sainte-Victoire 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:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.48 km
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 3 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Very difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 585 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 580 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 959 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 405 m
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Photos

The Hermitage Goats...
Remarkable geological profile with its vertical "strata".
Saint Ser Chapel

Description of the walk

Park your vehicle in the Saint-Ser car park.
(S/E) From the car park, take the path towards the Hermitage of Saint-Ser, indicated 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. Leave a green marked path on the right and continue to a fork.

(1) A large slab indicates a brown trail on the left and a red trail to the right. Continue to the right to reach the Hermitage.
The red trail starts again below the chapel via a steep passage where two sets of chains help you climb. Below the Grotte des Champignons, which is no longer equipped with chains following a fatal accident, the trail branches off to the left below the vegetation and leads to a scree slope that you will need to climb.

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

Red and whiteGR® markings

(3) When you reach the ridge, join theGR®9, which goes right towards Pic des Mouche and Puyloubier and left towards Croix de Provence. Follow theGR® to the left for about 600 metres to Col de Vauvenargues.

Black markings

(4) A large cairn marks the Col de Vauvenargues and the black marked trail starts from this cairn. Turn left and descend quickly down the mountainside to reach a scree slope that you will have to descend for about a hundred metres.

(5) The trail emerges from the scree on the left into vegetation. The path is not always very visible. Cross another scree slope, then take an easy descent to reach a final scree slope. At the bottom of this slope, you will join the brown trail.

Brown markings

(6) Take the brown marked trail on the left and follow it to the intersection at the top of the climb.

Red markings

(1) At the intersection with the red trail, turn right to descend back to the car park and the starting point.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 405 m - Saint-Ser car park
  2. 1 : km 1.32 - alt. 608 m - Hermitage of Saint-Ser
  3. 2 : km 1.75 - alt. 820 m - Cairn, follow the red marked path on the left.
  4. 3 : km 1.95 - alt. 927 m - Col de Saint-Ser
  5. 4 : km 2.76 - alt. 920 m - Col de Vauvenargues
  6. 5 : km 3.02 - alt. 774 m - Exit from the scree slope
  7. 6 : km 3.45 - alt. 593 m - At the junction, take the brown trail on the left.
  8. S/E : km 5.48 - alt. 405 m - Saint-Ser car park

Notes

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
Olivier-S

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.

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hostey
hostey

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.

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BackPacker
BackPacker
• Edited:

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.

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gibou7
gibou7

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.

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cezens15
cezens15

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.

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ptit coeur
ptit coeur

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.

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Netra
Netra ★

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.

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Sheriff44
Sheriff44

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.

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sage@petitfute.com
sage@petitfute.com

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.

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J?rôme
J?rôme

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.

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babybelle
babybelle
• Edited:

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

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chatissimus
chatissimus

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

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LaFeda868
LaFeda868

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!

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