A round trip to La Tête de la Clape from Matacharre

Head to La Roche-des-Arnauds via the D994, then follow signs for the village centre. Continue on the D418, following the signs for ‘Les Roux – Les Baux’ for just under 2 km. At the large hairpin bend, take the Route Forestière de Matacharre (a dirt track but passable by car), which climbs gently to the left towards the north-west. Pass the junction leading to the hamlet of Les Revioures, and continue along the track opposite until you reach the junction of the Conode track and the track to the Matacharre Forest House (where there is a water tank).

Alternatively, you can avoid driving onto the track by parking on the right-hand side of the road, at the large hairpin bend to the right, and then walking up the Matacharre Forest Road (RF).

(S/E) Take the track that climbs to the right towards the Col de Conode. After about 2 km, pass an ONF barrier (parking available just before it).

(1) Continue up the track until you reach a clear area with a crossroads.

(2) Take the track leading uphill to the right towards the Col de Garcinel, heading south-east, leaving the Col de Conode track straight ahead. The climb to the Col de Garcinel is gentle.

(3) Turn left onto the path leading uphill (cairn), heading north-east. Leave the track and follow this path, which runs along the Crête de la Clape. Stay on the ridge until you spot a large, clearly visible cairn.

(4) Continue along the ridge path opposite, heading north, and ignore the path on the right which cuts across the hillside towards the Col des Roux. Climb to the summit of La Clape, marked by three large cairns. N.B. You may need to use your hands on some rocky sections.

(5) Follow the ridge path down towards the Col des Roux, heading east. Continue for less than a kilometre, staying on the ridge as far as possible, until you reach the path junction at the edge of the forest.

(6) Turn right onto the hillside path, heading west. This ‘Crête de Clappe to Col de Cabrette’ path passes beneath the Tête de la Clappe.

(4) Continue left to the Col de Garcinel (3) and take the track on the right to descend due north to the Route Forestière du Col de Conode (elevation 1624).

(2) Take the forest road that descends to the left, ignoring the one leading up to the Col de Conode, to reach the junction with the Matacharre track (S/E).

There are no water points along the route. There are fountains at the Matacharre Forest House and in the village of La Roche-des-Arnauds.

(6) Shelter is available at the Col des Roux hut (it is always open).

The most difficult part of the route is along the ridge, as you approach the Tête de la Clappe. N.B. You may need to use your hands in certain rocky sections.

The forest road at the start is quite long and rather uninteresting. To avoid walking this section, you can drive along it (although the road’s passability is uncertain) and park in the small car park at the junction of the Route de Matacharre and the Route du Col de Conode (3.2 km and 280 m lower in elevation), or even at the car park in front of the ONF barrier, just before the Clot de Piarrou junction (5.5 km and 550 m lower in elevation).

The Matacharre forest site is home to two renovated ONF lodges (sleeping 6 and 12) in the Sauvas state-owned forest. Overlooking the Rif de l’Arc torrent, it is a secluded spot, tucked away in the vast pine woods that cover the southern slope of the Pic de Bure.

(6) At the Col des Roux, you can see a ‘cabrette’ and a small restored hut. Further period ‘cabrettes’ can be seen further along the path as it descends due north.
These structures bear witness to a common practice in forestry during the 1930s: cable transport. A ‘cabrette’ is the common name given to the post that supports the cable, and this one has been partially restored by Pierre Para.

At the Col de Conode (a ‘revolutionary’ French pass, as it stands at 1,789 m), you can:
- reach the Gîte des Sauvas (ONF lodge) by taking the GRP® 94 Tour du Dévoluy via the Col de Matacharre (signposted west).
- climb to the Sommet des Templiers (1,962 m) by following the path on the left heading north-west (approximately 800 m there and back – elevation gain 170 m).