Lac de Sainte-Croix - Tour de Bauduen

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Here I suggest a variation on a route in Bauduen that is already on the site. The start is more easily accessible for hikers coming from the north. This variation also avoids the rocky area to the north-west of the route while offering beautiful views of Lake Sainte-Croix.

Details

n°34071758
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.55 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 437 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 445 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 697 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 475 m
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Photos

Above Bauduen
Ste Croix beach (Bauduen)
Ste Croix beach
Breach in the rocky ridge

Description of the walk

Access to the car park is at altitude 509 on the D957. Coming from the north, 2 km after the Ermitage hotel, take a track on the right and follow it for about 150 m to the car park.

(S/E) From the car park, head west on the wide track that leads to Lac de Sainte-Croix. You will reach a track junction at point 489.

(1) Continue straight ahead onto theGR®99-GRP® trail, keeping the lake on your right. Continue along the lake on a beautiful track for about 2 km until you reach an intersection marked by a post. This section offers beautiful views of the lake and the Île de Coste-Belle.

(2) Take theGPR® - yellow/red markings that climb to the left towards the south. It is a steep climb through sparse vegetation on a stony path to the ridge. Throughout the climb and on the ridge, there are beautiful panoramic views of the lake and the surrounding hills. You will reach a Y-junction marked by a post.

(3) Continue to the right on the ridge for about 700 m before beginning the descent.

(4) Easily cross the rocky outcrop through a beautiful gate formed by a break in the rocks. Continue downhill on theGRP® to a small intersection of tracks.

(5) Leave theGRP® and follow the path to the right, heading north towards the lake shore, until you reach a beautiful track.

(6) Turn right and descend gently through the woods to reach the wide lakeside track.

(7) Turn left and follow this track to reach the water sports centre and the beautiful beach away from the village of Bauduen, where you can picnic and swim.

(8) Then return to the village via the track. At the roundabout, turn left onto Rue Grande.

(9) Turn left and then immediately right to follow Rue du Grand Four, which crosses the village.

(10) Turn left onto a small road which becomes a wide track after a barrier. Walk along the Caletty Gorge and continue on theGR® to the BDN7 cistern.

(11) Continue left and finish the climb on the sameGR® to the 697 metre contour line.

(12) The track turns into a long, steep descent through the woods on a stony path that must be approached with great caution. Reach the intersection at the edge of the lake.

(1) Turn right and retrace your steps to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 511 m - Parking is available along the D957
  2. 1 : km 1.34 - alt. 491 m - Crossing of the circular
  3. 2 : km 4.01 - alt. 479 m - Intersection, on the left - Verdon (rivière)
  4. 3 : km 5.18 - alt. 651 m - Y-junction
  5. 4 : km 7.07 - alt. 597 m - Passage through the rocky outcrop
  6. 5 : km 7.33 - alt. 548 m - Trail intersection, abandoning the GRP
  7. 6 : km 7.64 - alt. 514 m - Track intersection
  8. 7 : km 8 - alt. 482 m - Riverbank trail
  9. 8 : km 9.18 - alt. 480 m - Beach - Lac de Sainte-Croix
  10. 9 : km 9.54 - alt. 489 m - Grand Rue, on the left
  11. 10 : km 9.7 - alt. 507 m - Fork to the left
  12. 11 : km 11.53 - alt. 643 m - Cistern
  13. 12 : km 12.34 - alt. 697 m - Côte 697, start of the descent.
  14. S/E : km 15.55 - alt. 511 m - Parking is available along the D957

Notes

This hike does not present any technical difficulties. However, the uphill and downhill sections are often on stony paths that can be slippery. The use of walking sticks is therefore recommended.

The route is often shaded. However, bring water with you as there are no water sources along the route.

The hike is well marked: white and red markings for theGR® and yellow and red for the GRP®.
The main intersections are marked with posts.

Worth a visit

Lake Sainte-Croix and the village of Bauduen.

 Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 13 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Neof
Neof

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Completed at the end of September 2025, the route is very pleasant and quite varied, with a few slightly more technical sections (rocky descents) but nothing too difficult.
I did it in reverse, as recommended in previous comments, and had no trouble finding my way, but I use GPS and the markings were fairly easy to follow.
There are beautiful views of the lake and you can cool off several times if you wish. There are quite a few shaded areas.
Very few people at this time of year.

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saacha007
saacha007

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I also enjoyed doing the route in reverse (as suggested below) because the uphill section is in the shade, unlike the direction indicated. The only difference is that I followed the coastal path from 7 (to reach 2 directly) instead of the "Garuby" path, andthat on the lake side at 3, it gets complicated: the path becomes unclear and challenging, forcing you to climb rocks and sharp limestone pavements - nothing dangerous, but you need to be an experienced walker, without dogs or children, and not afraid to improvise in the heath to reach the yellow marked trail ("Garuby"). I really loved it, it added a fun element to the beauty. But at the time, we were walking on an adventure
There are some beautiful views of the lake, and I recommend continuing (at least a little) beyond 7 because the beaches are gorgeous, and a dip or two makes the hike even more enjoyable. Don't forget to pack your swimsuit and microfibre towel!
I did this on 1 August and didn't see many people (except in Baudeuen, a charming village with lots of restaurants). With swimming and reading, I stayed the whole day and was completely satisfied.
Red and yellow + yellow markings, then only yellow at the lake shore + Garuby.

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cordi rocco
cordi rocco

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

As I read in another comment, I did the same thing, that is to say that at point 1, I headed towards point 12. The path through the woods spared us the climb from point 10 to point 12 in the afternoon sun with the first heat of the day. At point 7, we followed the edge of the lake to point 2 and rejoined the GR998 trail.

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degavroche
degavroche

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We followed the old GR99B trail, which is now unmarked. The path runs so close to the lake that one day it will collapse. Some sections appear to be slightly overhanging above the water. The GRP offers a more sustainable option. Beautiful views and pleasant walking. Beware of sharp limestone pavement if the ground is wet.

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charlieche
charlieche

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

very busy in summer. nearby date, rare hikers

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Pascale Voituron
Pascale Voituron

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I checked out this hike on Saturday, 12 October. There weren't many people around. The trail is very well marked and the village of Bauduen is beautiful. As I read it, I recommend doing this hike in the opposite direction: that means that from point 1, it's better to follow the GR 99 and go via point 12 to the village of Bauduen. If you do it as indicated, there is a long climb from the village (from point 10 to point 12). Then, from point 12, there is a steep, rocky descent, followed by another climb, and then it goes up to the car park! When you're exhausted and have stopped for a bit in the village, it's really nice!
If you do it in the opposite direction, you'll be fresh for the climb and then the descent to the village. It then climbs from point 5 to point 4, but there are no pitfalls, then descends from point 3 to point 2, but there are no pitfalls there either (it descends over large rock slabs). Then it's flat to point 1, followed by a short climb to the car park. Out of season, I didn't do points 6, 7 and 8. It took me 6½ hours, stopping for lunch and spending very little time visiting the village. Just so you know...

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pepinet
pepinet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, fairly easy hike with beautiful views of the magnificent Lake Ste Croix, where you can also go swimming.

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tony22
tony22

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike along part of the lake where you can take a dip at point number 2 before heading back up and descending to Bauduen

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BiiDii
BiiDii
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The descent on the return leg of the circular is mainly through forest, so there are few views. Taking the circular in the other direction offers the best views of the lake in the second half of the route, with a perhaps more difficult start uphill but an easier finish along the lake before gently climbing back up to the car park.

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Frapar
Frapar

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very interesting route.
Magnificent view of the lake with beautiful light to boot

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Onkel Erich
Onkel Erich

is it feasible with a dog?

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manonroro
manonroro

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk starting from the village of Bauduen. No particular difficulty. Best done outside the summer months.

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mike78rando
mike78rando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I can confirm that it gets very hot on the way back in direct sunlight. Make sure you take plenty of water with you.
The hike is very pleasant.

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Nini685
Nini685
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant, well-marked hike. Take care when it is very sunny and hot, as there is little shade. There are several places where you can stop for a swim.
Apart from the heat, there are no difficulties

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