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Coming from Nice, drive through the village of Saint-Dalmas and park in the car park to the right of the Church of Saint-Dalmas.
(S/E) In this car park, you will find marker 78 next to a fountain and two information panels: one on "the memory trails of the Alpes-Maritimes" and the other on "the Bois Noir discovery trail". Take the tarmac road on the right towards the Col de la Madeleine. Shortly afterwards, you will reach marker 76 in the village.
(1) Turn left towards Col de la Madeleine. After a few metres, the road gives way to a stony path that climbs up to marker 75.
(2) Turn right towards Col de la Madeleine. The path gently winds its way into the forest, becoming and remaining shaded until you reach the summit of Col de la Madeleine. You will arrive at marker 96.
(3) Continue straight ahead, still heading towards Col de la Madeleine. Fir and spruce trees line the path, which leads to marker 124.
(4) Cross the carriageway and continue towards Col de la Madeleine until you reach the next crossroads.
(5) At this junction of the trail and the forest track, cross over and continue straight ahead. The trail branches off to the right for a first hairpin bend and, after a few more hairpin bends, arrives at Col de la Madeleine, marker 97.
(6) Turn right towards Mont Viroulet, initially crossing a grassy area. Then, for about 300 metres, the trail is damaged by forestry machinery before becoming a path again, winding its way through a few trees along the ridge.
(7) Pass Mont Viroulet and continue along the ridge.
(8) The path begins to descend towards the valley. After several hairpin bends, you will reach Col de la Séréna and marker 127. Leave the marker to one side and cross the clearing to reach marker 128 opposite.
(9) To the left of this marker, there is a picnic table and benches. Right next to it, slightly hidden, is the start of the path that leads to the viewpoint. Head towards "Belvédère de la Séréna" and follow the path to reach it.
(10) The forest path gives way to a rocky promontory overlooking the Val de Blore. Take in the magnificent panorama of the villages below. Turn around, descend from the observatory and immediately turn right at the cairn. Return to marker 128 and the Col de la Séréna.
As you approach the road, slightly set back on the left, you will see a Maginot Line fortification. The door is blocked open, allowing you to see inside, which is in good condition.
(9) Back at marker 128, turn right and follow the path down towards Saint-Dalmas. You will arrive at the small pass of Puei, marker 126.
(11) The forest house located at the crossroads is always open to visitors and offers a wealth of interesting information about this forest, from the evolution of the massif to its exploitation. Continue towards Saint-Dalmas along the track. A cairn marks the junction between the track and the path.
(12) Turn left onto this descending path. Near the village, the forest gives way and the stone walls remind us that this path was used by our ancestors for forestry work. You will arrive at a path.
(13) Turn right onto Chemin des Traverses. At the tarmac road, turn right and walk along the dry riverbed to the village of Saint-Dalmas. Enter Saint-Dalmas through the stone entrance to the old village.
(14) Upon entering, turn left under the arcades and follow the Grand Rue. Pass in front of the school to reach the war memorial.
(15) Opposite this monument, take Chemin de la Passerelle, which leads back to the church (S/E).
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