Col Garnier from the hamlet of Gros

Park above the hamlet of Gros.

(S/E) Follow the forest track north-east; it is marked in red and white, the colours of^{the GR®541}. At a place called La Deuxième Batterie, you’ll come to a junction of paths in a bend near the Torrent de la Reynaude.

(1) Ignore the path on the left and continue along the track to Les Chalanches, where the track ends.

(2) Directly beneath the power line, take the path on the left, which is still marked in red and white. Reach and then cross the Torrent de la Valette further down (a tricky crossing). You’ll come to a spring gushing like a fountain.

(3) Continue eastwards. You will reach Les Girards.

(4) Cross them and arrive at a clearing near the Cabane du Touroudet.
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(5) Continue through the mountain pastures to reach a plateau called Pré Fonza. A sign indicates 2,160 m.

(6) Carry on straight ahead due north to reach Col Garnier, the highest point of the walk. Enjoy a lovely view of the Furfande chalets from here.

(7) Return along the same path to the previous junction.

(6) Turn onto the path on the right, cross several dry streams and reach a junction; take the path on the left which leads to the Cabane de la Valette (a former sheepfold).

(8) Continue down the path alongside the Valette torrent.
The path is sometimes covered with scree carried down by the stream. Keep heading south, then south-west. You will reach the crossing point over the stream.

(9) Cross it carefully via a sloping crossing. Continue the descent southwards along the right bank of the stream. You’ll reach another junction of paths.

(10) Turn right towards Grand Coulet; there is a yellow sign on the rock. You’ll reach another fork in the path.

(11) Take the steep shortcut on the left which leads back to the junction by the Reynaude stream taken on the way out.

(1) Turn right back onto the route you took on the way there to return via the forest track to the starting car park at Le Gros (S/E).

You can reach Gros from Eygliers via a narrow but tarmac-surfaced road (the D37L, also^{the GR®541}) which overlooks the Guil Gorges
Car park in the hamlet of Gros (1,385 m), at the start of the forest road.
At the start or finish, you can fill your water bottles at the fountain with its mushroom-shaped spout, situated in the centre of the hamlet.
Although there is a spring on the first part of the route (see description), it is advisable to bring enough water to last the entire walk.

For history buffs, the hamlet of Le Gros has been in use since 1692: troops from Marshal de Catinat’s French army set up camp there to monitor and combat the army of the Duke of Savoy. From this high vantage point on the border with Italy, defensive batteries were installed there during the Second World War.
Today, let’s take the time to visit the Saint-Barthélémy Chapel and admire the sundials as we stroll through the streets of this picturesque site, which has been tastefully restored.