Mont Caume

Superb ascent of Mont Caume, which rises to 801 m, with breathtaking views over Toulon Bay and inland.

Details

492152
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.76 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 566 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 572 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 799 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 238 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the Corps de Garde car park in Évenos.

(S/E) Begin the ascent via the path behind the cistern. Follow this path marked green or blue, heading north-east. Although it is not very well marked, it is difficult to stray from the route.

(1) On the left, a short detour (not shown on the map) takes you to the Grotte des Fées. Then continue your ascent.

(2) At the next fork, continue along the left-hand path uphill until you reach the concrete path.

(3) Turn right onto the access road to the highest point of Mont Caume.

(4) Follow the road uphill to visit the old military site of Caume Est.

(5) Enjoy the magnificent panorama, then retrace your steps.

(4) Stay on the road. At the second bend, take the path to the left of the stone wall. Join the road below and continue on the left. At the bend, leave the road and cross the dirt car park on the left.

(6) Be careful not to follow the most obvious path (straight ahead) but take the path marked in blue on the left. It was not very visible when we passed by. The descent is then quite difficult as it is very stony. Be careful not to slip.

(7) At the clearing and the tarmac road, take the path furthest to the right heading west. This path is not very easy to follow and the Visorando app is very useful here. Join theGR®®51(white and red markings).

(8) Follow theGR®® to the right, heading west-southwest, pass under a power line and join a tarmac road.

(9) At the first crossroads, take the road furthest to the right. Continue, turn right again at the next crossroads and continue to the fork.

(10) Continue straight ahead, then at the hairpin bend, follow theGR®®51markings to the left. Back on the D62, cross over to join theGR®®51opposite. Cross the D62 again and return to the starting point via theGR®®51(S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 396 m - Parking - Col du Corps de Garde (391m)
  2. 1 : km 0.95 - alt. 566 m - Grotte des Fées on the left
  3. 2 : km 1.15 - alt. 590 m - Fork - path on the left
  4. 3 : km 1.65 - alt. 716 m - Cemented path - Mont Caume Ouest (753 m)
  5. 4 : km 1.93 - alt. 708 m - Access road to Mont Caume East
  6. 5 : km 3.05 - alt. 791 m - Mont Caume East - Mont Caume (804m)
  7. 6 : km 5.1 - alt. 568 m - Parking - take the path on the left
  8. 7 : km 6.52 - alt. 282 m - Clearing
  9. 8 : km 6.97 - alt. 276 m - GR51 on the right
  10. 9 : km 7.94 - alt. 273 m - Take the road on the right at the crossroads
  11. 10 : km 8.68 - alt. 248 m - Fourche - GR51 signpost
  12. S/E : km 9.75 - alt. 395 m - Col du Corps de Garde (391m)

Notes

This is a fairly difficult hike due to the elevation and very rocky paths. The descent is more difficult than the ascent.
There are no water sources along the route. The use of walking sticks is strongly recommended.
High-top walking shoes are recommended.

Worth a visit

The old military forts of Caume Ouest and Mont Caume offer magnificent views from Cap Bénat in the east (Le Lavandou) to La Ciotat.

 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.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 16 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
ArthurD
ArthurD
• Edited:

honestly, it's very rare for me to be this disappointed with a hike. I always manage to find the positives and have a good time.
But I really don't understand the point or appeal of this one. If you want to go to Mont Caume, just drive there, seriously.
let me explain: three-quarters of the climb up to the mountain is along tiny paths that resemble dry riverbeds. You spend your time battling with the vegetation, and it's very difficult to use your walking sticks. This makes it twice as physically demanding, with no air and no view.
mont Caume is the only thing worth seeing (very beautiful), then you pass through a forest with no views and very slippery ground, then return to the starting point through places with no views or anything, sometimes along the road. Really disappointed, I don't understand all the other biased comments.
in short, I don't recommend this hike if you want to have any fun at all.

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Babou83
Babou83

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

smooth

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Alain Revello
Alain Revello

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route. An easy climb up Mont Caume. The view from the summit is extraordinary. However, the descent is really tough on the legs. But what great memories.

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champi
champi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

very beautiful itinerary, magnificent panoramic view.

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Bill Carton
Bill Carton

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

What could be better than a 34-degree day on 19 July to start this beautiful hike in the sunshine?

First observation: don't go hiking in these conditions! Anyone would have guessed that! Unless you want to arrive at point 5 red as a tomato! For me, it was now or never, so..

The trail can be done in trainers (in dry weather, not in rainy weather, otherwise you'll have a nightmare: the stones are slippery and unstable in places, which would make the journey quite dangerous), but hiking boots are really more suitable. Trousers are recommended as the path is sometimes (often) narrow and you'll probably get a few superficial scratches if you're wearing shorts. Also take something to protect yourself from insects! A horsefly tried to bite me, but this is true pretty much everywhere!

Starting from the cistern (which you can't miss), we (my 13-year-old son was with me: on this subject, hiking is possible with teenagers who are willing to make the effort! ) took a path behind it. This was not the right one, I think you have to take the first path to the right of the one marked "private property". Anyway, if you make the same mistake as us, you'll find your way back: the vegetation is dense and you'll have no choice but to find the right "road".

As for the markings, frankly, they are generally difficult to read. There is a little blue and mostly green, but I think it's hard to get lost, at least until point 5, where we had to turn back due to lack of time. Speaking of time, to give you a rough idea: d/a to point 5: 1 hour 5 minutes, under the conditions described in the introduction. Point 5 to d/a (downhill): 35 minutes. Bear in mind that we made several stops to take photos and drink water, and that I am far from being in the physical condition of an experienced hiker!
Returning to the signposting, the path itself is well marked, leaving no room for doubt and therefore easy to follow.

As for the rest: well, it's just superb. The panorama unfolds as you climb (that's to encourage you!), and the view of Toulon harbour, Faron, Saint Mandrier, etc. is unique! Not to mention the powerful scent of pine trees that fills the air along the way and the song of the cicadas (if the temperature is right!) that encourages you on your way! Oh, yes! The path alternates between shaded and open areas, so you can stop for shelter at regular intervals.

Enjoy your walk! We hope this helps you a little on your way to point 5!

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Carotline
Carotline

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Great walk! Magnificent view!!!

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cblue
cblue

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

the markings to follow are green, not blue.

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sonot
sonot
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike on Saturday, 27 June 2020, from the start to the two peaks of Mont Caume described. Of military, floral and panoramic interest. Path through thorny undergrowth (trousers recommended). We wanted to do the circular route via the north side? After passing the ladder at the northern corner of the ditch, recent markings (turquoise blue), perhaps for a trail, caused us to miss the fork (marked by a cross of the same colour). As a result, we climbed back up and then descended via the "steep" shortcut cutting across the hairpin bends to end up on the road.

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JO. CHAPELIER
JO. CHAPELIER

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 18, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

very beautiful hike, but be careful on the way back as the descent is difficult

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Binouga
Binouga

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 06, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Lovely walk despite very cloudy weather

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henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

please note that at level 6, the blue trail no longer goes to the left (blue cross and green trail) but continues straight ahead (rough, rutted path) which leads directly to a track and the D62. Take a right and rejoin the GR further on

In this case, you will have routed around the following points: (7), (8), (9), (10)

See you soon!

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THORONGLAPASS
THORONGLAPASS

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 04, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

note that at level 6, the blue trail no longer turns left (blue cross and green trail) but continues straight ahead (rough, rutted path) leading directly to a track and the D62. Turn right here and rejoin the GR further on

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sissiarbanaise
sissiarbanaise

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 14, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Beautiful view at the summit.
Not easy to find the route about two-thirds of the way back.

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sissiarbanaise
sissiarbanaise

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 21, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Good hike with beautiful views from the summit. Couldn't find the route back. We had to take a detour. Allow extra time.

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chesnel yvonnick
chesnel yvonnick

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 09, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Avoid this route in rainy weather. Very slippery ground

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