Mont Gibaou, Baou Redon and the Grotte des Janots from Cassis

This hike from Cassis will take you to Mont Gibaou and Baou Redon between Cassis and Roquefort-La-Bédoule, following old orange markings in some places. These viewpoints offer a 360° view of the Calanques, the Etoile mountain range, the Garlaban, the Sainte-Baume massif, La Ciotat and the Gulf of Love, and the Bay of Cassis. You will descend through the Bois de la Marcouline and visit the Grotte des Janots, an ideal cave for exploring the underground world.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.39 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 374 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 369 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 401 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 103 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The starting point is located in the bend at the entrance to the Colongues railway tunnel (on the right when coming from Cassis on the D1 towards Les Janots). Several parking spaces are available at the entrance to the track.

(S/E) Take a wide track heading east, which is concrete at the start. It gradually turns north-east, passing over the Colongues Tunnel towards Mont Gibaou.

(1) After about 400m, leave the track at a rock marked with an orange cross and turn right onto the rutted path descending south-east.
After 80m, take a path climbing to the left (marked with orange and blue dots) which joins a track after 300m. Follow this track on your right for about 200m until you reach a reservoir.

(2) Shortly before the reservoir, leave the track and take a path on the right that descends to the north-east (orange marker) and then gradually turns north as it climbs. This path is steep in places (there are old ropes) but is not exposed and you will not need to use your hands.

Follow it to an area of sharp limestone pavement and continue straight ahead north (cairns, orange markers) to the summit of Mont Gibaou. Continue following the trail, skirting the ridge eastwards and gradually descending to a small pass.

(3) Take a path on the right that descends slightly southwards for 50m. Leave it and follow a path on the left that climbs slightly to a crossroads bordered by a large pine tree.

Option: Take the path (west) along the cliff to a small cave about 2m high where a plaque has been placed in honour of the poet Frédéric Mistral and his character Calendal, who was in love with the fairy Estérelle. Then retrace your steps.

(4) Take the path on the right, marked with blue dots and cairns, and join a sharp limestone pavement which you climb up to the summit of Baou Redon, marked by a bamboo pole.

Continue along the path towards the east until you reach a small pass (sky blue dot on the left at the edge of the cliff and dark blue dot on the right on the path).

(5) Descend via a short, easy climb down the rocky outcrop about 3 m high bordering the north of the small pass. You will reach a path at the edge of the cliff, which you follow to the right (east) for about ten metres until you reach a cairn marking the start of a path descending to the left (north). Follow this very steep dirt path to the trail below Baou Redon, which you follow to the right (east).

Alternative route:
If you do not wish to take this route, follow the same path you took on the way up in the opposite direction until you reach the previous crossroads (4).
Turn right, heading north-east, and continue on the path below the Baou Redon promontory.

Follow this path along the edge of the cliff above Roquefort-La-Bédoule until you reach a forest track (there are remains of a threshing area). Turn right and follow the forest track south-southwest towards Cassis. About 450m after the track, on the right, the Source de la Ratataigne flows intermittently during wet periods.

After about 1.3 km, leave the track and take a path on the right to join a track that you follow on the right (sign on a tree on the right). Follow this track, pass the entrance to a property on the right (Clos de la Renardière) and continue for about 150 m.

(6) Leave the track and take a path on the right heading west (cairn, orange signpost). Follow this narrow path (not shown on the iGN map) which descends gradually to join a path at the entrance to a tunnel under the railway line.

Optional access to the Grotte des Janots:
Take the path opposite, climbing the railway embankment for about 20m (vertical steel stake) and continue to the right for about ten metres until you reach the entrance to the Grotte des Janots (which can be visited). Descend by the same route to the tunnel entrance.

Take the tunnel to pass under the railway line and, after about 20 metres, take the path up to the right until you reach a concrete hydraulic structure (orange signpost). Follow the path or forest track along the canal.

(7) After about 400 metres, at a manhole marked with an orange dot and an orange direction change sign, turn right into a recently cut path that climbs to the right (north-west), marked with orange dots, until you reach a junction, then continue straight ahead, slightly downhill, following the orange dots to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 135 m - Entrance to the track at the Colongues tunnel)
  2. 1 : km 0.42 - alt. 157 m - Turn right onto the path descending to the south-east
  3. 2 : km 0.98 - alt. 218 m - Turn right onto the path climbing north-east
  4. 3 : km 2.03 - alt. 364 m - Small pass below Mont Gibaou
  5. 4 : km 2.3 - alt. 381 m - Access trail to Baou Redon
  6. 5 : km 2.55 - alt. 393 m - Small pass
  7. 6 : km 4.95 - alt. 198 m - Leave the track and take the path on the right
  8. 7 : km 6.16 - alt. 119 m - Turn right
  9. S/E : km 6.39 - alt. 135 m - Entrance to the track at the Colongues tunnel

Notes

FFRando rating: E2/T3/R2

(5) At the bottom of the rocky outcrop, you can also follow the path on the left (west) along the cliff for about 300 metres to rejoin the original route, which you follow on the right (east). This alternative route is more scenic than the original and easier, especially in wet weather.

(7) The start of this path is in a cleared area above the embankment bordering the recently dug track (increased water supply to La Ciotat). It is not easy to find. Follow the GPS track or your stopwatch to estimate the distance. If you miss this trail, continue along the track until you reach the road, which you then follow to the right until you reach the car park.

Worth a visit

Visit to the Janots Cave
No special equipment is required to visit the cave, except for a suitable torch (preferably a head torch). Children can visit the cave.
Access to the entrance requires an easy climb down of about 1.5 m. A handrail attached to the bushes opposite the entrance can be installed.
The path inside the cave is easy to follow and can be walked through in both directions, except for a slight dip in the ceiling 20 m from the entrance and the access to the bottom of the cave 175 m from the entrance.
The gently sloping gallery looks like a penstock, with two water inlets in the ceiling and micro-gours visible. The water flows to the bottom of the cave, which is blocked by a clay plug.
N.B. The time indicated does not take into account the duration of the visit.

Oppidum du Baou Redon
(5) From the small pass, continuing along the path marked with blue dots, you reach the remains of an oppidum, a fortification built on a ridge where the population could take refuge and defend themselves against invaders. The site was probably occupied in Neolithic times, but the remains of this fortified settlement suggest that it was inhabited by the Celto-Ligurian people who occupied the region before the arrival of the Greeks and Romans. The most visible remains are a long low wall running perpendicular to the edge of the cliff.
At the end of the trail, you will reach a small viewpoint above La Bédoule. Take the path in the opposite direction to continue the hike.

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 69 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
bernard coulomb
bernard coulomb

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short circular loop, but challenging nonetheless, with varied terrain through sometimes dense vegetation, offering beautiful views once you reach the ridge. After the descent, we skirted the cliff on the right along a narrow path that leads back to the Visorando trail a little further on. No particular physical difficulty.
The GPX helps you get back on track as there are many opportunities for error.

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Joe Dewez
Joe Dewez

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

In areas with sharp limestone pavement, you need to pay close attention to the painted markings, and GPS helps you stay on track.
It is a shame that the points in the description do not correspond to the waypoints on the route and vice versa, as this would make it easier to read.
At point 5 of the description, the short descent can be made at two points about ten metres apart, the first passage (descending from the summit) being the easiest.
After this descent, you can continue along the right-hand side of the small cliff on a narrow path (due to the vegetation) which, at the end of the cliff, descends gently through an area of scrub to join the path described in the description at the forest track, which you take to the right.

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dobign
dobign

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very few landmarks.
We often get lost, which means unnecessary back-and-forth trips and sometimes rather dangerous scree slopes.

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User 4645046

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Not very busy because the tracks are narrow after the plateau and you come into contact with thorny bushes.
You have to follow the cairns, otherwise you can quickly end up going round in circles on the plateau
That said, this moderately difficult hike offers beautiful 360° views and a small cave at the end of the trail, which I know as the "cave of the two sisters." The signage needs to be improved.
Flozz.

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Picsoulecoincoin
Picsoulecoincoin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, not too difficult, with stunning scenery and, above all, plenty of shade, which is very welcome in hot weather.

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cathy86
cathy86

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed in May 2025.
I agree and fully confirm the review by theo11 dated 24 March 2025

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LesDeuxLoulous
LesDeuxLoulous
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful short hike offering beautiful views of the surrounding region. At the end, the forest you walk through is magnificent and very mystical. The same goes for the cave (be careful, there is a railway line nearby which is freely accessible).
There is just one part of the route that is quite difficult to find due to the scree, but it's nothing too dramatic.
We did the hike with two dogs weighing 10 and 20 kg without any problems.

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theo11
theo11

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello. The hike is fine until you reach the summit. After point 4, the description and the trail are notoriously inadequate for finding the slightly tricky passage that marks the start of the descent. Deciding to turn back on the Baou Redon scree slope (where the trail markings become practically non-existent), I discovered the passage by chance. After that, everything was fine again.

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Jf.nevot
Jf.nevot

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Still the same problem, find the descent at point 4.

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manusucre
manusucre

Overall rating : 2 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Hello, this is a mountain bike trail with lots of scree

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jolo07
jolo07
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

route traced on a 1:125,000 IGN map for easier reading, which made our hike easier (easier than reading on a phone screen)
Interesting hike

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JMS-13
JMS-13

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Please note that to continue the hike after Mont GIBAOU, you must take a path on the left to pass under the plateau.
We spent an hour trying to find our way and got stuck on a rocky plateau.
Apart from this problem, the hike was enjoyable.

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philippe rvo
philippe rvo
• Edited:

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

From point 5 onwards, impossible to follow without the app + GPS

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PhK
PhK

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with five children (aged 7 to 15) without much difficulty. The elevation gain is very manageable, and there is a mix of ascents and small descents, so it is not very difficult.
The difficulty lies more in the lack of precise directions (as is often the case on Visorando), for example, point 5, where you have to descend the cliff, is poorly indicated: in fact, the path leading to the cliff is strictly perpendicular to the route and is about 100 metres long, so you can't see the ridge to descend from the fork at all. you have to be right in the middle of the hollow formed by the pass (between the two mountains Gibaou and Redon)
At point 7, what some people refer to as a recent cut corresponds to four trees that were felled several years ago, so it is not very distinctive, especially as the mark that is supposed to be orange has been 95% erased... So be careful at this fork.
The cave is very funny and very easy to visit. Don't hesitate to go and see it, there are no difficulties, but make sure you take torches and don't be afraid to get your shoes dirty as it gets progressively damp as you go deeper
To sum up: a very beautiful hike, very enjoyable, and the attraction of visiting the cave at the end is a great incentive for children

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Lucianoriol
Lucianoriol

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A little-used route with magnificent views of Cassios/La Ciotat
Mobile app recommended, as there are many junctions that can be confusing
two difficulties to note: the steep climb at point 2 and point 5 (a bit of climbing to descend a wall about 3 metres high)
A visit to the cave at the end of the route is recommended, even if you don't go all the way to the end....

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