Mont Vinaigre - The mountain pass route

This is a short circuit which, at its highest point, offers a panoramic view from Cannes to Fréjus with a view of the sea.

Details

62709
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.14 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 337 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 336 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 601 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 313 m

Photos

Description of the walk

By car, leaving Fréjus, take the DN7 towards Cannes.
At the Col du Testagnier, turn right and park in the car park to the left of the track.

(S/E) At the Col du Testagnier, take the GR®51up towards Mont Vinaigre. You will pass close to the Malpey forest house. Be careful, the GR®51and GR®49run alongside each other for a short distance. You will come to the FRJ9 cistern.

(1) Keep to the left for a few metres and turn right onto the GR®51along the rising path, which leads to a tarmac road that you need to climb for 50m, then turn right again onto the GR®51. Cross the tarmac track again and continue straight ahead, crossing the steps. You will now reach the foot of the radio tower and can see Mont Vinaigre on the right.

(2) Continue along the track on the right. You will come to the tarmac track leading down to the heliport plateau. Turn left onto an ascending tarmac track.
Turn left at the "Belvedere" sign. The highest point is a platform just below Mont Vinaigre.

(3) Continue on the GR®51with some very large rocks at the start. After a long descent, you pass a concrete reservoir and come to a crossroads just before the Maison Forestière de la Duchesse.

(4) At this point, leave the GR®51and take the first track on the right.
This is a fairly wide track (the Route des Cols). You arrive at the Col de l'Aire de l'Olivier (370m) near the FRJ10 cistern.

(5) Turn right onto the tarmac track as far as the Maison Forestière du Malpey.

(6) Now turn right. The Malpey road takes you back to the Col du Testagnier, the starting point for this route (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 314 m - Col du Testanier
  2. 1 : km 1.21 - alt. 386 m - FRJ9 tank
  3. 2 : km 2.95 - alt. 559 m - Radio tower
  4. 3 : km 3.44 - alt. 601 m - Just below the - Mont Vinaigre
  5. 4 : km 5.06 - alt. 391 m - Just before the Maison Forestière de la Duchesse
  6. 5 : km 7.39 - alt. 371 m - Col de l'Aire de l'Olivier
  7. 6 : km 9.25 - alt. 362 m - Maison Forestière du Malpey
  8. S/E : km 10.14 - alt. 313 m - Testagnier pass

Notes

Very stony.
Good footwear is essential.

Worth a visit

Nearby, on the other side of the DN7, below the pretty Lac de L'Avellan with picnic area.

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 121 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
jc.duvanel
jc.duvanel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 21, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This was the fifth time we’ve done this route. Easy parking at the pass (there’s really no need to go all the way to the MALPEY forest house as the trail starts off avoiding the road), a steady climb in the shade, a superb 360° view at the summit, a pleasant descent (apart from the first section, which is a bit slippery) and, to finish, a relaxing path running along the ridge to the finish. We were looking forward to having a picnic as usual in front of the La Duchesse Forest House.
But what a disappointment to find it in such a state. Indeed, on our previous visits we had met a volunteer named René who had spent six years of his retirement repairing the house’s roof, installing picnic tables, building toilets and setting up a small museum in the annexe. Today, everything has been dismantled. After checking online, we found out that the ONF, which had actually authorised him to carry out this work, had ‘sacked’ him and asked him to dismantle everything he had built.
The reason: he used to drive there. At 88, that’s understandable. It’s very sad!

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DromainJp
DromainJp

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

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Julia H1.
Julia H1.
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 13, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

I don't have anything in particular to say

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anne.deloche
anne.deloche

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A quiet route in early April before the school holidays.
The signposts have changed at the start; there are no longer any GR markings, but yellow ones instead.

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emma41
emma41

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did the walk in reverse in fine weather.
There were lots of flowers at this time of year.
We took our time on the climb, stopping to enjoy the views, and at the summit we had a picnic in the sunshine, sheltered from the wind, with a 360° view
Thank you for introducing us to these beautiful landscapes.
Emma.

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Nisand
Nisand

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 15, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike with breathtaking views, especially at the top of Mont Vinaigre.

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Franck du Verdier
Franck du Verdier

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

The route is of limited interest, as it is very busy due to the road between the start and point 2 and the return on the forest track/road between points 4 and 6. There is a fine view from the top of Mont Vinaigre (point 3) and a pleasant descent to point 4, with the option of taking the path along the forest track on the left below between points 4 and 5.

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Jé rôme
Jé rôme

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

The perfect family hike: impossible to go wrong, not difficult or dangerous, magnificent scenery.

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SamKH
SamKH

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Easy walk, very well signposted, beautiful
landscapes

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josefa Andreu
josefa Andreu

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very nice walk in fine weather, the only drawback being the 4 km of track, which is not unpleasant despite everything.

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bernard coulomb
bernard coulomb
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

As well as a spectacular panorama from the top of the Vinaigre, from the snow-covered Alps to the bay of St Raphael, this short walk offers a whole collection of classic postcards of the interior of the Esterel massif (particularly on the return journey), combining pine, eucalyptus and cork oak forests with the many red rhyolite peaks. The sky is deep blue, so let's make the most of it!
No problem with GPX.
There are several car parks at the Maison Forestière du Malpey and another 300 metres further on, at the end of the track, because the area is sometimes congested!

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La fleur
La fleur

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This is the 3rd time we've done this hike.
It's superb from start to finish.
Only the arrival at the mountain can be a little difficult because of the large rocks to climb, and then the descent (from the mountain) for the same reasons.
I think it's still suitable for families.
At the summit, the view is 360 degrees.
From cane to St Tropez, superb.
To be done on a clear day
I highly recommend it

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LilouParis
LilouParis

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent Application! Thank you Visorando!

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Monique21
Monique21

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

difficult to find the start, no signs
Otherwise a lovely walk

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BG30
BG30

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This is a lovely walk with some fine views, including of the hinterland. You can see the hilltop villages of the Pays de Fayence. The return journey along the track is less interesting.

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