Montdenier at the start of the Col de Saint Jurs

This is a superb hike, perfect for a family outing. It is not particularly difficult and offers breathtaking views of the Valensole plateau, the Verdon, Lake Sainte Croix, the Southern Alps, the Baronnies and Mont Ventoux.

Details

n°1656836

Creation:
05 Dec 2018

Last update:
14 Jan 2020

Last review:
23 May 2024

Activity: Walking
Distance: 5.21 km
Average duration: 2h 40
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 420 m
Descent: - 420 m
Highest point: 1,746 m
Lowest point: 1,326 m

Country: France
Area: Alps
District: Saint-Jurs (04410)
Start/End: N 43.909441° / E 6.233774°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3441OT
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Photos

View of the Majastres valley and the Verdon and Southern Alps mountains

View of the Valensole plateau and Lake Sainte Croix

Description of the walk

Park in the Col St-Jurs car park.

(S/E) Take the forest track that climbs to the right past the barrier. When you reach a bend in the track, a signpost marking the location "sous le col de la Cabane" indicates the start of a path on the left.

(1) Take this path and follow it through the forest towards Montdenier, following the yellow PR^® markings^. Climb gradually to reach the edge of the forest.

(2) Leaving the forest, the path continues to climb through low vegetation dotted with box trees and small rocks. The panorama on the left offers views of the Lure mountain and the Tithonian limestone bars of Buëch further away.
Now zigzag across the grassy slopes of Montdenier until you reach the ridge, just before the summit.

(3) Continue along the path on the right to reach Montdenier.

(4) Return via the same route to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,326 m - Col de Saint Jurs car park
1 : km 1.05 - alt. 1,448 m - Below the Col de la Cabane
2 : km 1.88 - alt. 1,557 m - Foot of the northern slope of Montdenier
3 : km 2.35 - alt. 1,698 m - Montdenier ridge
4 : km 2.6 - alt. 1,746 m - Summit of Montdenier: 1,751 m
S/E : km 5.21 - alt. 1,326 m - Col de Saint Jurs car park

Notes

To reach the starting point of the hike (Col de Saint Jurs), it is best to have a sturdy car with good shock absorbers, as the track is in poor condition!

The Montdenier ridge is always very windy, so make sure you have something warm to wear at the top, especially as the weather can change very quickly.
(4) At the summit of Montdenier, you can continue your walk along the ridge, with a view of Lake Sainte Croix.

Worth a visit

(3) As you turn around, you will have a superb view of the entire Valensole plateau and its patchwork of colours, which vary according to the seasons, and even of the Luberon, Mont Ventoux and Sainte-Victoire in the background.

(4) From the summit of Montdenier, discover the Majastres valley on your left, a small village in the Verdon that is easy to spot. Following the valley with your gaze, you can see the peaks of Chiran (1,905 m with its astronomical observatory dome) and Mourre de Chanier (1,930 m, the highest peak in the Verdon), possibly hidden by clouds.

As you approach Montdenier, it is not uncommon to see griffon vultures circling above your head and playing in the updrafts...
The steep eastern and western slopes are a playground for chamois, which you may be lucky enough to spot, so don't forget your binoculars!

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5

Based on 12 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5

Route interest
4.8 / 5

ATAN

23 May 2024 at 16:09 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The problem with this hike is that you have to travel 5 km on a bumpy track where you can only drive at 3 km/h, so it takes ages to reach the pass.

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SJM

20 Nov 2023 at 21:18 3600 • Edited: 21 Nov 2023 at 10:01 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful 360° view of the Mont Denier ridges. Vultures flew overhead (5), very impressive. The last part of the hike is quite steep; you have to cover 400 metres of elevation gain in 3 kilometres!
I did this hike from the pass with my 4- and 11-year-old daughters in 1.5 hours there and back, not counting the lunch break at the summit.

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papangue2

02 May 2022 at 09:44 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Excellent fatigue-interest ratio and, above all, sensations. Thank you

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oponcin

22 Nov 2021 at 19:22 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 13, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike in autumn. Video of the route: https://youtu.be/UswiOhJwP2s
The view from the ridge is extraordinary, with the Prealps to the north and the Valensole plateau and Lake Sainte Croix du Verdon to the south
You can reach 1,750 metres in two hours from the Col de Saint Jurs. Quite steep at the end. Windy, so appropriate equipment is necessary, but the drone was able to fly without any problems. Vultures came to fly over us.

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François Prévost

14 Oct 2020 at 11:27 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 11, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short but beautiful hike accessible from Saint Jurs or the pass of the same name. The track leading to the pass is perfectly passable if you drive slowly. Beautiful panoramic views, from Les Ecrins to Sainte-Victoire. Summit exposed on Mistral days.
François Prévost

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gilles.bertolus

07 Jun 2020 at 09:38 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Just after lockdown ended, there were quite a few people there.
I can confirm that the access road is passable for a normal car if you drive carefully. But for those who are not used to driving on dirt roads, it can be quite daunting.
There is a magnificent view at the summit and you can picnic a little below the summit, sheltered from the wind (but not the sun).
It's a very beautiful hike that gives you the feeling of being in the mountains.

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Daniel Rogier

24 Feb 2020 at 15:55 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Track as advertised; not ideal but no problem for a "normal" car

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Nadine04

13 Jan 2020 at 10:14 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 09, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

''A very beautiful drive with sublime scenery.
the only "slight" difficulty is the last few metres before reaching the summit of Montcenier, and the track is not suitable for all types of cars....

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Jjcc83

10 Sep 2019 at 16:27 7200

To reach the St Jurs pass, you have to take an 8 km track that is in very poor condition and very long. With my motorhome, I turned back before the pass because of the state of the track. What a shame.

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venelles

24 Aug 2019 at 12:13 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

It should be noted that the road to Col Saint-Jurs (by car) is in very poor condition.

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danileo04

22 Aug 2019 at 18:28 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hike only to be undertaken in good weather, as "nasty" clouds can roll in very quickly here. Magnificent 360° panorama of the Pre-Alps and the Alps. Daniel and his grandson.

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COMO2110

11 Mar 2019 at 11:36 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Starting directly from Saint-Jurs (car park) via a well-marked trail rather than driving up to the pass is a slightly longer but equally enjoyable alternative...

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yanen2

27 Dec 2018 at 09:17 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 26, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello,
On Wednesday, 26 December 2018, we took advantage of the lack of snow to go on this hike. The trail leading to the Col de St JURS is signposted at the entrance to the village. After that, there are no further signs. To reach the pass (which is the starting point for the hike), you have to follow the trail for about 8 km until you finally see the car park.
Let's go! There are a few patches of icy snow here and there, but nothing significant. Then, leaving the track, we set off on the very pleasant forest path. Obviously, it climbs a little (but that's nothing compared to what comes next). When we leave the forest, the serious stuff begins. After a few rocky sections, we arrive at a grassy pasture. The climb is steep.
At the top of the Mt Denier pass (1,751 m), the view is magnificent. To the north, at our feet, lies the village of Majastres with its few houses. The snow-covered Alps, the Pic de Burre.
In front of us is the Asse valley. Further away are other villages, St Auban, Peyruis, whose castle we can see, and the villages of the Lure mountain. Mont Ventoux, the rock of Volx, Manosque, the Luberon massif. Further away, Sainte Victoire and Sainte Baume. A distant cloud bar towards the sea (kept at bay by the presence of our anticyclone). Lake Sainte Croix is there, shining like a mirror. The Valensole plateau. Of course, the list is not exhaustive. As you can see, the landscape is magnificent!
We continue along the ridge for a while. The yellowed grass is very thick, dotted with countless "pétouillers" (bird droppings), evidence of the abundance of animals that must live here. Four beautiful vultures fly over our heads several times.
It is almost 3 p.m., and we must leave these enchanting places and head back down to the car park.
For those who, like me, suffer from knee problems, the descent is quite painful.
But what a beautiful hike!
Highly recommended.

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