The Avalans viewpoint in the Bois de la Gaillarde

A beautiful, undulating forest with Mediterranean species, where holm oaks, cork oaks and scrubland abound. The high point of Les Avalans offers views of the Plaine des Maures and the Gulf of Fréjus. In winter, arbutus trees, sometimes called strawberry trees, are abundant and delight hikers.

Details

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Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.93 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 519 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 518 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 252 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 11 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the Bois de la Gaillarde cemetery

(S/E) Head towards the Bois de la Gaillarde information kiosk located near the crossroads, below the cemetery.

(1) Opposite the kiosk, there is a wooden signpost indicating "Le Dolmen". Take this path, which starts immediately on the left, as the original path has been damaged by a storm.

(2) Turn right and follow the uphill track.

(3) Take the path on your left that follows the contour line through the arbutus trees.

(4) Turn right onto the dolmen path and you will come to a barrier and a crossroads.

(5) Continue straight ahead until you reach the tarmac road. Turn left onto Boulevard des Gaulois. Take care with the traffic, even though the area is quiet. Continue to the next road junction.

(6) Turn left onto the carriageway, walk about 50 metres and turn right at the "Dolmen" sign. The path climbs up to the megalithic tomb.

(7) Turn around and take the carriageway back to the crossroads.

(6) Take the path on the right, which is slightly below the road and leads to the barrier and the crossroads of the paths you passed earlier.

(5) Continue straight ahead.

(8) At this crossroads, turn left.

(9) Turn right/left and continue along the path to reach a major crossroads.

(10) Leave all the tracks and take the path opposite, heading due west. Stay on this path, walk alongside the imposing water tower and continue to the Col de Bougnon road.

(11) Be careful when crossing the busy road. Take the F232 track opposite, called Cabasse.

(12) At the pine tree-shaped telephone antenna, turn right onto the path at the foot of the antenna.

(13) At this crossroads, turn right and continue until you reach the road.

(14) Cross it with extreme caution and continue straight ahead on the DFCI track called "Petites Maures". At the top of the hill, continue straight ahead on the track that descends. At the barrier, stay on the left track that runs alongside a small marsh. You will reach a three-way junction.

(15) Turn left. Walk past the first cistern and follow the narrow path parallel to the track on your right. Pass a second cistern and continue in the same direction to reach the viewpoint.

(16) Remarkable view of Les Avelans with Fréjus on one side and the Plaine des Maures on the other. Turn around and descend slightly to the left to reach the nearby track. Cross it: a wooden sign points you towards "La Gaillarde". Follow the descending path and at the next crossroads, turn left.

(17) At the entrance to the residential area, turn right at 180°. Continue along this descending path until you reach a bend in the track. Continue straight ahead until you reach the next crossroads with the sign for "les petites Maures".

(18) Take the overgrown track that starts just to the left of the sign. This track, lined with arbutus trees, leads directly back to the cemetery, but disappears just before you get there. Go down the small hill, pass to the left of the cemetery and return to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 17 m - Cemetery car park
  2. 1 : km 0.12 - alt. 11 m - Sign, start of trail
  3. 2 : km 0.38 - alt. 34 m - Trail-track junction
  4. 3 : km 0.86 - alt. 113 m - Trail-track junction
  5. 4 : km 1.61 - alt. 178 m - Crossroads
  6. 5 : km 2 - alt. 202 m - Trail junction, barrier
  7. 6 : km 2.56 - alt. 182 m - Crossroads
  8. 7 : km 2.68 - alt. 197 m - Dolmen
  9. 8 : km 4.15 - alt. 200 m - Trail junction
  10. 9 : km 4.58 - alt. 164 m - Trail and track junction
  11. 10 : km 5.36 - alt. 152 m - Crossroads of trails
  12. 11 : km 6.41 - alt. 154 m - Tarmac road. - Col de Bougnon (154m)
  13. 12 : km 6.63 - alt. 177 m - Pylon
  14. 13 : km 6.97 - alt. 106 m - Trail junction
  15. 14 : km 7.35 - alt. 120 m - Tarmac road.
  16. 15 : km 8.93 - alt. 212 m - Trail and track junction
  17. 16 : km 9.71 - alt. 251 m - Viewpoint
  18. 17 : km 10.61 - alt. 133 m - Trail and track junction
  19. 18 : km 11.09 - alt. 117 m - Trail and track junction
  20. S/E : km 11.93 - alt. 17 m - Cemetery car park

Notes

Hike accessible all year round.
Given the numerous trails, the mobile app will be a valuable addition.
Terrain with few stones.
No water along the route.

The directional signs are difficult to read (black lettering on a dark brown background).

Worth a visit

Gaillarde beach.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Frfoxy
Frfoxy

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike in the Maures mountains between the bays of Les Issambres and Fréjus and the Argens valley.
No major difficulties.
Be careful on the descent between points 12 and 13 on a mountain bike trail that is not very well maintained and a little dangerous (you can reach point 14 directly from point 11 via the departmental road, but the road is very busy...).
The end of the Visorando route takes you close to the cemetery, with a slightly freestyle descent without a real path and a somewhat challenging ford crossing, but nothing too serious.
The time shown seems a bit long to me...

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bernard bb
bernard bb

Thank you, Jolycœur, for this review
Indeed, a very small lake :-)
best regards, B.

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Jolycœur
Jolycœur

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

The (tiny) lake is a lovely surprise on this route through Mediterranean countryside. The water level was low when we visited, but the autumn colours were superb.

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bernard bb
bernard bb

Thank you for this review
Good call on taking safety precautions
by taking another path
Best regards, b.

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User 27825891

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A beautiful route completed on Roc d'Azur day (mountain bike races starting from Fréjus). But by setting off at dawn, I avoided the hikers and most of the mountain bikers (I took another path for the final descent to ensure everyone's safety!).

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bernard bb
bernard bb

Thank you, grigri52, for this information
best regards, rando, b.

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grigri52
grigri52

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

At the end, avoid going straight ahead to the cemetery; instead, turn right for a more comfortable route!

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bernard bb
bernard bb

Thank you Guigui_la_bricole for your opinion,
a lovely circular indeed.
Best regards, b.

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Guigui_la_bricole
Guigui_la_bricole

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely circular in a varied environment with beautiful views.
The last section (400 m) leading to the cemetery is not pleasant (steep slope, no visible path, and the path along the cemetery wall is narrow and rough).

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bernard bb
bernard bb

Thank you, Perseepj, for your information.
Happy holidays, B.

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Perseepj
Perseepj

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

An interesting hike offering views of the Estérel and the sea between points 10 and 11, and especially at "Les Avelans" (point 16). The round trip to the dolmen from point 16 is not long and provides an opportunity to read another historical summary about the dolmens in the region.
This hike presents no particular difficulties and can be followed using the Visorando app. Please note that between points 12 and 13, the path is very rough and quite steep, but this section is short.

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bernard bb
bernard bb

Thank you Titibof for your opinion
Best regards, B.

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titibof
titibof

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike that avoids all paved roads, which is very pleasant. Alternating ascents and descents give your calves a good workout. We chose the trail option for the arrival at the cemetery. Thank you for this beautiful hike.

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bernard bb
bernard bb

Thank you, trashzone, for this very clear review.
Best regards, B.

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trashzone
trashzone

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 21, 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 just above my house. Stunning panoramic views with sea views almost all the way (except when you pass by Bougnon). Done in April 2024, it was a real treat with all the flowers in bloom.
At the orientation table (16), it's a shame not to push on another 150 metres to see the Dolmen de l'Agriotier.
At the end (18), I would add an option to take the track on the right that goes down to the cemetery rather than continuing straight ahead. At the end, it's rock 'n' roll and you also walk alongside the cemetery.
Thank you for this new route!

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