The Sommet des Terriers and its menhirs

From the car park at the confluence of the Argens and the Aille, a mountain bike ride along the DFCI track or small trails to the Sommet des Terriers and the menhir site. Return via a fairly fast-riding route – a real treat for downhill riders.

Details

24402771
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Mountain biking
    Activity: Mountain biking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.25 mi
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 1.5 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,135 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,148 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,099 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 69 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐
  • ⚐ City: Les Arcs (83460)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.434358° / E 6.510583°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3544OT

  • ◶
    Type of surface:
  •  
     
     90% Byway  10% Path
  • ⇧
    Bike carrying: No
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Description of the route

Start from the car park at the confluence of the Argens and the Aille, at the entrance to the Les Arc-sur-Argens Communal Forest.

(S/E) Continue along the track that runs alongside the Argens, cross the bridge over the Aille, ignore the access to a property on the left-hand side and reach a three-way junction.

(1) Turn right and follow a very smooth, beautiful climb to reach a fork at a pass (elevation 150).

(2) Continue along the track to the left, hugging the hillside, passing a DFCI water tank and then a confluence of valleys. Continue straight on along this track, passing a first DFCI water tank and a three-way junction.

(3) Carry on straight ahead until you reach a three-way junction at the second DFCI water tank.

(4) Continue along the right-hand branch and you’ll soon reach a junction at the exit of a right-hand bend.

(5) Turn right; the track becomes steeper for 500 m before levelling out again. Stay on the main track until you reach another track at a clearing (firebreak).

(6) Turn left and climb up to the site of the nine menhirs.

(7) Continue the climb to reach the Sommet des Terriers, which overlooks the Massif des Maures.

(8) Head back down the same track, pass the site of the Nine Menhirs and reach the next junction.

(6) Go straight on for about 200 metres until you reach the start of a track on the left.

(9) Follow this track, ignoring a turn-off to the left, until you reach the next fork.

(10) Take a sharp right onto this track, which is fairly rideable but quite rough in places (a treat for downhill riders). You’ll reach a three-way junction.

(11) Continue to the left and reach the car park after crossing the bridge over the Aille (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 128 ft - Car park - Argens (fleuve)
  2. 1 : mi 0.37 - alt. 144 ft - DFCI track on the right
  3. 2 : mi 1.46 - alt. 495 ft - Junction. Elevation 150. Track to the left
  4. 3 : mi 2.67 - alt. 509 ft - Three-way junction. Straight on
  5. 4 : mi 2.88 - alt. 505 ft - DFCI water tank, three-way junction
  6. 5 : mi 3.08 - alt. 571 ft - Junction, turn right
  7. 6 : mi 4.2 - alt. 860 ft - Junction. Return route to Sommet des Terriers
  8. 7 : mi 4.34 - alt. 965 ft - Menhirs site
  9. 8 : mi 4.64 - alt. 1,099 ft - Sommet des Terriers
  10. 9 : mi 5.26 - alt. 817 ft - Junction, turn left
  11. 10 : mi 5.91 - alt. 604 ft - Junction, turn right
  12. 11 : mi 6.63 - alt. 538 ft - Three-way junction, left
  13. S/E : mi 8.25 - alt. 128 ft - Car park

Notes

I went on this ride with my granddaughter for her first mountain bike ride; she didn’t put a foot down once on the descent.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 3 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 4935010

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 23, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A fantastic e-MTB route: the first section is uphill but easy to ride, whilst the second is more technical and wet. The views are stunning. The car park accommodates campervans weighing up to 3.5 tonnes.

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neyra
neyra

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 23, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We completed the route on foot.
We climbed directly to the top of Les Terriers (point 8), between points 5 and 6.
We searched desperately for traces of the entrance to the Porres mine but couldn't find it.

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ecrins2
ecrins2

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It was an interesting route – our big dog came along and he loved it. We’ll be back!

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