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Access: Parking at the bottom of the Vallon de la Vache. The valley can be reached at the bottom of the Terme de Peypin climb, on the left coming from Allauch/La Fève and on the right coming from Peypin.
Access to the Vallon road is not very visible, but there is a sign just at the corner of a very discreet hotel building.
Please note that the entrance and exit to the valley are on a bend. Keep a close eye on vehicles on the road.
Drive along the very narrow, poorly maintained road until you reach a parking area on the left, in front of a DFCI barrier. There is parking for around 5-6 vehicles. Altitude: 225 m.
(S/E) Cross the road to the side of the road, opposite the blue trail starts from there. Start immediately on a steep, pretty trail (blue trail, which you will follow to the summit) that will take you along the ridge and a series of hunting posts. Pass under two high-voltage power lines.
(1) Join a good trail that continues to climb in a north-easterly direction.
The trail crosses the DFCI track several times.
(2) After another power line, it leaves the DFCI track for good and climbs directly towards the summit of Mont Julien. Very steep, very very steep at the end, and slippery in wet weather, until you reach the summit at an altitude of 644 metres.
Magnificent panorama of Marseille, the harbour and the islands. On the other side, view of the Cadolive plain and Gardanne - La Sainte-Victoire.
(3) Head left for the descent from the summit, which is very steep for 300 metres.
(4) The blue and yellow trails that joined us along the way pass to the right of the other side of the small pass via a "step" that can be a bit tricky in wet weather, on the Cadolive slope. The very steep descent leads to a crossroads with a small hunting post in poor condition.
(5) The track directly opposite leads to the Tête du Grand Puech (690 m). From there, take the Vallon de la Figuière, the first path that descends steeply to the left of the one you arrived on. It is not marked but is easily visible. Be careful in heavy rain as it becomes a torrent (do not attempt if it has been raining for a long time). Stop often as the surroundings are worth seeing and watch where you put your feet as the rock is very slippery. You will find yourself facing monumental rock bars with shelters under the rock.
The trail descends rapidly with one or two challenging sections, passing a small retention basin on the stream.
(6) Cross a small bar on the descent, then pass under a high-voltage power line.
(7) When you reach a hunters' car park, the track levels out and becomes very good. It then joins the DFCI track in the Vallon de la Vache.
(8) Continue along this track to the right, which will take you back past a few properties (horses) to the car park where you started (S/E).
a very beautiful hike with sublime views and lovely sections through beautiful vegetation
Visorando Member
Association / Club / Walk leader
Easy 
