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The start is after Belvédère, heading towards Vallée de la Gordolasque. Pass the Saint-Grat neighbourhood and park just after the right-hand bend above the Relais des Merveilles on the side of the road.
(S/E) Take the path (Vacherie de Saint-Grat, Belvédère) towards Torrent de la Gordolasque, cross the bridge and turn right onto the path until you reach a signpost indicating Parc du Mercantour.
(1) Take the less marked path on the left that winds its way up through the forest. At the plateau, the path turns left and continues slightly uphill to a clearing with a small stream.
(2) Cross the stream and immediately turn right to follow the stream uphill to the left (Vallon de la Mairis). After the first cliff, the forest disappears. Continue along the less marked path that climbs to the left through the grass to the second cliff.
(3) This is where the Vallon des Verrairiers begins and the path is no longer marked, with only a few cairns to guide you. Continue climbing up the left side of the small stream through the stones and rocks. After passing a small drop, continue along the bottom of the valley for a few dozen metres, then climb up the right side of the hill, avoiding the scree. At the end of the hill, descend back into the valley.
(4) Cross the scree in large rocks (about 50 metres) to reach the better marked path opposite, in a less rocky section, and head right to Pas du Trem a little higher up.
(5) Descend towards Lac du Diable and join theGR®52.
(6) Make a short detour to Pas du Diable on the right.
(7) Return to Lac du Diable.
(6) Take the descent towards the Refuge des Merveilles. The well-marked trail descends gently, passing by Lac de la Muta.
(8) Continue along Lac Fourca and reach Refuge des Merveilles.
(9) Continue on the left, uphill. You will reach a crossroads near Lac Mouton.
(10) Leave the start of the Vallée des Merveilles trail on your right and continue left towards Pas de l'Arpette and Vallée de la Gordolasque on a path that climbs gradually and ends with a steeper slope at the start of Pas de l'Arpette.
(11) Continue along the path towards Pont du Countet until you reach it via the bottom of Vallon d'Empuonrame. Steep at first, the slope becomes gentler until the path passes under an EDF penstock, then becomes a little steeper again.
(12) At Pont du Countet, continue along the tarmac road until the second hairpin bend and take the path on the left which leads to the hydroelectric plant and the lake. Cross the stream just upstream of the lake and continue along a path descending to the left of it to rejoin the starting path and then the road (S/E).
Visorando member
Very difficult 
Easy 
Moderate 
