The Tour des Clues de Verdaches

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Fairly easy hike around the Clues de Verdaches, deep gorges carved out of the mountain by the Bès. You will find beautiful views of the Blayeul in the first part of the hike, before overlooking the Bès on the way back (swimming possible in summer).

Details

n°13006690
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.15 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 379 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 370 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,228 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,012 m
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Photos

saut de la Pie waterfall
Le Bès
The Charui Wood
Le Blayeul

Description of the walk

The starting point is at the intersection of the D900a road and the road leading to Charui, 1.5 km from Barles in the direction of Verdaches (there are a few parking spaces along the road).

(S/E) From the intersection with the D900a, take the road on the left towards Charui.

(1) Continue straight ahead at the first bend in the road to take the yellow marked trail. This trail first climbs in short bends and then crosses along the first three ravines before a long, slightly ascending traverse to the Charui ravine.

(2) Just before the ravine, leave the path to Cabane de la Dame on your left and continue on the yellow marked trail on your right. Pass upstream of the Charui ruins before continuing on long traverses through the forest until you reach the Auzet road (D7).

(3) Descend the Auzet road until you reach the Saut de la Pie waterfall.

(4) Enjoy the view of the waterfall and perhaps even a swim in summer. Continue on the D7 until you reach the D900a.

(5) Turn left towards Verdaches until you reach the junction for the Pont du Martinet campsite.

(6) Leave the D900a and turn right towards the Barles campsite called "Le Pont du Martinet". Cross the campsite, following the Pinées trail on the right for about 50 metres.

(7) Leave the forest road and turn right onto the yellow marked path, which rejoins the Pinées trail after 200 metres. Continue along this trail until you reach the start of a path on your right.

(8) Leave the forest road for good and take the yellow-marked path on the right, first descending to a ravine, then ascending beyond it. Continue straight ahead on the path and begin the final descent via several hairpin bends to arrive at the Maison du Laus on the banks of the Bès.

(9) After a swim in summer, if you wish, cross the footbridge over the Bès and turn left onto the D900a. This will take you back to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,012 m - Intersection of the D900a and the Charui road
  2. 1 : km 0.44 - alt. 1,062 m - Trail marked in yellow on the bend in the road
  3. 2 : km 1.37 - alt. 1,187 m - Fork to the right
  4. 3 : km 3.43 - alt. 1,121 m - Turn right onto the D7
  5. 4 : km 4.48 - alt. 1,088 m - Viewpoint over the - Cascade du Saut de la Pie
  6. 5 : km 4.79 - alt. 1,063 m - Turn left onto the D900a
  7. 6 : km 5.15 - alt. 1,072 m - Fork to the right towards "Le Pont du Martinet" - Bès (rivière) - Affluent de la Bléone
  8. 7 : km 5.44 - alt. 1,092 m - Turn right at the fork onto the marked path
  9. 8 : km 6.32 - alt. 1,146 m - Turn right at the fork onto the marked path
  10. 9 : km 7.68 - alt. 1,026 m - Footbridge to D900a on the left - Bès (rivière) - Affluent de la Bléone
  11. S/E : km 8.15 - alt. 1,012 m - Intersection of the D900a and the Charui road

Notes

Hike without any particular difficulty, but good footwear is recommended.

Worth a visit

The Tour des Clues de Verdaches trail climbs up and overlooks the gorges. At the bottom, in the gorges, the Bès has carved out this narrow passage with great difficulty, where the oldest rocks in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence can be found

Swimming is possible in summer in the Grave at the point (4) (Saut de la Pie waterfall) and in the Bès at the point (9) (Maison du Laus).

Viewpoint on the summit of Blayeul (2,189 m).

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 17 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
BERNARDV
BERNARDV

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A pleasant short hike, with a short stretch on the road where you need to be careful of traffic. The route is easy to follow.

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User 14762073

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Not very interesting, the route is consistently well above the river and the gorges

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Elric_87
Elric_87

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike completed at the end of August 2025 in 3 hours and 20 minutes. The slightly tricky section (at the end of the trail) with a rope has been improved and now features a wooden staircase. At the end of the trail, at the Laus house, a gate blocks the bridge but it is not closed to hikers.

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Nounours04
Nounours04

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant hike, mostly in the woods, with a few sections on quiet roads and lovely views. Worth doing again in autumn.

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Eric04
Eric04

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, done on a hot day but starting the circuit at 6.30am. Completed (without running!) in 2½ hours. Plenty of shade, paths not stony, relaxing. A bit of tarmac, but no big deal, it's over quickly.
To be completed with a visit to the beautiful gorges, by road but without much traffic.
Landslide reported between points 8 and 9: the trail has been repaired, no more problems.

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annefrancoisechantalkasprzak
annefrancoisechantalkasprzak
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I recommend it!

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Alicia22
Alicia22

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Enjoy your hike, but be aware that it climbs steeply from the start, then descends before climbing again. It's a shame that several kilometres are on the district road; it would have been nicer to be by the water.
Be careful at points 8 and 9, as there has been a landslide, so you have to cross a stream and then climb up using a rope to get back on the trail.

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aagnesnono
aagnesnono

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Quite a disappointing hike because you are almost always high up, so you don't see much of the gorge. A large part of the route is on tarmac.
There is a lack of yellow markings and the path is often overgrown on the right bank.
The sign for Auzet and Pont du Martinet below the hamlet of Charui is positioned upside down.
Positive points: the Saut de la Pie waterfall, which was large at the time, and the beautiful region. Don't miss the Barles gorges and the Ichthyosaur trail.

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fou2nature
fou2nature

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent trip through the grandiose landscape of the gorges. Pretty single tracks and breaks in mossy forests full of peace and charm. A well-deserved break at the Pie waterfall. The autumn colours greatly enhance the visual pleasure and offer a range of colours never seen before for lovers of pastel shades. What a joy for the feet. An endless treat. It's a shame it was too short. 🤗

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g0infrex
g0infrex

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route with several sections through woodland (including a less pleasant 20-minute stretch along the main road) and several superb swimming spots! However, be careful between points 8 and 9, as a recent landslide makes this section a little tricky (not suitable for children or those who are less accustomed to hiking)

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Docmarco
Docmarco

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant and interesting short walk, with a short stretch on the road.
Apart from the first climb, which is a bit exposed, you're often in the shade. When you leave by car, don't miss the Barles gorges

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daniel0683
daniel0683

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Interesting route, beautiful Pie waterfall.

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mmonte
mmonte

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A varied, easy walk with a beautiful waterfall, half frozen and half flowing. A lovely return through the woods.
However, you can't really see the gorges themselves because the trail passes quite far from the edge of the plateau, both to the north and south.

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Cfrachon
Cfrachon

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Route completed on 18 July during a heatwave, a little warm up to point 1 but fairly well shaded after that. A moment of inattention took us off the marked trail after point 2, but this was no problem thanks to the GPX track. That said, there may be a risk as the ground was very trampled in all directions around this spot, which makes me think there really is a small trap. Otherwise, everything was fine. It was a good warm-up for other, steeper routes.

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GG13
GG13

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a very pleasant route allowing you to enjoy the shade of the undergrowth

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