Around Mont Puget from Col de la Gineste

A magnificent sea and mountain hike in the Calanques National Park.

Details

60037
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.07 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 499 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 491 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 564 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 280 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the Col de la Gineste car park.

From the car park, follow the red-marked route that starts from the right-hand side of the D559, in the direction of Marseille/Cassis (alt. 326 m). Walk towards Col de la Candelle. The trail rises initially to Butte du Pain de Sucre, then back down through scree to Col Ricard.
50 metres before reaching the pass (1), leave the red-marked route onto a wide path opposite via a footpath. It rises steadily skirting Mont Puget on the right overlooking Luminy.

In the descent, at the first hairpin turn (2), continue left on Chemin du Centaure which goes to the cliff foot of Mont Puget. At around 200 metres near a grove of trees, join the GR98-51 (3) and follow to the left on Sentier des Treize Contours, then on Promontoire des Américains.
This portion of cliff path overlooking the Falaise des Toits cliff, meets up with Col de la Candelle, which offers superb views to enjoy with your lunch (4).

Start on the green-marked route due north along the ridge path, slightly to the right. Pass two successive trails leading off on your right and go straight to the pass.
Take the trail on the left that leads to the summit of Mont Puget (563 metres) (6). After the ascent to the summit, retrace your steps.
100 metres before the pass, turn left onto the path of Vallon Sainte Marthe (green markings), which quickly descends into a scree, then winds along to Puits de Cancel (7). Alternatively, take Cheming du Vallon de l'Herbe which starts on the left 50 metres higher up and avoids delicate passages of Vallon de Sainte Marthe leading to Puits de Cancel.
Continue the path on the left as far as a junction (8). Follow the path to the left that quickly climbs up Col de Ricard.
Then take the path on the right back to the Col de la Gineste.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 326 m - Col de la Gineste (326m)
  2. 1 : km 1.44 - alt. 356 m - Right towards a path - Col Ricard (352m)
  3. 2 : km 3.55 - alt. 310 m - Chemin du Centaure
  4. 3 : km 4.07 - alt. 281 m - GR left
  5. 4 : km 5.76 - alt. 424 m - Head north, Green markings - Col de la Candelle (400m)
  6. 5 : km 6.67 - alt. 530 m - Left towards the summit of Mont Puget
  7. 6 : km 7.4 - alt. 559 m - Mont Puget
  8. 7 : km 8.99 - alt. 301 m - Puits de Cancel
  9. 8 : km 9.17 - alt. 301 m - Left-hand path
  10. S/E : km 11.07 - alt. 326 m - Col de la Gineste

Notes

Free car park on either side of the D559 (Marseille/Cassis) at Col de la Gineste or public transport on the “La Marcouline" transport network, line M8 Marseille-Cassis via La Gineste.
Bring very good hiking boots for the scree.
Some open-air passages without difficulty (Promontoire des Américains) and rocky escarpments to cross in the Valley of St. Martha (avoid in wet weather).

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 57 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Doremi 13
Doremi 13

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A magnificent hike with a steep climb up to Mont Puget
with views of the Calanques, Sujiton Morgiou and Cap Morgiou
However, I would like to make an important point regarding the section between 6 and 7: the descent is quite steep and difficult over scree, with three sections of rocks that are hard to negotiate (handholds and cables should be installed)
Once we reached the Col de la Candelle, we headed straight on to Cap Gros and then to the Col des Charbonniers; we returned via the path that goes via the 423m mark and up to the summit at the 509m mark, where there is a superb view of Cap Canaille
At this point, the hike becomes ‘difficult’ with an elevation gain of over 900 m, and we can thus reach 5.

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buttner
buttner

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The route is described fairly well, but there is virtually no information on the difficulties, either in the very steep and tricky first section leading up to the Col de la Cannelle, or on the descent into the valley

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papahotel94
papahotel94

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A perfect route for experiencing the Calanques in all their majesty, with a magnificent bird's-eye view of the Marseille metropolitan area at the start.
The approach is easy, but it gets tougher after that and some of the steep sections are very rocky.
The only downside is the return via a scree slope through a very steep valley from the foot of Mont Gineste to the Col Ricard.
Take care at this point.

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Trekeur
Trekeur

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A very nice walk, especially on the second part with the climb to the Col de Candelle, which offers some fine views. The trail is very easy to follow. Be careful on the descent, though, as there are a few technical sections.

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ZakSon
ZakSon

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful views of Marseille, the Calanques and the hinterland. The route is well described.
There is a slightly steep climb that is not very difficult, and a downhill section where you have to put your hands down for 3m, but it's quite doable.

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Casssleo
Casssleo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The view is breathtaking and the estimated time and difficulty announced very reliable!

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paė
paė

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

nice hike, no dangerous sections if you take the slightly longer option on the way back from mont Puget

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Aktarus
Aktarus

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Aerial passage on the promenade but only for a short distance (like 10m). The rest is quieter.

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Gépa
Gépa

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A magnificent hike, on an overcast day, in an imposing setting with distant views (probably even more so on a sunny day).
However, the route remains demanding, even difficult in places for those prone to vertigo or sensitive knees.

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FOHLEN
FOHLEN

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

My phone said :
- distance not 9 km 20 but 11 km 2 !
- as ascent not 490/496 m but 750 m !

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Philippe SG
Philippe SG

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

To be repeated in the spring.

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jgueraud
jgueraud

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent tour, but be careful on the descent, which is dangerous for simple hikers like us, so take the other path, the Vallon de l'herbe path. The description should be more specific about the nature of the difficulty, as it's not just a scree slope but also involves some de-escalation sections.

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patrick marengo
patrick marengo

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, with a slightly difficult climb to close the loop to Mont Pujet. But so many beautiful moments

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jgueraud
jgueraud

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent tour, but if like us you're just a hiker, avoid the path through the Vallon Ste Marthe, which has some technical sections and is of no interest whatsoever.
Otherwise, a circuit completed in 5h45 with time for a break and a picnic.

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Fx13
Fx13

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Sumptuous scenery, very varied route (DFCI, easy paths, steep, stony (via the Cancel well), lots of climbs and descents, a few technical sections etc... presented as medium difficulty, I'd say difficult, bearing in mind that I was equipped with a 15 kg GR20 training pack... but I'm 70 years old!

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