The Vallon des Escombes via the Chemin de Caban

From Plan de Cuques, take the D 908 towards Logis Neuf. On Avenue Salvador Allende, turn left onto Chemin de Bon Rencontre, then 900 metres further on, turn left onto Chemin du Vallon des Gages. Follow the track to the end to reach a car park at the start of the walk.

(S/E) Go through the gate and follow the track. You’ll come to a water retention dam. Cross the concrete slab and then walk alongside the rocks.

(1) Turn sharply left to climb up above the rocks. Cross smooth, slippery slabs – take great care in wet weather. Join a path that climbs and passes next to a fire station. Keep to the right at a junction.

(2) Turn right after the electricity pylon. The path passes a fire station and enters a wooded area. Keep to the left at the Y-junction. You’ll reach a crossroads in a large open area.

(3) Turn right onto the track (Chemin de Caban), heading north. Stay on this track, passing fire tank no. 632 and, further on, underground fire tank no. 128.

(4) After the tank, turn right onto the track which descends in wide bends.

(5) At the bottom, at the hairpin bend, turn right onto the path that descends into the valley, winding its way through the vegetation.

(6) Turn right at the Y-junction heading due south. You will reach the Vallon des Escombes. The path becomes more challenging with numerous rocky slabs and potholes filled with water. The path then levels out and becomes pleasant, leading to a grassy, open area. Note the Jas Bonifay on the right.

(7) From this point, the path narrows considerably as it winds its way through dense vegetation and bushes. Watch out for scratches. Cross a very narrow rocky section, then arrive at a long tunnel of vegetation where you’ll need to crouch to get through. Once you reach a rock face, the tunnel becomes impassable. Do not proceed.

(8) Turn left onto a barely visible path that winds its way round the dense vegetation to reach a water retention dam. Follow the track that runs to the left of the dam.

(1) Once you reach the second dam, follow the route back the way you came to return to the car park (S/E)

Important note: the Vallon des Escombes, like many other valleys in the Chaîne de l’Étoile, is not marked on IGN maps as a signposted path but as a stream bed. You should therefore take precautions if you are walking through this valley. The route suggested here is shown on the IGN satellite base map.
- There are plenty of stones along the route and numerous obstacles that may hinder progress.
- Narrow, overgrown sections (wear long clothing).
- Large, flat limestone slabs that are often damp. Take care not to slip.
- Take care after a thunderstorm, as the stream may be flowing strongly.

For reference: the author’s estimated time for this route is 2 hours 30 minutes (excluding a lunch break).

A bit of history: in the very overgrown area of the Vallon des Escombes (above the point (8)), Captain Ike B. Webb Jr.’s aeroplane crashed after being shot down by German fighter planes on 24 October 1943 (there is a memorial on the Chemin de Mimet near the Provence Nemrod shooting range).