Le Gros Calan in the Alpilles

Short hike in the Alpilles, below Eygalières. Best done in autumn or winter.

Details

90924
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.14 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 201 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 200 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 302 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 129 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the junction of the D25 and D24, at Mas de Montfort.

(S/E) Head south, taking theGR®6, which runs alongside the D24 for about 300 m.

(1) At the bend in the road, leave the road and continue straight ahead. Leave a first path on your left, then a second one, which follows the Vallon de Vallonguette.
TheGR® turns south-east and, 300 m further on, at the crossroads, leave theGR®6and turn left

(2) Pass a cistern and continue on the Martelles trail until you reach the intersection of two tracks.

(3) Continue straight ahead until you reach the D25a.

(4). Turn left and, after about 300 m, leave the road and take a path on the right, which quickly joins another road.

(5). Cross and continue straight ahead until you reach the intersection with the Route Forestière du Gros Calan.

(6) Turn left and follow the path parallel to the D25a, which is below on the left, until the next fork.

(7) Turn right onto theGR®6, which runs along a pretty valley. The trail joins a track.

(8). Turn left at the 180° bend and, just after the second hairpin bend, leave this track and take a path on the right.

(9) Continue to Val Aurouso, leaving the trailheads on your right.

(10) A few metres before the D24, turn left and follow the road to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 152 m - Intersection of the D25 and D24, at Mas de Montfort
  2. 1 : km 0.51 - alt. 162 m - Fork
  3. 2 : km 1.62 - alt. 238 m - Fork (end of the GR)
  4. 3 : km 3.36 - alt. 259 m - Intersection of tracks
  5. 4 : km 3.58 - alt. 244 m - D25a
  6. 5 : km 4.25 - alt. 244 m - Crossing the road
  7. 6 : km 4.82 - alt. 295 m - Gros Calan Forest Road - Gros Calan 380 m
  8. 7 : km 6.28 - alt. 237 m - Junction with the GR6
  9. 8 : km 6.8 - alt. 188 m - Intersection
  10. 9 : km 6.95 - alt. 204 m - Intersection with the Val Aurouso trail
  11. 10 : km 8.51 - alt. 130 m - Fork before the D24 Near - Gaudre de Romanin (rivière)
  12. S/E : km 9.14 - alt. 150 m - Intersection of the D25 and D24, at Mas de Montfort

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

4.4 / 5
Based on 70 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
J.Mounier
J.Mounier

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Well signposted.
At the end, instead of finishing by taking the road, it would be better to go straight to the car park.

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souche.jeanlouis
souche.jeanlouis

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

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

A moderately beautiful walk, done using the Visorando smartphone app.
The route indicated between points 7 and 8 does not follow the path found on the ground (the alarm indicating an exit from the route sounded!)
At point 10, we couldn't find the path indicated before the D24. We crossed the road before turning left and followed the path on the other side to find our way back to the starting point.

From point 1 to point 5, we found the walk rather uninteresting. We liked the path between Gros Calan and Petit Calan.

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thierry.regis90
thierry.regis90

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

One of the most beautiful hikes we have done in the Alpilles: varied landscapes with shaded areas, which is pleasant in summer, and above all open trails, often high up, offering numerous viewpoints: Les Opies, the watchtower, the Come plateau, Eygalières with Mont Ventoux in the background, and of course the Petit and Grand Calan..

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Rémy et Cathy
Rémy et Cathy

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike accessible to most walkers. There are a few steep climbs that you will need to take at your own pace, and the more athletic hikers will need to wait for those who are lagging behind. The route can be adapted if necessary. There are some small side paths that allow you to leave the main trail and are more pleasant (in my opinion ).

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Jyp8313
Jyp8313

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An enjoyable and accessible hike along forest trails in the countryside behind Eygaliere.
From the car park, take the D24 Mouriès-Maussane and follow the vineyard to start the hike.
Some sections of road: caution advised.
Beautiful view at the "Oiseau" cistern.
Return via the track at the foot of Gros Calan and the path towards Val Aurouso.

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MonikW
MonikW

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with varied landscapes and stunning panoramic views. There were a few difficulties at the start, but these were quickly resolved with the GPS track. We were unfamiliar with this part of the Alpilles, so it was a wonderful discovery!

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pepinet
pepinet

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A lovely, easy hike offering beautiful views.

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Ran
Ran

Very beautiful hike. No major difficulties. Beautiful sunshine and almost warm. Highly recommended.

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kty18
kty18

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful and very easy hike in the heart of the Alpilles.

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Ran
Ran

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A circuit with a variation

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lajiji
lajiji
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike that allows you to enjoy stunning views.

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Celinegranier
Celinegranier

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route with beautiful panoramic views and a walk through the pine forest.
No difficulty
To get from 1 to 2, continue straight ahead on the GR. There is a slightly steep hill, then leave the GR and turn left, where you will find the cistern

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curtud
curtud

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The start is rather poorly explained; you need to follow the GR southwards. The last half becomes interesting at the foot of Calan. It's a shame that the GPS track mainly follows the forest track, as I think it's possible to take a nicer path at times.
It's a beautiful circuit nonetheless.
Roger

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nichou
nichou

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike.
The only difficulty is a steep 500-metre climb 1 km after the start.
The hike offers little shelter. Avoid in very hot weather.

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schnogeloch
schnogeloch

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike with no difficulties, done in strong mistral winds: in some places, it really blows your hair around!
The start wasn't very clear, but the GPS was helpful.

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