The banks and canyon of the Loup

de fr

Far from the crowded beaches, the coast and its hustle and bustle, you can hike in a little corner of paradise for the curious or the initiated. River, waterfalls, swimming or fishing...
The landscapes and activities here are as varied as they are enjoyable. Loop at La Colle-sur-Loup, where you can also swim, go rock climbing and hire kayaks.

Details

n°4012014
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.12 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 127 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 121 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 128 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 16 m
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

Photo of the banks and canyon of the Loup
Find the viewpoint via the Montmeuille path, La Colle sur Loup
Monkey bridge in the Forest Canyon
The Loup Canyon

Description of the walk

To get to the starting point, head towards the town of La Colle-sur-Loup, Boulevard Alex Roubert, and park in the car park opposite the stadium.

(S/E) Start the hike by heading west on Boulevard Honoré Teisseire, then continue on Route du Pont de Pierre. Follow the left-hand side of the road for about 800 m until you reach the sign for "Rives du loup".

(1) Continue south-west on Chemin de la Fuontsana. Pass the Saint-Donat Chapel and the canoe and kayak centre to arrive at a large wooden sign indicating "Parc Départemental des rives du Loup".

(2) The path becomes a footpath. Follow the Loup river until you come to a large rock face on the left where there is a climbing site.

(3) Continuing to follow the river, keep going until you reach the large banks, which are ideal for picnics. From there, follow the riverbed either on the bank or in the stream itself if the water level allows.

You can swim in a fairly deep spot with clear, running water. Along the way, you may see and hear participants in the nearby Parc Canyon Forest tree-top adventure course.

(4) Continue along Chemin de la Luona to enter a residential area. At the intersection, turn north onto Chemin de l'Escours and continue for about 500 m.

(5) Turn left (west) onto Chemin de la Carrière de Montmeuille. The path, which starts off as the entrance to a housing estate, climbs uphill and becomes a forest track. Follow the DFCI VAN 84 track until it intersects with Chemin de Montmeuille.

(6) Cross Chemin de Montmeuille and take the small path on the left of the intersection to reach La Bagarée. Please note that the direction of the viewpoint is not signposted and there are many small paths that are not marked. Use a compass or GPS to head south/south-west to find the La Bagarée viewpoint.

(7) Viewpoint over the Gorges du Loup. After admiring the view, continue along the paths heading north and then north-east to reach the Chemin de Montmeuille.

Keep left, pass the Belambra holiday village and continue straight downhill to the stadium and the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 76 m - Stadium car park
  2. 1 : km 0.71 - alt. 35 m - Signs marked "Rives du Loup" - Loup (fleuve)
  3. 2 : km 1.08 - alt. 28 m - Start of the footpath
  4. 3 : km 1.59 - alt. 32 m - Climbing site
  5. 4 : km 2.94 - alt. 17 m - Chemin de la Luona
  6. 5 : km 3.73 - alt. 19 m - Montmeuille quarry trail
  7. 6 : km 4.49 - alt. 102 m - Chemin de Montmeuille
  8. 7 : km 4.78 - alt. 84 m - La Bagarée, viewpoint
  9. S/E : km 6.12 - alt. 76 m - Stadium car park

Notes

To see the car park and the starting point: click here

Beware of falling rocks.

Video view: click here

Worth a visit

Swimming, climbing and canoeing available.
Picnic area.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 40 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
User 10661794

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

During this hike, I came across a section of the trail that has been closed by the local council due to a landslide. The route has therefore been diverted and shortened. The proposed route to complete the circular loop and return to the start/finish point is very rocky and steep.
I will try to do it in the other direction soon to see where this closure leads.

Machine-translated

User 22061302

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Circuit along the water's edge with return via the cliff. However, part of the circuit is closed due to the risk of falling rocks. It is possible to bypass the closed section by walking in the river.

Machine-translated

User 22061302

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Caution! Part of the circuit is closed due to the risk of falling rocks. However, it is possible to bypass this section by walking in the river

Machine-translated

1000guy
1000guy

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : Yes

The first part along the river is really nice
once you've crossed the bridge, the route is completely uninteresting, except for adding to your mileage.
Good to know: there are only a few parking spaces available
so I recommend parking at the first car park
enjoy your walks!

Machine-translated

Nanne06
Nanne06

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

The first part was easy and very beautiful in this magnificent canyon where I was alone in the world after the first kilometre and its dog walkers. A scene from the dawn of time with the song of the rushing river 🤗 Return to the forest through the streets of La Colle, which were not very interesting (and which I would not have done in the middle of summer!), then back down to the car park through the woods.

Machine-translated

larpète
larpète

Overall rating : 2 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : Yes

Hello everyone
Another hike that's no longer possible, except for a few hundred metres.
First of all, it's match day, so the car park is full, which means it's out of the question.
It was possible to park on the road leading to the chapel, or at the kayak club, or even at the club itself.
We set off on our hike, or rather our stroll, surrounded by dogs of all breeds.
After barely 1 kilometre, there's a "riot barrier" and a magnificent brand new sign saying STOP...
It looks like it's going to cost us £135 (times are tough).
We turn around and head for a shared climbing course, with a beginner who is a little embarrassed to share her fears.
That's all I'm going to write, because any more and another walk will be ruined.
The elected officials are protecting themselves, and we can understand why!!!!

Larpète

Machine-translated

Sestigege
Sestigege

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk along this trail. The second half towards Pornic is more interesting, wilder and offers prettier views

Machine-translated

régis Bertrand
régis Bertrand

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Between wait points 3 and 4, there is a sign prohibiting passage due to the risk of rockfalls. I went through anyway at my own risk, otherwise I would have had to turn back.
Apart from that, it was a very beautiful walk...

Machine-translated

dominus67fra
dominus67fra

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A beautiful, shaded walk along the banks of the Loup river

Machine-translated

Teya
Teya

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A delightful walk along the edge of the Loup, very easy, the urban section is quite short and allows you to see the Loup from a different angle on the way back, from higher up.

Machine-translated

randodom(
randodom(

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Difficulties following the trail after the viewpoint despite the GPX

Machine-translated

Coco31
Coco31

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant short hike! The coolness at the edge of the forest is welcome when it's hot.
A varied hike: a bit of town (but not unpleasant), forests, rocky trails..

Machine-translated

Brunbo
Brunbo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Nice route
Along the stream, if the flow is strong, follow the trail closely in the section under the cliff, as the path will be in the water at one point
Asparagus patch on the way back when you climb back up to the plateau

Machine-translated

Mario Simard
Mario Simard

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant hike, especially along the Loup between the water and the cliffs. Once you reach the top, the view from the lookout point is splendid.

Thanks, Alain.

Machine-translated

Isaphilippon
Isaphilippon

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Half of the route is in town along the road, so it's not great! However, the walk along the banks of the Loup is very pleasant and offers some lovely views. Like many others, we had trouble finding our way after leaving the viewpoint. There are no signs on site, and the route suggested by Visorando is non-existent. We had to use a compass for quite a while to get back on the original route.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking Loop from the Grotte de la Chèvre d'Or to Roquefort-les-Pins

Visorando member
Boucle de la Grotte de la Chèvre d'Or à Roquefort-les-Pins
↔4.99 km ↗+112 m ↘-103 m ◔1h 45 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Roquefort-les-Pins (Alpes-Maritimes)
This is a walk of about 5km that forms a loop in the forests of Roquefort-les Pins. The route sometimes follows DFCI tracks, wide paths or narrow trails. Some notable points of interest include a pretty stone house in the middle of nowhere and a well in the middle of the forest, evidence of past agricultural activity. The entrance to a cave has been found, but the one known as the Chèvre d'Or (Golden Goat) is still being sought.

Walking Le Castellas from Roquefort-les-Pins

Visorando member
Le Castellas au départ de Roquefort-les-Pins
↔8.64 km ↗+196 m ↘-192 m ◔3h 00 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Roquefort-les-Pins (Alpes-Maritimes)
This route allows you to discover the medieval site of Castellas, dating from the first half of the 11th century. The castrum occupies a projection of the limestone plateau of Camp Tracier, a stronghold of a defensive nature, which became Roquefort. The upper part of the site, overlooking the Gorges du Loup, contains the remains of the keep, limited to a 3-metre-high fragment of the north-east corner. Below, there are significant fragments of a 3-metre-high enclosure and the walls of a main building. The lower part, about fifteen metres below, features the remains of the Church of Saint-Michel. This consists of a single-nave Romanesque church with a well-preserved, semi-circular apse covered with a cul-de-four vault, with a light slit in the centre. This route offers views from the top of Debram, towards the north, of the summit of Courmettes (1,248 metres). It runs alongside the Roman site of Camp Tracier in the distance.

Walking Le Puy de Naouri via the Combe de la Baisse

Visorando member
↔13.02 km ↗+686 m ↘-680 m ◔5h 40 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Tourrettes-sur-Loup (Alpes-Maritimes)
Starting from Tourettes-sur-Loup, this hike offers breathtaking views. A 360° panorama stretching from the bay of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat to the bay of Antibes on one side, continuing on to the peaks of the Mercantour.

Walking Baoux des Blancs et des Noirs via the chemin du Riou

Visorando member
↔8.36 km ↗+357 m ↘-359 m ◔3h 25 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Vence (Alpes-Maritimes)
This walk begins with a stroll along the peaceful Chemin du Riou, a balcony overlooking the Pays Vençois, then climbs up to the two cliff promontories, taking in a wide panorama from Nice to Théoule, and perhaps even a glimpse of Corsica!

Walking Le Puy de Naouri from Vence

Visorando member
Le Puy de Naouri depuis Vence
↔11.26 km ↗+513 m ↘-513 m ◔4h 40 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Vence (Alpes-Maritimes)
This route takes you to the Puy de Naouri, which overlooks the entire Vence area, both on the sea and mountain sides. This hike, starting from Vence, seems to me to be more interesting and enjoyable than the one starting from Tourrettes-sur-Loup, even though it is longer, as it does not follow any tarmac roads.

Walking Tour of the Baous des Blancs and Baous des Noirs

Visorando member
Tour des Baous des Blancs et Baous des Noirs
↔7.37 km ↗+332 m ↘-325 m ◔3h 05 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Vence (Alpes-Maritimes)
A magnificent hike to the top of the baous, overlooking Vence and Saint-Jeannet. You will pass through karst landscapes and heathland flora. The panoramic views of the sea and mountains are breathtaking.

Walking The valleys of the Brague and Bruguet rivers

Visorando member
Les vallons de la Brague et du Bruguet
↔6.95 km ↗+140 m ↘-139 m ◔2h 25 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Valbonne (Alpes-Maritimes)
This is an easy walk through woodland with plenty of shade, which is very welcome in summer. The route follows the Brague river and its confluence with the Bruguet before returning via the Brague. There are magnificent views of the rivers, waterfalls and a small stone bridge.

Walking The Launes de la Cagne in Vence

Visorando member
Les launes de la Cagne à Vence
↔5.89 km ↗+64 m ↘-68 m ◔1h 50 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Vence (Alpes-Maritimes)
This lovely little walk, via the Riou trail, will take you to the banks of a pretty river, La Cagne. Young and old alike can enjoy the deep pools and waterfalls. A geographical curiosity. A very beautiful spot. 23/04/2024: The hike is only accessible up to point 3 due to work being carried out after heavy rain.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.