The Samblue ridges via the Col des Faîsses

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Visit to His Majesty the Obiou. From the Samblue ridges, there is a beautiful view of the Pellafol and Obiou plains.

Details

n°68421
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.97 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 995 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 996 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,762 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 925 m
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Photos

LObiou and the Tête de Lapraz
View of the Matheysine
Tête de l'Obiou

Description of the walk

Park in the Pellafol les Payas car park in front of the church.

(S/E) Cross the village towards the small museum (west) until you reach the reservoir 500 metres away.

(1) Turn left and follow the signs for Col de la Samblue. First a forest track and then a magnificent path will take you to the Col de la Samblue (1,474 m).

(2) Take the path on the right that leads to the Jénébran orientation table.

(3) Return to the forest house.

(2) Follow the track to the altitude of 1600 m.
I'm not a fan of forest tracks, but along this one the views are magnificent, both over the Matheysine and the Obiou and Tête de Lapraz.

Immediately after a car park and a barrier, we see the start of the hike that leads us to the Grande Tête de l'Obiou.

(4) At the bend at 1600 m, take the valley that climbs straight up to the Col des Faïsses.

(5) Leave the path and head for the Tête de la Garde.

(6) Follow the ridges with a view of the Pellafol plain on your right.
Go through the metal gate and follow the path, which becomes a track, to the ONF house at the pass.

(2) From the pass, return to the cars via the same route you took on the way up (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 926 m - Pellafol les Payas car park, in front of the church
  2. 1 : km 0.43 - alt. 967 m - Reservoir
  3. 2 : km 2.8 - alt. 1,475 m - Col de la Samblue (1477 m)
  4. 3 : km 6.13 - alt. 1,578 m - Departure for the Grande Tête de l'Obiou
  5. 4 : km 6.9 - alt. 1,702 m - Col des Faïsses (1701 m)
  6. 5 : km 7.33 - alt. 1,762 m - Tête de la Garde (1769 m)
  7. S/E : km 11.97 - alt. 925 m - Pellafol les Payas car park, in front of the church

Worth a visit

Col des Faïsses: Walk a little further to enjoy the view of the Souloise Gorges and the famous cliffs that made René Demaison famous.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 7 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
JuMi
JuMi

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello, thank you for the information sheet, which is very good. The second kilometre is a bit tough, but it's a very beautiful walk in the Obiou with magnificent panoramic views!
one suggestion for improvement: at point 4, I took the path towards the Tête de l'Obiou, which I followed along the ridge to the foot of the climb. I didn't regret it, as the views are even more beautiful in all directions. Then I descended towards the refuge, which can be seen from afar, and resumed the indicated route. On the descent towards the forest house, the vegetation is very dense, sometimes almost covering the path.
Thank you and happy hiking!

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smashdc
smashdc
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A challenging climb, but with 360° panoramic views of Obiou and Valgaudémar :-)
Find out all about it here ✔️ https://youtu.be/D4Jqxn8q21g
A beautiful climb (25% - 35%) awaits us, unless you take the car to the Col de la Samblue car park or higher up towards the Obiou hike.
The paths are stony but passable by vehicle. No large holes.
As you walk, you will discover the panoramic views along the way.
Heading to the Jénébran orientation table, you'll find great panoramas, but the view of Lake Sautet is somewhat obscured.
So head for the large Obiou valley with its tiny refuge.
A lovely little climb up the rolling ridges, but with a 360° panorama and the lake as a bonus!
The descent through the woods is gentle, then we follow the same trail back, where there are a few steep slopes but they are easy because the terrain is very good and not too rocky.
It was very hot, so the shade was relative and it wasn't really cool.

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Sisssbr
Sisssbr

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, but very steep going up to the Col de la Samblue. In summer, set off early, even though there is plenty of shade in the woods.
There is a beautiful view at the orientation table in Jeneran, which is definitely worth the round trip!
The climb up to the Col de Faïsses from the Col de la Samblue is best done via the forest track, because if you follow the sign for the pass via the other path, you'll be faced with another very steep climb! It's best to do this one downhill!
The return trip via the Samblue ridges is superb, with such beautiful views! There is an electric fence to prevent cows from falling off the cliff, but you can pass underneath it and get closer to see the Souloise Gorges, which are magnificent!

In short, warm up your calves and go! 😜

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Lyric83
Lyric83

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

You have to hang on tight to climb up to the first pass. From there, you'll be treated to some spectacular views.
Click here for this beautiful hike.
PLEASE NOTE: the altitudes between points 2 and 3 are reversed.

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O2LaYaute
O2LaYaute

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike with beautiful views, particularly of Obiou and Lake Sautet.
There are a few errors on the trail before the Col de la Samblue, but just follow the markings.

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JPC07
JPC07

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 04, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike beneath the OBIOU. Labelled "moderate", I would classify it as "difficult". Very steep gradients after the reservoir for a good kilometre, as well as at the end of the descent between LES FAÏSSES and LA SAMBLUE. Magnificent view at point 3 (altitude 1,572 m), reversal with point 2: you climb from 2 to 3, you don't descend. At the Col des FAÏSSES, head straight for the reservoir and pass under the park at the top to enjoy the view: exceptional!

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vétéran3
vétéran3

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

very beautiful hike, the first part of the climb is quite steep but shaded, very beautiful view from the orientation table, the part on the trail is pleasant until the refuge, the view from the top of the ridge towards the valley and the lake is magnificent

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