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Special markings on this route: at almost every intersection, it is important to find the two markers, which are sometimes several metres apart and not necessarily visible at first glance. Be careful. In the description, the markers will be identified by b followed by the corresponding marker number.
Park in the car park of the Maison Forestière de la Croisette on the Col de Turini road (D2566).
(S/E) Start at b194 (1593m), on the other side of the road from the forest house. You have to climb over the wall, which is not necessarily easy. In fact, it is a forest track that climbs steeply, but only for a short time.
Ignore the tracks to the right and left (not shown on the IGN map) and keep heading east-southeast.
After a right-hand bend (leave one track on the left and another opposite), you will reach the B182 (1729 m), which is slightly hidden under a tree.
(1) Turn right onto theGR®52A(white and red markings). A little further on, be careful: there are several tracks to choose from, so make sure you take the one marked GR®. Follow the track along the ridge and pass through a pretty little rocky corridor. Notice a rock shelter on your left and descend into the forest of pine, fir and spruce trees to the Baisse de Patronel (B181).
(2) Here again, there are two sets of markings. When you reach the first b181, the second is about 20 metres further on your left (GR® markings). Continue to follow theGR® and the trail, which curves slightly eastwards for about 300 metres.
(3) Leave the track and theGR® to climb to the right and arrive at b34 on a vast grassy pass with a view of the sea, Le Mounier to the north-west and the peaks of the Vallée des Merveilles to the north.
Then follow the yellow-marked trail to the right towards Peïra Cava. This is a very beautiful balcony trail, on which you will come across a magnificent tree (I don't know what species it is, but you can't miss it with the photo), which leads to the B180 (1572m), from where you can visit the Malpertus Cave.
(4) Here again, there are two markers. The second one is a little lower down (photo). Turn right towards "Route D2566". The going is easy, although slowed down by numerous felled trees, and the markings are not always obvious.
Continue straight downhill, keeping your bearings without following the fluorescent yellow dots. Almost at the bottom, you will see an old ice house (probably) on your left and arrive at the edge of the road at the B173 (1,498 m).
Take the road on the right for about 250m, towards "Cime de Suorcas" until you reach the B178 on the left-hand side of the road. Turn left onto the track that descends through a magnificent fir forest with huge trees (ignore the track that climbs to the right a little further on) and continue to a hairpin bend (B177).
(5) Leave the track and head towards "Cime de Suorcas" to quickly reach a pretty little balcony path. Cross the small Maïris stream and go around the southern slope of Tête de Fracha. Reach the Granges de Suorcas (1390m) with a bird's eye view of the Vallon de Maïris.
After the group of barns, one of which has been restored, the path becomes a little unclear (in fact, I got lost on the goat tracks and had to struggle through the broom to find the marked path again).
(6) The landmark seems to be the buildings on the left, after this small restored barn. Apparently, the path passes between the buildings. In any case, when you are below these buildings, you can see the B192 road above, on the pass.
(7) Once you reach the pass, turn right at the signpost to reach the second B192, then continue towards "Maison Forestière".
The climb is tough, fortunately interspersed with a few nice flat sections in the undergrowth, but you have to cross the rocky ridge three times in narrow gorges, fortunately equipped with steps and, in one case, metal climbing steps with a handrail. It's easy, but stay cautious.
After the Tête de Gaglio, descend via the wide grassy track, then back into the fir forest.
(8) A little further on, the path splits in two: a track on the right and a footpath on the left. The two rejoin further on, but the footpath is flat, while the track takes you up and then down again. Continue along either path to return to the starting point (S/E).
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