Mercantour walks

Beautiful day hike. Varied scenery, névés, scree, lakes, everything you need to have fun.

This is a fine route with the beautiful Lac de Trécolpas at the foot of the Pas des Ladres. Please note that following storm Alex, the start of the hike on the right bank is no longer possible and must therefore be made on the left bank.

A hike to discover four glacial lakes among chamois, ibex and marmots!

The Millefonts lakes hike will take you to no fewer than five lakes at the foot of the Mercantour. The Col de Barn offers breathtaking views of the Molières valley and the lakes.

A beautiful loop in the Gordolasque valley that takes you close to five lakes, including the superb Lac Autier and Lac Niré. There are also some beautiful waterfalls, including the vast Cascade de l'Estrech. Numerous chamois can be seen throughout the hike. A few ibex and marmots can be spotted below the Lac de la Fous dam.

A magnificent hike in the Haute-Tinée offering varied panoramas and one of the most beautiful series of lakes in the Mercantour! The climb from Le Pra is gradual and easy, with the Cime de la Bonnette behind you. You then pass under the strange Aiguilles de Tortisse before arriving at the Col du Fer (view of Mont Viso). After the Collet de Tortisse, you arrive at the arch, where you can enjoy a splendid panorama of the Lacs de Vens and the peaks of the Trou de l'Âne!

This round trip will give you a 600m elevation gain in 4 hours and allow you to enjoy this magnificent lake. Moderator's addition on 22/07/2021: Please note! Access to the lake is now impossible due to damage caused by Storm Alex. See the reviews at the bottom of this page

The Pissoun waterfall is a pretty waterfall that is easy to access. This circuit around the valley via the Portes de l'Enfer and their cliffs offers beautiful forest and pastoral landscapes and the trail is relatively easy.

A beautiful family hike with the chance to see marmots just a few metres from the path (from the start and also at the lake).

The Bessons Lakes are among the most beautiful and airy in Boréon. The striking glacial relief, with the passage of barriers defending this cirque, is truly awe-inspiring.

A pleasant hike with no major difficulties, featuring a superb ridge walk and, as a reward, a visit to Fort Charvet. Built between 1883 and 1890, this fort occupies a rocky promontory overlooking the confluence of the Tinée and Var rivers.

This small natural lake is little known to hikers. Surrounded by greenery, it is very pleasant and peaceful.

This short loop takes you past Lac des Adus, then continues a little further towards Pointe des Adus and returns via theGR®52. Mainly in the forest, it is very pleasant in hot weather, especially as you can swim in the lake.

A beautiful loop around the Fenestre valley with Lake Fenestre as its centre point.

A round trip to this high-altitude lake located in a cirque at the foot of the Chevalier (2,886 m). The trail overlooks the Terres Plaines valley and its endless shades of green.

A charming circular hike that can be done at the start of the season (June) when there is still snow. Chamois are often seen (early in the morning). The lake area is very pleasant and offers many options and views for picnics.

One of the main sites in the Mercantour, Lac Nègre offers the reward of a sudden view of a rocky high mountain landscape that contrasts with the peaceful forest climb that precedes it. The Pas du Préfouns is the viewpoint of the Préfouns valley with the Aiguilles de Questa on the Italian side and the Lac Nègre cirque on the French side.

It is the 3000m peak renowned as the easiest in the Southern Alps. To the north, it overlooks the glacial site of Lac d'Allos, the largest high-altitude lake in Europe at 2,227 metres. Mont Pelat, in the Mercantour National Park, is the highest point in the Haut Verdon.

Discover the Gordolasque Valley and the Mercantour.

We offer a hike in the Valdeblore mountain pastures, with an ascent of one of the major peaks in the area, Mont Pépoiri, offering exceptional views over the entire ridge of the Mercantour massif. View of Corsica on a clear day.

Hike to one of the largest lakes in the Mercantour National Park, surrounded by ibex and chamois.

Mont Mounier (2,817m) is one of the must-see peaks in the Alpes Maritimes: magnificent panoramas, 360° views from the summit, a beautiful ridge at the end, a fairly steady and easy 1,100m climb with views of the summit almost all the way.

A magnificent viewpoint, the summit of Caïre Gros, between the Tinée and Vésubie valleys, offers superb views of the Franco-Italian mountain range and the main peaks of the Mercantour.

Hike along the Authion border, climb the Cime du Diable (2,685 m), with views of the lakes of the Vallée des Merveilles and its ancient rock carvings.

Discover the Vallée des Merveilles by connecting the Vallée de la Gordolasque to the famous Refuge des Merveilles.

A tour that plunges you into a mineral desert with peaks that are strange to say the least.

Starting from the hamlet of Les Launes, this circular hike takes you to Lac de Beuil, nestled in a sinkhole at the foot of Tête de l'Ubac, before climbing to Tête du Garnier for a magnificent panorama over the entire Beuil-Valberg area, as far as Mont Mounier and Mercantour in the distance.

An easy round trip hike that allows you to discover a wild area very close to the Isola 2000 ski resort. During the ascent, you will pass close to the 5 Lacs de Terre Rouge lakes before arriving at the Baisse du Druos, which offers a beautiful view of the many Lacs Supérieurs de Valscura lakes. Although this route is outside the Mercantour National Park, you may encounter some chamois.

Located on the borders of the Vésubie, Bévéra and Roya valleys, Authion is the southernmost peak in the Alps above 2,000 metres. Hiking its three peaks (Pointe des Trois Communes, Forca and Mille Fourches) offers magnificent panoramic views between the Mediterranean Sea and the Mercantour massif. It is also an opportunity to discover its ancient military forts, which guarded the French-Italian border from the end of the19th century until the end of the Second World War.

The destination of a hike starting from Pont du Countet, the traditional entry point to the Vallée des Merveilles, Lac Long is relatively uncrowded and exudes an atmosphere of serenity in its rocky setting dominated by the elegant Cime de la Malédie. Reaching this lake allows you to enter a wild and mineral valley located near the very popular Refuge de Nice. Ibex and chamois will probably be your only companions.

This hike takes place in a very green valley, punctuated by a pretty little lake that takes on the colour of its surroundings. You can admire the pictograms of the Sacred Way (like those in the Vallée des Merveilles). The whole area is dominated by Mont Bégo.

Starting from Châteauneuf-d'Entraunes (near Valberg), this hike offers plenty to discover: a picturesque village, an old wheat mill (open to visitors in summer), impressive gorges... Sounds good, doesn't it?

A beautiful, accessible hike starting from Camp des Fourches. You will cross the Salso Moreno sinkholes to discover the superb lakes of Morgon and Laussets. You are in the Mercantour National Park, where there are regulations to be observed, with fines of up to €1,500 for non-compliance. See practical information.

Four-day route in the Mercantour Massif. Passing through the unmissable Vallée des Merveilles, continuing on to the Refuges de Nice and Madone de Fenestre, then ending the circular at Pont du Countet, the terminus of the Gordolasque valley road.

A beautiful climb takes you to a summit at 2,757 metres, from where you can enjoy a 360° panorama of many of the high mountains in the surrounding area. These forts were built at the end of the 19th century to prevent Italian troops from entering the country via the Salso Moreno valley. They were occupied during both World Wars but were never actually used.

This beautiful circular route takes you from valley to valley, each time revealing a new landscape, from a wild valley to the lakes around the Refuge des Merveilles in a stunning rocky setting.

This magnificent circular takes you through the Valmasque and Fontanalbe valleys, with no fewer than five lakes and picture-postcard landscapes. It is a long but gradual hike with very few difficult sections.

A short and easy family walk when passing through the Col de la Bonette by car.

This hike starts at the beautiful Lac des Sagnes and ends at Lac de Pelouse, passing through woods (full of raspberries when we were there) and mountain pastures (with flocks of sheep and their canine guardians), where you may be lucky enough to spot lots of chamois.

A very beautiful hike, especially the part where you leave the 4x4 track and arrive at the waterfalls.

A circular hike starting from the Férisson cattle shed and passing through all the ridges around the Férisson cirque. Superb views all along the way, with the sea on one side and the Mercantour peaks on the other. As the end of the route is off-trail and unmarked, a good sense of direction and route-finding skills are essential.

A very pleasant family walk in the Gordolasque Valley, with no particular difficulties and wonderful scenery.

From the summit of La Valette, there is a breathtaking view of all the peaks of the Mercantour, La Colmiane and, on a clear day, Cap d'Antibes. You will pass by the five lakes of Le Prals.

A lesser-known and less-frequented secondary summit of the Mercantour, located above the pretty village of Péone, the Tête de Méric nevertheless offers a magnificent panorama stretching from the Tours du Lac d'Allos to the peaks of the Vallée des Merveilles, via the Val d'Entraunes and the Gorges de Daluis. The final ridge allows you to gradually discover this panorama.

Capelet Inférieur is one of the southernmost peaks of the Mercantour. The viewpoint over the 3000-metre peaks of Gélas, Malédie and Clapier is superb, with beautiful panoramic views over the Gordolasque valley and, on a clear day, the Baie des Anges in Antibes.

A short circular forest offering views of the mountains towards the Mediterranean, as well as the peaks of the Mercantour.

An easy hike offering beautiful views of the Mercantour Massif and, opposite, the Madone de Fenestre valley. You can extend the hike on the mountain pasture towards the Tête du Brec (2566m).

The Col de Gialorgues is a crossing point between the upper Var and upper Tinée regions, offering views of a glacial valley with the Lacs de l'Estrop lakes in a cirque.

This itinerary allows you to discover the wonders of this valley. In particular, the famous engravings such as Christ, the Tribal Chief and the Altar Rock. But be careful, these areas are monitored!

In April 1945, the entire Authion massif was the scene of fighting that led to the liberation of the Alpes-Maritimes. This route passes through the main fortifications of the Alpes-Maritimes fortified sector (SFAM). Apart from its historical significance, this circular route offers magnificent panoramic views of the high peaks of the Mercantour to the north and the Mediterranean to the south.