Mont Gibaou, Bois de la Marcouline

A pleasant little walk to explore Mont Gibaou with lovely views of Roquefort-la-Bédoule and the surrounding area, followed by a stroll through the Bois de la Marcouline and a return via pleasant tracks.

Details

44928432
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.42 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 281 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 278 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 397 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 217 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the marked and available parking spaces on Avenue Ambroise Croizat.

(S/E) Head east along a very muddy, uphill track, which can be unpleasant in wet weather. Join another track.

(1) Turn right onto this track and continue to the first hairpin bend.

(2) Take a path branching off to the right and heading west. Continue straight on for about 400 m.

(3) Leave the path by climbing over some rocks on the left. Reach the plateau and descend back into the forest to an ascending path.

(4) Turn right onto this ascending path. Emerge at the edge of the plateau and continue left towards Mont Gibaou. Climb a few more rocks easily to reach the summit and enjoy the view.

(5) Head down to the left towards the Bois de la Marcouline. Walk for about 1 km.

(6) Turn left onto a path that climbs up towards a pretty little valley, heading towards Baou Redon. Reach the top and join a wide track.

(7) Turn right, ignore a track branching off to the right at the cistern and walk for about 700 m.

(8) Turn left onto a small track not shown on the map. This descends into the forest and joins a tarmac DFCI track running alongside the motorway. Follow it down, turning left, and find a path on the left just before a fence, about fifty metres before the entrance to the care home, Domaine de la Source.

(9) Take the path, walk alongside the care home, then continue along the track to reach the fork from the outward journey.

(1) Turn right onto the track which leads directly back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 268 m - Marked parking spaces available
  2. 1 : km 0.33 - alt. 311 m - Track on the right
  3. 2 : km 0.96 - alt. 339 m - Path towards the west
  4. 3 : km 1.41 - alt. 381 m - Short climb to the left
  5. 4 : km 1.64 - alt. 352 m - Path on the right
  6. 5 : km 1.88 - alt. 392 m - Crossroads
  7. 6 : km 2.89 - alt. 217 m - Ascent on the left
  8. 7 : km 4.17 - alt. 349 m - Track on the right
  9. 8 : km 4.89 - alt. 349 m - Forest track
  10. 9 : km 5.46 - alt. 303 m - Path on the left
  11. S/E : km 6.41 - alt. 268 m - Marked parking spaces available

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
3.8 / 5
Denis26
Denis26 ★

Thank you for your comments; I have just amended the itinerary accordingly.

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gillou13
gillou13

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
We completed this hike on 24 March 2026 without any problems. Lovely view from the peaks... Spring on the left as you climb towards WP 7
Just a tip... The Le Domaine de la Source care home has ‘encroached’ on the track at WP 9. There’s a barrier and wire fencing! It’s best to take a small path to the left just before the care home’s fence (about 50m before WP 9). You rejoin the track (dry) after passing the care home.
Avoid days following rain... Slippery marl ground at the start and finish.
gillou13

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gisyl
gisyl
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A nice hike when you live nearby and decide to go for a walk one afternoon. Beautiful views of La Ciotat, Cassis, Carnoux, Roquefort and La Bédoule. Be careful at the start of the hike as it can be slippery after rain. Be careful at point 9 as there is no longer a path along the HEPAD nursing home and the car park is closed.We headed towards Avenue de l'Europe to find the path again.

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trotignon
trotignon

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice easy hike. Trousers recommended, as the paths are narrow.

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Fionaa
Fionaa

Overall rating : 3 / 5

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

It could potentially have been a nice walk but it was rather badly signposted. I thought I'd have an unobstructed view of the village from above, but given the signs I didn't see anything at all...
I'm used to doing hill walks with or without visorando but this one lacked signs and markings, which is a shame.
That said, it's always nice to walk on a hill.

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kirikou83
kirikou83

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Not a difficult walk and very shady.

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Aquariel
Aquariel

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Not a difficult walk. Slight blur at the junction at point 3, but easy to find with a compass. Same blur to find the path at point 8: undergrowth and pruning hide the entrance. We found it anyway by poking around a bit. It starts just before the metal barrier and there is a rock at the entrance on the right (see photo).

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