Pic d'Aurelle and Pic du Cap Roux

This hike allows you to easily reach two of the most beautiful spots in the Esterel, the Pic d'Aurelle and the Pic du Cap Roux, with incredible views of the sea.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.38 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 665 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 661 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 451 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 31 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the Trayas station car park.

(S/E) Take the path right next to the car park towards Col des Lentisques.

(1) Leave the path and take a trail on the right, climbing straight up to the pass.

(2) Take a narrow, unmarked path on the left, parallel to the track, to reach Pic d'Aurelle.

(3) After enjoying the view, turn back to return to Col des Lentisques.

(2) Then take the track on the left that descends towards Col de l'Évêque.

(4) Leave the track and take a path on the left that runs parallel to it and rejoins it further on. Continue left to Col de l'Évêque.

(5) Take a small path opposite the road that climbs steeply.

(6) At the crossroads, turn right. Ignore the path on the right and continue climbing to Pic du Cap Roux.

(7) At the peak, enjoy a 360° view of the Estérel and the coast. Turn back slightly until you reach the main path and this time turn right to continue towards Col du Cap Roux.

(8) Continue along the path to the right, descending gradually.

(9) Take the hairpin bend to the right, ignoring the path on the left, and rejoin the track and one of the car parks.

(10) Continue right on the track until you reach Col de l'Évêque.

(5) Then take the same route back to the station car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 31 m - Trayas station car park
  2. 1 : km 0.38 - alt. 56 m - Trail junction
  3. 2 : km 1.69 - alt. 263 m - Col des Lentisques
  4. 3 : km 2.41 - alt. 313 m - Pic d'Aurelle
  5. 4 : km 3.53 - alt. 249 m - Path on the left
  6. 5 : km 4.55 - alt. 160 m - Col de l'Evêque (159m)
  7. 6 : km 4.94 - alt. 239 m - Crossroads
  8. 7 : km 6.07 - alt. 451 m - Pic du Cap Roux (453m)
  9. 8 : km 6.53 - alt. 360 m - Col du Cap Roux (400m)
  10. 9 : km 7.33 - alt. 250 m - Right-hand hairpin bend
  11. 10 : km 8.05 - alt. 164 m - Car park and track
  12. S/E : km 12.38 - alt. 31 m - Trayas station car park

Notes

Take water, food, a windbreaker, a fleece and tell someone if you are going alone.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 18 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
annette.beaulieu
annette.beaulieu

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

There are numbering errors between the description, the GPX file, and the map.

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kichou
kichou

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

The hike is rather monotonous at the start but beautiful at the end at Cap Rouge! There are lots of people at Cap Rouge. It's a moderate hike, but with beautiful views.

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User 25692260

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

very pretty route to Cap Rouge, but the route ends there. The path no longer exists. You have to turn back.

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Franck du Verdier
Franck du Verdier

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route in the Estérel mountains. Not too busy on a weekday in May.
On the way back to Col de l'Evêque (point 5), you can take the forest road on the right and go around Pic d'Aurelle to point 2, to avoid going back up to Col des Lentisques. This allows you to take another easy path on the way back, closer to the coast.

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Nath06
Nath06

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A superb hike with sunshine and magnificent scenery. No particular difficulties. Nothing but pleasure 😁

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Mercou
Mercou

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb view from the top of Pic Roux. The effort to climb up there is well worth it.
There aren't many people at the top in the early morning, but on the way down you meet lots of people coming up via the route described in the guidebook. It's gentler but much longer.
(The route from point 10 to the Col de l'Évêque is a bit long), except for those who parked at the start of the path!

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Mercou
Mercou

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Great route for enjoying the colours of the Estérel. Done in the direction indicated, the climb is steep, stony and fast. With the right footwear, it's no problem. The descent is longer but comfortable. Just a bit long on the road (from point 10 to the Col de l'Évêque). Lots of people at the top of Cap Roux, but what a view!
A must-do.

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Liseth
Liseth

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We did the hike backwards. We had a great time

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Coccinelle05
Coccinelle05

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb walk in the Estérel mountains, surrounded by varied and fragrant vegetation, offering magnificent panoramic views of the sea and the surrounding red rocks.
At this time of year, the arbutus trees, which are very numerous along the paths, offer their delicious fruits to those who know how to appreciate them!

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Tata smart
Tata smart

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Quite a difficult hike!
Lots of rocks and a beautiful climb!
A breathtaking view from the top!
But quite a physically demanding hike!

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zouestloud
zouestloud

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

a slight change from point 9 to point 6 to avoid the tarmac.

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momoe2673
momoe2673

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We shortened the route by only going to Cap Roux. But it was still very satisfying! Beautifully coloured rocks! Great view! On the other hand, it was very crowded! Reason: 8 May bank holiday.

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ozogiminy
ozogiminy

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

No one at Pic d'Aurelle, crazy crowds at Pic du Cap Roux, at least for a Thursday in early March.
My only minor criticism of this hike is that, rather than retracing much of the route we took on the way there, it would have been possible to descend to Antheor and its station....

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krisV
krisV

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A must-see for the magnificent panoramic views. There are lots of people at the Pic du Cap Roux, but no one at the Pic d'Aurelle, which is really worth visiting.

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vidji7
vidji7

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Moderately busy for a weekend, winter is the perfect season to visit. It is certainly one of the most beautiful walks in the Esterel because you stay up high. A must-do.

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