Pierrefeu and the Cabane des Gardes (GR51)

A hike looping around the Maures hills in the middle of cork oak forests.
Lush vegetation with beautiful views of East Toulon.
You take a portion of the GR51 called "The Balcony of the Mediterranean".

Technical sheet

53286
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.28 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 280 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 279 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 308 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 78 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The car park is at the crossroads of the GR51 and the hamlet of Davids (S/E).

Start by heading due north to the hamlet of Portanière. Turn left at the intersection of Route du Vallon de Maraval, then walk along this road for 20 m to then take the path on the right.
Continue straight on this path that goes through the vineyards. After crossing a forest, reach a crossroads and turn left, still on the GR51.

(1) Arrive at the road to the hamlet of Portanière, turn right and walk past the hostel. Continue through this hamlet to the hamlet of Les Rouves. Go straight towards Vallon Loubier and to Piste des Perriers.

(2) At the intersection of that track, turn right towards Route de Maraval. Ignore the paths on the right and left and stay on this track. Reach to the top of the ridge; at the intersection, turn right down the track. Below at the intersection of Route de Maraval, turn left and stay on this track rising into the valley bottom along the “Plaine longue” dams.

(3) After a hairpin turn, continue on the right track (the track to La Saute). You will find a spring up the hill under the cork oaks. Reach the summit: the crossroads with the GR51 and the Cabane des Gardes has a picnic area and, depending on the season and with permission from the municipality of Pierrefeu, the opportunity to have a barbecue or cook over a fire.

(4) Behind the Cabane des Gardes, take the path on an overhang and into the woods on the north slope. Ignore the path down to the right, then left and right.
Continue straight ahead as far as (5) to reach the Piste des Camargues which is unfortunately under construction as of 27 March 2015.
(6) Reach the water tank and take the path behind the tank to arrive at (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 81 m - Departure
  2. 1 : km 0.95 - alt. 93 m - Non-trace variant
  3. 2 : km 1.26 - alt. 78 m - Hameau de la Portanière, on the right. Close to the - Réal Martin (rivière)
  4. 3 : km 4.73 - alt. 189 m - Right towards route de Maraval
  5. 4 : km 7.89 - alt. 244 m - Hairpin bend, continue along the track to the right
  6. 5 : km 9.87 - alt. 308 m - Cabane des Gardes
  7. 6 : km 12.88 - alt. 192 m - Track
  8. 7 : km 14.09 - alt. 167 m - Fire tank
  9. S/E : km 15.28 - alt. 81 m

Practical information

Cabane des Gardes shelters. Starting at 10:00 from your car, you can at the cabin by 13:00.
Note: barbecues or other fires require the approval of the municipality of Pierrefeu.
Some drinking water points from springs only very few. So, bring water.

 Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 55 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
Alain Revello
Alain Revello

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A very quiet and easy walk. Very few people on this first Sunday in March. It's likely to be different in the spring. A beautiful view from the Cabane des Gardes.

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Marilou83
Marilou83

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Easy, pleasant walk in the Maures forest

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Gilles Laurence
Gilles Laurence

Hello, lovely walk on a beautiful day, easy and pleasant to do.

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acraudesoleil
acraudesoleil

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

An interesting walk with a long climb up to the Cabane des Gardes, but one that is gradual and not particularly difficult. Lunch break at the hut with a very open and pleasant landscape.

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Gilles Laurence
Gilles Laurence

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

Good little ride, pleasant tracks, a few hunters but impeccable security, on the other hand no hikers, just 4 mountain bikes.

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COLIBRI 83
COLIBRI 83

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

great walk in the forest
very pleasant trail
Very quiet site

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filaucalie
filaucalie
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 24, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : Yes

This route is very popular with hunters.

It's a good walk (but outside the hunting season), not really great views but glad we did it anyway.

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mehrung
mehrung

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

This hike was carried out in magnificent weather, immersing us in the infinity of the Maures.
Picnic in the sun (in a t-shirt!) at the hut and a lovely descent along the little path afterwards.
Great comfort for the feet on the pebble-free slopes.
Thank you for a great time.

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vlb01
vlb01

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Nice hike We went over the Sauvecanne ridges (to the right at WP 1 and took the path to the left at marker 120) to join the Perrier's trail at WP 3....
Thanks to the author for this beautiful hike.

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petrel
petrel

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : May 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Nice little hike without too much difficulty. Poorly signposted though, thanks to the visorando guidebook.

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Marc LF
Marc LF

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A pleasant walk with no difficulties. My 9-year-old son, who is not a walker, followed us without any problems.
A walk for the whole family.

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Effer83
Effer83

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

Very easy walk.

We took the ridge path. Some pretty views, but nothing extraordinary.
It is worthwhile above all because of the many possible variations, which allow you to shorten or lengthen the walk according to your mood (and fitness level!). This is also a plus if you want to do the route with young children.

There was no-one at the Gardes hut, so we had a "luxurious" lunch break, with table and benches! For once it's not usual...

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madi83
madi83

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

This is a beautiful trail in the Maures forest, which can be covered without difficulty on wide tracks or narrower paths. Here you can admire the wide open landscapes and the wealth and variety of species, always surprising, in the more confined areas. Below, you can see the vineyards and their promise!
We completed the walk in four hours, without haste.

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RandoMichou
RandoMichou

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

Hello,
I was a little disappointed by this walk as it mainly consists of very wide tracks, which are therefore fairly monotonous and can easily be done in 4 hours and classified as an easy walk.

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squale1953
squale1953

Great.
Next time, take the ridge path (variant) from point 3 to point 2, which will give you some great views.
See you soon on our paths

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