Plaine des Mayons - Lac des Escarcets

de fr

An easy hike with little elevation gain. A wide variety of landscapes in a wetland area: wooded areas, vineyards, open spaces, rock formations, varied vegetation (beautiful dwarf irises in April). Numerous fords and streams, pleasant in spring.
moderator's note: site closed since 10/09/2021 until further notice

Details

n°1047341
Creation:
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.31 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 52 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 57 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 120 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 69 m
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Photos

The white rockroses are in bloom
Fording the water from Lake Escarcets
The trees killed by the 2021 fire
Plaine des Mayons - Lac des Escarcets

Description of the walk

From Gonfaron, take the D75, pass the village of Les Mayons and, after a bridge, you will see a large car park on the left in a right-hand bend.

(S/E) Go through the barrier at the end of the car park.

(1) At the first intersection, turn left. Follow the yellow markings, ignoring the paths on either side.

(2) At the fork, continue left and then go straight ahead along the vineyard. Keep heading west.

(3) At the intersection in the forest, leave the Petites Aurèdes track and turn left (still following the yellow signs). Leave a path on your left and continue to a new intersection.

(4) Take the hairpin bend to the right (yellow signpost). The path turns left when it meets another path.

(5) At the crossroads, turn right and follow the path (yellow markings) straight ahead until you reach the intersection with a large track.

(6) Turn right onto the Aurèdes track. Stay on this track at each intersection, follow a small lake on your right and you will reach a multiple intersection.

(7) Stay on the track heading east and join the junction with the Tire track.

(8) Continue straight ahead to the lake (there are numerous picnic areas). Follow the lake, veering to the left and following the signs to reach a car park.

(9) Take the path straight ahead, Vallon des Escarcets Ouest, and follow it until you come to a penstock. Then turn left.

(10) At the crossroads about 100 metres further on, pass under the pipe, cross the ford and turn right into the Vallon des Escarcets Est. At the fork, turn right towards the Bergerie de la Péguière.

(11) At a wide ford, you can make a small detour by climbing up to the right to reach the dam. Then retrace your steps, cross the ford and take the small path on the right (not signposted) to follow the lake. After a very small beach, climb up to the left to reach the Péguière sheepfold.

(12) Turn right to head south and continue straight ahead, ignoring the paths on either side.

(1) Continue straight ahead to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 119 m - Car park on the edge of the D75
  2. 1 : km 0.31 - alt. 114 m - Crossroads at the end of the loop
  3. 2 : km 0.84 - alt. 108 m - Fork, left
  4. 3 : km 2.34 - alt. 106 m - Fork in the road, take the left
  5. 4 : km 3.27 - alt. 105 m - Right-hand hairpin bend
  6. 5 : km 4.02 - alt. 115 m - t-junction, right
  7. 6 : km 5.27 - alt. 106 m - At the crossroads, take the Aurèdes track on the right
  8. 7 : km 7.4 - alt. 98 m - Multiple crossroads, go straight ahead
  9. 8 : km 7.94 - alt. 100 m - Junction with the Piste de la Tire, opposite
  10. 9 : km 8.56 - alt. 96 m - Car park
  11. 10 : km 9.49 - alt. 70 m - Intersection, penstock and ford
  12. 11 : km 10.35 - alt. 92 m - Wide ford, detour to the right
  13. 12 : km 10.89 - alt. 99 m - La Péguière sheepfold, on the right
  14. S/E : km 12.31 - alt. 119 m - Car park on the edge of the D75

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 37 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
User 4609817

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Small car park by the roadside.
An easy and very pleasant walk in spring amongst rockroses, lavender and vineyards.
Risk of getting your feet wet after heavy rain

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Rando Leo
Rando Leo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 09, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy walk in the Maures Nature Reserve, including a circuit around Lake Escarcets.
There are seven fords to cross, which is quite fun (but take care during periods of heavy rain)
The scars of the last major fire are still visible, but the heath has grown back well and there are plenty of flowers to be seen at this time of year

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RORO_SIX-FOURS
RORO_SIX-FOURS

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very easy and enjoyable walk, completed on Tuesday, 4 November 2025. The route is easy to follow with the app.

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Denis8361@
Denis8361@

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant and easy.
Despite the scars left by the 2021 fire, the hike remains enjoyable.

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PhiDra83
PhiDra83
• Edited:

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 : No

A route accessible to everyone, provided you enjoy long walks. Very little elevation gain, very pleasant, with a beautiful variety of landscapes. To be repeated without moderation 👍

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Alain83140
Alain83140

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful walk in the heart of the Plaine des Maures, a protected site that unfortunately suffered a fire but, despite the damage, remains a must-see destination accessible to all

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ritou 50
ritou 50

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello
a very beautiful, easy hike with very little elevation gain. During the week, there's no one else on the trails, which is great. Sometimes it's a little hard to find the trail (without GPS)
Best regards

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loronavil
loronavil

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

For a workout, this is a pleasant, flat route with a stop around the lake for lunch.
A great way to relax with the family

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peskado
peskado
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant hike, relatively flat terrain, but it's a shame that a recent fire has changed the landscape a little in places. Picnicking is possible by the water.

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ritou 50
ritou 50

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

very beautiful hike, no difficulty as it is flat. Be careful in some places as the trees are still black from the fires

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titibof
titibof

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Follow the GPS track for this hike as there are almost no signposts (they were destroyed in a fire). Between points 3 and 5, the path has not yet been cleared, so you will need to step over a few tree trunks, but it's nothing too difficult. The vegetation is dense in places and brushes against your legs, but it is doable in shorts (nothing prickly). A pleasant hike, but bring water in hot weather.

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roched
roched

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a beautiful hike with lots of flowers

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M_a_tt
M_a_tt

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello! The site has been reopened since 15 December 2022. The natural environment is still very much affected, and I advise you not to stray from the paths. Many trees are still falling, aided by gusts of wind. I saw one fall 15 metres away from me... So please be careful, even on the paths, some of which are blocked by fallen trees. It's easy to find your way with the GPS track. I highly recommend using it, as there are virtually no signposts. In this wet season, the ground is muddy and there are several small fords to cross, so good shoes are essential. It's a lovely walk despite the damage caused by the fire, which is still clearly visible and even noticeable by the smell...

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Vannereux
Vannereux

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : Not used / Not applicable
Very busy route : No

please note:
closed for one year since the fire in August 2021, nature, still heavily scarred, is gradually reclaiming its rights. The paths have sometimes completely disappeared, as have the markings, meaning that it is now very easy to get lost!

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grandin
grandin ★

Bandit83000

Thanks for the information

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