Geodetic point "Le Pin Blanc"

A very easy walk to prepare for longer hikes. Very pretty view of the Volx rock.

Details

144141
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.49 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 258 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 251 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 615 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 407 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking at the junction of Route des Drystone Shelter and Route de Villeneuve.

(S/E) Head south towards Villeneuve along the road.
After about 400 metres, climb into the forest via a path on the right.

(1) After just 200 metres, you will come to a white and red metal barrier. Continue along this stony path, gradually climbing up this small hill, with a few hairpin bends and a general south-westerly direction.

(2) At a small cleared platform, continue to the right, descending slightly (do not turn left). Continue westwards until you reach a fairly steep climb into the woods.

(3) Take the second path on the left (west) to climb to the triangulation point (very beautiful view).
Descend along the same path for about 100 metres.

(3) Then take the path downhill on the left.

(4) Further on, you will come to another crossroads. Take the very stony path downhill on the left (do not take the path on the right made of very light-coloured rock and blocked by a barrier, as this is private property). Walk north-west until you reach a tarmac road.

(5) Turn right onto the road and follow it for 100 metres (on the left, this road leads to the village of Niozelles). After a left-hand bend, take the path on the right that goes uphill.

(6) After 300 m, turn left to enter the drystone shelter property. Before entering the woods, the path disappears for a short while, so cross the meadow on the left-hand side and at the end of the meadow you will find the path that crosses the woods and leads to the drystone shelter holiday village. Through the woods, to the east, reach the centre of the "Les Bories" holiday village.

(7) Head towards the access road to the centre. After 500 m of tarmac road, you will arrive at the starting point:/A.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 407 m - Crossroads between Route des Drystone Shelter and Route de Villeneuve
  2. 1 : km 0.28 - alt. 417 m - Path on the right
  3. 2 : km 2.39 - alt. 582 m - Deforested platform
  4. 3 : km 2.97 - alt. 593 m - Crossroads
  5. 4 : km 3.39 - alt. 578 m - Crossroads
  6. 5 : km 4.54 - alt. 451 m - Niozelles road
  7. 6 : km 4.95 - alt. 478 m - Fork in the road
  8. 7 : km 5.64 - alt. 478 m - Drystone shelter holiday village
  9. S/E : km 6.49 - alt. 407 m - Crossroads between Route des Drystone Shelter and Route de Villeneuve

Notes

A very easy walk but without many landmarks: avoid taking this route alone.
No water on the route.
Good shoes to support your ankles on the stony downhill paths.
Strong sunshine throughout the climb.

Worth a visit

Wonderful panorama at the summit (616m).

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 22 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
User 27259028

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Please note that it is forbidden to cross the private holiday centre ' les drystone shelters '. Turn left (downhill) when you reach the centre, then join the road.

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Jeanpetitquidanse
Jeanpetitquidanse

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Overall, it was good, but we often had our eyes fixed on our feet to avoid falling (especially on the descents), so we didn't always notice the scenery. This made the route a bit monotonous. There was a beautiful view at "Pin blanc", even though the grey weather detracted from its beauty. We went back and forth on a few sections of the hike to find the right path (there were no tracks).

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Jacadifa
Jacadifa

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Path partly used by hunters. Therefore, caution is advised during hunting season.

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Hallermeyer
Hallermeyer

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful panoramic views, but unfortunately last summer's fire left much of the trail charred. How sad...

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Véronique Vicky
Véronique Vicky

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello, the walk was very pleasant, without any particular difficulties, and allowed us to discover the "hinterland" of Niozelles.
But what really impressed us was the magnificent view from the Pin Blanc triangulation point, with all the villages around us seen from "behind" as well, the snow-capped mountain ranges and, above all, the sublime view of the Volx rock from that side, which was impressive.

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palainicole
palainicole

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy family walk with no difficulties. The 360° view from the highest point allows you to see not only the many surrounding villages but also the highest peaks such as Lure and the snow-capped Alps. A beautiful sight.

For those who have had difficulty finding the starting point, it is located 100 metres after the Drystone Shelter road, which you leave on your right. The car park is on the left a few metres before the path on the right.

It is possible to extend the walk by a few kilometres (making a total of 9 km) after the white pine tree. Continue straight on until you reach the farm (do not go as far as the Route du Plan des Aires, which is 100 metres away) and descend to the right at the edge of the field. You can stop for a picnic 100 metres further on, next to two caves and an old ruined hamlet, then return to Niozelles, which you can avoid by following the stream on the right. The ground is covered with primroses and violets, it's magnificent.

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passion
passion

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

we couldn't find the starting point of the trail, so we had to explore trails that had no markers or signposts
despite this, we had a good walk – beautiful scenery and nature, but we were very disappointed
we'll do it again in the spring to find the starting point because we got mud up to our ankles

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franky.verbeke
franky.verbeke

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A very good short hike to get back into shape, with a viewpoint at the top.
Thanks to the author of the trail.

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ABlettry
ABlettry

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Not bad. Excellent guide on the smartphone. Beautiful landscapes.

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sandra5055
sandra5055

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 03, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant hike on a beautiful afternoon. Beautiful view from Pin Blanc.

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Papou04
Papou04

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 11, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very peaceful hike with splendid panoramic views, particularly at the summit of Pin Blanc, where you can enjoy a 360° vista.

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laspirale
laspirale

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 03, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

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Roucassières
Roucassières

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

for parking, there is a large open space after the crossroads leading to the drystone shelter on the road to Villeneuve

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ericmanosque
ericmanosque

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Please note that the holiday village is private property. Do not park your vehicles there. Similarly, walking back through the village may be contested by the owners: in my case, this was not an issue as I remained courteous and understanding.

after point 6, walk up the meadow on your right along the left-hand side (landmark: there is a caravan at the end of the meadow on the left)

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NABOT
NABOT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 02, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Easy hike starting from Niozelles, as there is more parking available for group outings. And it's a charming little village, which doesn't hurt.
Magnificent 360° view of white pines and superb scenery.
Just make sure you wear bright orange or fluorescent yellow clothing, as part of the route takes you past hunters and their dogs at this time of year.
An excellent day out under the magnificent Haute Provence sun.

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