Pointe Côte de l'Âne

After Estenc, park in the car park located at the entrance to the first hairpin bend after the Cantonnière refuge, at the gateway to the Mercantour Park.

(S/E) From the car park, head towards the Mercantour Park information boards, then take the path that climbs towards the Col de la Boucharde, cross the road to reach the second hairpin bend (another starting point).

(1) Enter the forest, following the Sanguinière torrent.

(2) Leave the path to the right leading to a footbridge (return) to reach the forest huts (2049m) and continue to marker 287.

(3) Opposite and on the right, cross the stream via a wooden footbridge and follow the sign for Tour de la Roche Trouée. Climb through the larch forest to reach a small valley at around 2300m, where the atmosphere changes dramatically: you will find yourself in a mineral world. Continue climbing along a well-paved path, sometimes lined with large slabs.

(4) Look carefully for the cairn on the ground, as the crossroads is a fork and you need to go back to climb up on the left. Without turning around, the path is not very visible. However, once you are on it, even without markings, it is easy to follow.
The path becomes steeper, and you will soon reach a flat area on your left. Continue climbing to the first hairpin bend (elevation 2641), then you will arrive at a promontory where you will feel like you have reached your destination. Beautiful views of the Col de la Roche Trouée.

(5) Continue climbing, staying on the right-hand side. From here, the trail is less visible: follow the cairns. You will reach a small pass at the foot of the first Pointe Côte de l'Âne.

(6) Continue climbing up the side. On this last section, there is no longer a trail.
The end is more exposed and requires a little hand-climbing; we stopped just before the peak.

(7) Descend by the same route to the fork you passed on the way up.

(4) Head left at the bottom of the cirque to finally cross to the other side and begin the descent to the larch forest.

(8) Stay on the edge of the Gorgias stream, do not cross it, and take the path that climbs up opposite (marked by a large stone). Continue descending through increasingly dense woodland to reach the path you took on the way up, near the Sanguinière huts.

(2) Take the path on the left that leads back up to the car park (S/E).

• It is possible to park a little higher up (1) but there are fewer spaces.
• As the starting point is not in the Mercantour park, it is possible to sleep in a camper van in the car park (reminder: camper vans are not allowed to park overnight anywhere in the park).
• Good walking shoes are recommended as the path crosses quite a few scree slopes.
• If you don't look up on the climb to Pointe de l'Âne, you won't be able to see the ibex... but they will be watching you.
• At Pointe du Trou de l'Âne (altitude 2,641 metres), this is more of a chamois spot.
• No water supplies available.
• The lighting for photos at the bottom of the cirque towards the Col de la Roche Trouée is better in the afternoon.

The Col de la Cayolle is not far away.