Pointe de l'Observatoire Barthelemy - Cap Roux

Description

By car, from Saint Raphaël in the direction of Anthéor, take the Corniche de l'Estérel (D5559) by the coast. You need to park in the large car park just after the SNCF bridge in a place called La Pointe de l'Observatoire. This is the starting point of this Esterel walk.

(D/A) With your back to the sea, take the road to the left and cross the SNCF bridge. Then leave the road and take a right onto the tarmac track H32 (Cap Roux). There is also a large sign at this point (Forêt Domaniale de l'Estérel (Estérel National Forest)).

Remain on the track (with a beautiful view of the Rocher Barthélémy) ignoring stairs which go off to the right(1) and, further on, a path from the right. 30 minutes after starting you arrive at the foot of the Rocher Barthélémy.

(2) At this specific place, leave the tarmac track and take a small stony path on the right with yellow markers. Climb up the side to the Col du Saint Pilon(3).

Turn right (northeast) after the cairn (a mound of stones) on the trail marked with yellow and blue (enjoy a beautiful view over the Mediterranean Sea and the Pic de l'Ours). At a fork, follow the trail on the left marked in yellow which descends towards the Sainte Baume (the path to the right would lead you directly to the Cap Roux).

(4) Once at the bottom of the Sainte-Baume, you pass in front of a spring. Continue upwards on the left (north). N.B. At this point you can go up to the Chapelle de Saint Honorât and back again (30min).

(5) At the fork, turn right. After a long upward section, you arrive at the sign for the Plateau de Anthéor. Go directly to the orientation table (6) which offers a magnificent panoramic view of Cannes and the Lerins Islands on one side and the Estérel on the other. This is the high point.

Return to the main trail and follow it to the right. The path is very stony and descends to the Col du Cap Roux(7). Then take the path that descends to the left.

At the next intersection, keep going on the left-hand track with yellow markers. Descend a narrow track lined with bushes. At the next intersection turn left again and ignore the yellow and blue-striped markers on the right.

After a long descent through the rocks you arrive at a new crossroads (in front of you is the sea and a large rock). Take the left and ignore the yellow markers on the right. At the end of a long descent, you arrive at the cairn(8), take the first path on the right.

This is a cliff-side dirt path that brings you back on the lower point. At the end you need to cut left in the direction of the small wood where a final concrete staircase leads to the tarmac track you took from the start point(1).

Rejoin the car park at the Pointe de l'Observatoire via the same path as the outward path.