Pointe de l'Observatoire Barthelemy - Cap Roux

This is a magnificent hike through the red rocks of Estérel, looking over the blue of the Mediterranean with extraordinary viewing points.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.86 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 589 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 585 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 453 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 31 m

Photos

Description of the walk

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.

(S/E) 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.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 34 m - The Pointe de l'Observatoire
  2. 1 : km 0.5 - alt. 63 m - Stairs
  3. 2 : km 2.05 - alt. 157 m - Start of the path - Rocher Barthélémy
  4. 3 : km 2.99 - alt. 281 m - Saint-Pilon pass
  5. 4 : km 3.83 - alt. 174 m - Sainte-Baume - Source
  6. 5 : km 4.55 - alt. 271 m - Cross
  7. 6 : km 5.38 - alt. 453 m - Pic du Cap Roux (453m)
  8. 7 : km 5.85 - alt. 360 m - Col du Cap Roux (400m)
  9. 8 : km 8.99 - alt. 62 m - Cairn
  10. S/E : km 10.86 - alt. 34 m - The Pointe de l'Observatoire

Practical information

A very rocky trail requiring good hiking shoes.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 166 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Lagoisse
Lagoisse

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very beautiful hike, the return is practically all downhill, quite challenging due to the heat of the scree.
There is an anomaly to report on the return route just before rejoining point 1. The last section leading to point 1 does not exist (or no longer exists), and you find yourself in the middle of the forest. What you need to do is continue straight ahead for 200-300 metres. There is a path that will take you between point 1 and the finish.

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Fred83110
Fred83110

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very nice hike in this sector, not to be missed... Beware, however, of the heat at the start of the season. Make sure you bring plenty of water... I took the risk of quenching my thirst at a spring on the way up... For the moment, my stomach is fine... The scenery is magnificent, with the contrast of the red rock overhanging the blue sea...

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User 6490352

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A lovely walk with beautiful views of the coast and the Esterel, and the little diversions to the little chapel of Saint Honorât is well worth it.

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Delasu
Delasu

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Superb hike. A must do. We made a return trip to the little chapel. Be careful, it's uphill! We had a great time. Bring good shoes and especially water.

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Papiluc06
Papiluc06

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A beautiful route with splendid views of both the seaside and the Esterel mountains. The only difficulty is the climb to the cave, but the 360° view from the summit rewards the effort. The return journey is straightforward, with a gradual descent that's long enough to appreciate the surroundings.

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lestef
lestef

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A beautiful hike with magnificent views of the Esterel Massif and the coast. Good footwear is essential, as there is a lot of rocky terrain. Not to be done in very hot weather, despite some shady sections.

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bb66
bb66

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

Lovely, easy walk with splendid views.
Short length at the end of the route

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Bucephale
Bucephale

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

Lack of signposting at the last kilometre for the return on the tarmac road, but you get there just the same.
Car park quickly full in season

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Pochapuladenree
Pochapuladenree

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

I don't think it's possible to park on this exit in high season, as it's one of the most beautiful tourist routes in the south of France, "La corniche d'or".

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olivier.farenc@me.com
olivier.farenc@me.com

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A superb walk with no particular difficulty, the climbs and descents are very regular and the views are sublime. The return through the undergrowth is perfect. 100% recommended

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patrick_lebel
patrick_lebel

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A hike I did with my hiking club, as a leader. Beautiful view of the snow-covered mountains, full sun over the sea, a little wind that wasn't very warm at the summit where we had lunch. But the view was magnificent, with Corsica on the horizon. The path is very stony, so it's best to have good shoes.

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Syja
Syja

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

We did this walk at the beginning of October because it was so sunny. Good description, well signposted.
It's easy to follow the route with Visorando, and the little diversions to the chapel is well worth it! Follow the route well and use the cairns to find your bearings.
You need good shoes as the path is very stony and there are frequent rockfalls.
A very pleasant walk with a great view of the sea.

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le dd
le dd

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A beautiful, easy hike with splendid views of the Esterel.
The contrasting colours between the red of the rock, the blue of the sky and the Mediterranean and the green of the vegetation make this hike one of the highlights.
Thanks to the author

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BG30
BG30

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

It's a beautiful walk with magnificent views of both the sea and the mountains.

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PONTREMOLI
PONTREMOLI

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

This circuit is one of the most beautiful in the Esterel.

A must-do.
1. Return trip to the orientation table.
2. To the chapel of St Honorat and back (for those VERY prone to vertigo, there are a few passages with handrails).

Avoid this walk in hot weather.
In winter, on a clear day, it is possible to see Corsica.

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