"Le Lac de Méaulx" walk in Saint-Paul-en-Forêt

Access: from the village of Saint-Paul-en-Forêt, follow the D55, Route de Draguignan, and continue for about 3 km. After the stone bridge, turn left onto the dirt track "DFCI 535" to park. GPS coordinates of the starting point: 43.570419, 6.661891

(S/E) From the car park, continue along the "Forêt Royale" G521 track, passing the barrier and continuing until you reach a crossroads with three tracks.

(1) Take the G535 "Lac de Méaulx" track on the right. At the second junction, continue straight ahead on the Lac de Méaulx track, leaving the shooting range on your left.

(2) At the junction in the Vallon de la Gourre, ignore the dead-end road on the left and continue straight ahead. At the three-way junction immediately after, continue on the track to the right uphill. Follow it for a while, overlooking the lake and passing several fords, until you reach a large crossroads with a G535 sign. 5.

(3) Take the track on the left to follow the western shore of the lake until you reach a large hairpin bend, uphill on the right, at the drainage tower.

(4) After the hairpin bend, and after climbing the forest road for a few metres, take the path that descends to the left (yellow markings) to reach the drainage tower and its footbridge. Below, go to the dam. Cross the dam (a picnic area is accessible on the left on the way back). Be sure to take the path up to the right (signposted). After a few metres uphill, you will come to a three-way junction.

(5) Descend the stony path on the right (caution: steep and slippery descent). It overlooks the Endre and leads to the valley opposite the ford.

(6) Cross the ford in the valley below the dam crest. Take the path opposite and walk slightly upstream along the Endre on the right for about 100 metres (signpost "Drovers' Road") until you reach a fork.
- You can turn left and climb the steep, stony path to reach the plateau and a viewpoint overlooking the lake (300 metres there and back).
- Alternatively, continue straight ahead along the path that descends the Endre. The path runs alongside the Endre through the undergrowth until it reaches a crossroads (with a wooden information sign) at the ford on your right.

(7) Cross the stream and continue straight ahead to a wide track. Take the track on the left and continue straight ahead until you pass a cistern on the right.

(8) Take the path that branches off to the left and crosses the stream again via a concrete footbridge.

(1) At the crossroads, continue straight ahead on the track in the opposite direction to the outward journey to reach the car park (S/E).

Warning: do not use this route during rainy periods (fords and steep, stony descents). Fishing is regulated in the lake and swimming is prohibited.

Contact

Telephone: 04 94 76 01 02

Email: contact@paysdefayence.com

Website: www.paysdefayence.com

Terrain

Gravel
Earth

Difficult sections

Do not use this route after heavy rain (ford to cross).
Steep climb to reach the viewpoint at the end of the route.
Take care near the shooting range.

Animals: yes

Visitor alert

During the summer, check the opening times of the mountains before setting off on a hike.
This route is located in the Estérel Massif.
Consult the map updated daily by the prefecture: visit the website.

Tips and suggestions

- Entirely wooded environment with pine and oak trees
- An idyllic and rejuvenating setting
- Ideal for walking and hiking