Puy de Naouri, Puy de Tourette and Pic de Courmettes

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Three peaks in the Pre-Alps and magnificent views of the coastline and the Mercantour. Three-quarters of the walk is on trails of moderate difficulty that are clearly marked. Most of this walk follows easy, clearly marked paths, apart from the final section between (5) and (9), where the trail is difficult to follow, steep and slippery; this section, which is trickier on the return journey, is perfectly manageable with the Visorando app.

Details

n°110464319
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.65 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,100 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,093 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 4,157 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,677 ft
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Photos

Panoramic view of the Mercantour
The Pic de Courmettes

Description of the walk

Please note: the access road to the starting point is a very, very steep and rather rough track, but it is passable by any vehicle in good working order. Park at the crossroads in the hamlet of Le Caire, marker 175a.

(S/E) Set off north-west along the track and head uphill to reach marker 175b.

(1) Leave the track and take the paved path to the right through the woodland; you will then reach a crossroads with several directions, marked by marker 176.

(2) Turn right onto a well-marked path and head for the Puy de Naouri, whose summit is marked by two cairns.

(3) Retrace your steps along this path to return to the crossroads marked by signpost 176.

(2) Continue straight ahead along a barely visible track, then climb up to reach the summit of the Puy des Tourrettes.

(4) Turn left at a 90° angle, head downhill and, at the lowest point, you’ll come to another T-junction, marked by two cairns.

(5) Start climbing again and head towards an information board at the edge of the woodland.

(6) Follow the edge of this woodland to the summit of the Pic des Courmettes.

(7) Head left, then return to the edge of the woodland; keep to the right to reach the junction with the information sign.

(6) Follow the path you took on the way there in the opposite direction and reach the junction with the two cairns.

(5) Head off-track to the right down into the valley alongside the pine trees, following a stream as you go, until you reach the hamlet known as l’Avélanéou.

(8) Keep to the right of the visible track, taking care. At the bottom of the descent, you’ll reach marker 179.

(9) Turn left onto the wide track and, further on, reach a Y-shaped junction of two tracks.

(10) Take the track on the left and follow it to the car park in the hamlet of Le Caire, marker 175a (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,684 ft - Car park at the hamlet of Le Caire, marker 175a
  2. 1 : mi 0.25 - alt. 2,946 ft - Marker 175b
  3. 2 : mi 0.56 - alt. 3,366 ft - Marker 176
  4. 3 : mi 1.28 - alt. 3,356 ft - Puy de Naouri
  5. 4 : mi 3.22 - alt. 4,140 ft - Puy de Tourrettes
  6. 5 : mi 3.79 - alt. 3,665 ft - Crossroads with 2 cairns
  7. 6 : mi 4.08 - alt. 3,891 ft - Crossroads at the edge of the woods
  8. 7 : mi 4.32 - alt. 4,081 ft - Pic de Courmettes
  9. 8 : mi 5.4 - alt. 3,196 ft - L’Avélanéou
  10. 9 : mi 5.85 - alt. 2,746 ft - Marker 179
  11. 10 : mi 6.17 - alt. 2,736 ft - Trail junction
  12. S/E : mi 6.65 - alt. 2,687 ft - Car park at the hamlet of Le Caire, marker 175a

Notes

Please note that the access road to the starting point is a very, very steep track in fairly poor condition, but it is passable by any vehicle in good working order.
I recommend walking poles and good walking shoes. I would advise against doing this walk in very hot weather.

Other walks in the area

Walking Puy de Tourrettes and Pic des Courmettes from Tourrettes

Visorando Member
↔5.17 mi ↗+1,870 ft ↘-1,854 ft ◔4h 00 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Tourrettes-sur-Loup (Alpes-Maritimes)
This is a circular route that takes in the two peaks visible along the entire coastline, from Nice to Cannes, offering enchanting panoramic views of this stunning area; the return leg is rarely used by walkers.A GPS device or the Visorando app is recommended for a section off the beaten track

Walking Le Puy du Naouri via the southern trails

Visorando Member
Le Puy du Naouri par les sentiers Sud
↔3.66 mi ↗+1,302 ft ↘-1,289 ft ◔2h 50 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Tourrettes-sur-Loup (Alpes-Maritimes)
At the rounded summit of Puy de Naouri, you will never tire of looking at the landscape. A very beautiful walk offering magnificent views of the baous, the coastline, the Esterel, the Mercantour and sometimes even Corsica.

Walking Le Puy de Naouri via the Combe de la Baisse

Visorando Member
Le Puy de Naouri par la combe de la Baisse
↔8.11 mi ↗+2,241 ft ↘-2,231 ft ◔5h 40 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Tourrettes-sur-Loup (Alpes-Maritimes)
Starting from Tourettes-sur-Loup, this hike offers breathtaking views. A 360° panorama stretching from the bay of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat to the bay of Antibes on one side, continuing on to the peaks of the Mercantour.

Walking From the old Tourrettes-sur-Loup railway line to Les Courmettes

Visorando Member
De l'ancienne voie ferrée de Tourrettes-sur-Loup aux Courmettes
↔7.80 mi ↗+1,831 ft ↘-1,818 ft ◔5h 10 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Tourrettes-sur-Loup (Alpes-Maritimes)
Once you have finished visiting the medieval village of Tourrettes-sur-Loup, this hike takes you back along the old railway line, which has been converted into a road and footpath. The second part, which is physically demanding, involves climbing up to the wooded area of Courmettes, along a little-used path running alongside the cliffs, offering beautiful views of the coastline.

Walking Le Puy de Naouri via the Croix de Malvan off-trail

Visorando Member
Le Puy de Naouri via la Croix de Malvan hors sentier
↔8.09 mi ↗+2,169 ft ↘-2,169 ft ◔5h 35 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Vence (Alpes-Maritimes)
From the Notre-Dame des Fleurs residence, the route begins by following the Malvan Route. Then, after the Medieval Chapel of Saint-Raphaël, an off-trail route takes you to the summit of the Croix de Malvan, a peak parallel to the Puy de Naouri. The latter marks the end of our route for the day.

Walking Le Puy de Naouri from Vence

Visorando Member
Le Puy de Naouri depuis Vence
↔7.00 mi ↗+1,683 ft ↘-1,683 ft ◔4h 40 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Vence (Alpes-Maritimes)
This route takes you to the Puy de Naouri, which overlooks the entire Vence area, both on the sea and mountain sides. This hike, starting from Vence, seems to me to be more interesting and enjoyable than the one starting from Tourrettes-sur-Loup, even though it is longer, as it does not follow any tarmac roads.

Walking The Mounard Route

Visorando Member
↔2.92 mi ↗+505 ft ↘-509 ft ◔1h 45 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Tourrettes-sur-Loup (Alpes-Maritimes)
A short, fairly easy walk, consisting of a series of ascents and descents, through a forest situated between two valleys, a short distance from residential areas. You won’t find any remarkable views here, but it is a peaceful, family-friendly spot.

Walking The Saint-Barnabé plateau via Pré Royer

Visorando Member
Le Plateau de Saint-Barnabé en passant par le Pré Royer
↔5.85 mi ↗+725 ft ↘-725 ft ◔3h 20 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Courmes (Alpes-Maritimes)
A route around the Saint-Barnabé plateau with superb panoramic views of the villages of Gréolières and Cipières and, on a clear day, a glimpse of the Bay of Cannes and the Esterel massif.

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