Gratadis Ravine and Col Aubert

A lovely family walk to discover waterfalls and small streams in winter and spring, amid the rocks and red earth of the Estérel. Avoid in summer.

Details

973522
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.89 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 93 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 95 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 113 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 20 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Access: From Agay, take the D100 towards the A8 for about 1 km, then turn right onto the Route du Gratadis towards the Estérel massif and then the Col de Belle Barbe. Park immediately on the right when you reach the pass.

(S/E) From the car park, take the wide flat track closed by a green and white barrier (GR®653A). Follow the red and whiteGR® markings and the yellow markings. The track begins to climb through the cork oaks. After a wide left turn, you will arrive at the Gué du Grenouillet.

(1) Cross the ford, leave theGR® trail that branches off to the right and continue to follow the yellow markings. The track climbs between the mountainside on the right (covered with small stones) and overlooks the stream on the left, then begins to descend into the Ravin du Mal Infernet. You will see two fountains on the right, then a waterfall on the left. On a rock on the ground, to the left of the track, look for a yellow sign indicating that you should turn left.

(2) Follow this yellow marker to the left and descend to the stream via a small path. Cross a small wire bridge and climb back up to the Col Aubert via a pretty little path lined with asphodels in spring.

(3) Admire the view from the top of the pass, then descend via the path marked with two red/white and yellow crosses (opposite the one you arrived at). Leave a small pond on your left and continue along the stream. Large pine trees line the path. Admire a small waterfall in a hollow in the rock of the stream. Climb back up an old road.

(4) Turn left and finish the walk on the road, admiring the magnificent eucalyptus trees until you reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 45 m - Parking - Col de Belle Barbe
  2. 1 : km 1.07 - alt. 20 m - Gué du Grenouillet - Agay (fleuve)
  3. 2 : km 2.12 - alt. 36 m - On the left
  4. 3 : km 2.7 - alt. 113 m - Col Aubert (100m)
  5. 4 : km 4.11 - alt. 58 m - Turn left onto the road
  6. S/E : km 4.89 - alt. 45 m - Col de Belle Barbe car park

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 34 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
zinzin du 01
zinzin du 01
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 20, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

beautiful route
few people at this time of year

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Baladà2
Baladà2
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We still love this little two-hour hike, which culminates in the pond and its water lilies.
We even had the pleasure of seeing two lotus flowers there on 24 October!
The trail and its Provençal scents are highly recommended.

It would be nice to know about options for extending the hike so we can stay in this beautiful place longer... without risking getting lost ;o)

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Mirela, The Travel Bunny
Mirela, The Travel Bunny

Hello and thank you very much! French is actually my third language, so I'm always delighted to learn something new. In English and Romanian, we don't really make this distinction in everyday language (but of course it exists in scientific or more formal contexts). I'll be better able to make the distinction in French next time. Kind regards,

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souppcl2
souppcl2

Hello, thank you very much for your kind comments. It is one of the most beautiful and surprising pieces in our catalogue. One small detail: they are water lilies, not water lilies. Kind regards

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Mirela, The Travel Bunny
Mirela, The Travel Bunny
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike in the Estérel mountains! I followed the Ravin du Gratadis loop to Col d'Aubert and Étang d'Aubert, starting from Col de Belle Barbe. The trail is well marked and the route is really pleasant, alternating between shaded passages, clear views of the hills and little curiosities such as the metal bridge without railings and the old stone fountain.

The highlight of the walk is Étang d'Aubert, lined with magnificent water lilies. I loved the calm of this place and the contrast with the surrounding red cliffs. The hike is accessible for families, even with young children. Our little one walked at the beginning, then went into the baby carrier. But older children can do it. We met a mother with two young boys (under 10) at the Col d'Aubert.

Allow about two hours, including a few photo breaks and a picnic along the way. In summer, remember to check whether the area is closed due to fire risk and take plenty of water with you, as it can get very hot.

I enjoyed this hike so much that I even wrote a full article on my blog to share all the practical details, the best times to see the water lilies and tips for enjoying this outing.

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HLopes
HLopes

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

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User 13208868

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The total distance of 4.9 km seemed longer to us!
The hike is described as easy and family-friendly, but we think it's more suitable for children over 10 who are already experienced hikers...

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philbeal
philbeal

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We returned via the Balagou Pass, an extra kilometre along a beautiful track.

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Patoche1960
Patoche1960

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant short hike. We followed the Visorando guide carefully, but we did miss the path at one point. Thanks to the app, which alerts you when you take a wrong turn, we were able to get back on track.

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Christian  F
Christian F

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short, easy route, but halfway through it becomes more unpredictable and the climb is tricky.
Once you reach Col Aubert 4 chemins, the sign is not very clear

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FKNECHT
FKNECHT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for sharing this hike.
We did it with our children aged 3 and 8, without any difficulty. The slope leading to the Aubert Pass allows you to leave the tourist trail, and you find yourself alone until you reach the summit.
The views are truly magnificent, especially on a day with blue skies.
I highly recommend it.

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Popeye83 66
Popeye83 66

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A nice short hike, easily doable with children.
The trail is in excellent condition.
I recommend it for getting back into shape 😉

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ZEN567
ZEN567

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike with beautiful colours, ideal in February

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MimoRando
MimoRando

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike that begins in a "canyon" showcasing the colours of the rocks and the river.
However, you need to pay close attention to the markings, as we ended up walking 8.4 km instead of the 4.9 km indicated on the hike description (we didn't see the markings at the wire bridge). Similarly, at the three-way junction at the top of the Aubert Pass, be sure to take the middle path!
But we don't regret the extra distance and elevation gain

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Eric VANAERDE
Eric VANAERDE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 09, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

During the week, there were already people out and about (hikers and mountain bikers) at the beginning of March. Otherwise, it was a very pleasant and easy hike. As is often the case with Visorando, the actual distance was a little longer than indicated: 5.8 km instead of 4.89 km

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