Madone de Fenestre refuge - Pont du Countet

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Route linking the Vésubie and Gordolasque valleys.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Route in the Mercantour

Details

n°97047
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.48 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 857 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,110 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,491 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,556 m
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Description of the walk

Departure from the Madone de Fenestre refuge (S).
Leave theGR®52, which heads north, and take the path that crosses the village in a south-westerly direction and cuts across the D94. Reach marker 360 and follow the road to marker 361.

(1) Turn left onto the Vallon de Prals trail (sign). After a long climb through the forest, you will reach Plan de Prals, marker 363.

(2) Continue straight ahead, leaving the Tête de la Lave trail on your left, and reach marker 364. Leave the trail leading to the Prals lakes on your left and continue along a series of hairpin bends to reach the ridge at marker 365.

(3) Keep right on this ridge to reach first the Baisse de Prals, then the Cime de la Valette de Prals.

(4) Return to marker 365.

(3) Begin the descent to Saint Grat on the right.

(5) Cross the hamlet of Colmars before entering the forest and finishing the descent to Saint Grat at marker 275.

(6) Join the RD171 here.
Stay on this road and head north-east to reach the Pont du Countet car park, the starting point of this route (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 1,935 m - Madone de Fenestre Refuge
  2. 1 : km 0.62 - alt. 1,818 m - Marker 361. Turn left after the - Vésubie (rivière)
  3. 2 : km 2.78 - alt. 2,057 m - Balsie 363. Continue straight ahead.
  4. 3 : km 4.21 - alt. 2,344 m - Ridge. Marker 365. Turn right. Towards the - Baisse de Prals
  5. 4 : km 5.35 - alt. 2,490 m - Cime de la Vallette de Prals (2496m)
  6. 5 : km 7.69 - alt. 2,093 m - Colmars
  7. 6 : km 9.66 - alt. 1,560 m - St-Grat. Intersection with the RD171. Turn left.
  8. E : km 12.47 - alt. 1,685 m - Pont du Countet car park - Gordolasque

Notes

This journey through the Mercantour is made easier by the signposts put in place by the Park. The signposts at important crossroads are numbered and listed on IGN maps. They are supplemented by yellow blades indicating directions. However, a map is absolutely essential for hikers.

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Worth a visit

The Cime de la Valette de Prals offers a beautiful panorama of the Mercantour peaks.

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.

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Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 2 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
User 26808092

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

day 4 for us. We find vegetation again and even a meadow with cows. This hike is longer and the last part is on the road.
You can listen to the hike without climbing to the top of Valette de Prals.
The view is breathtaking and well worth seeing.
This hike is difficult due to its length and a long descent. Despite this, the paths are easier than the previous hikes on the circuit.
A beautiful hike

Machine-translated

Toubab38
Toubab38

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

We had to change the route a little because we went up to the Prals lakes.
After meeting a couple of rangers and chatting for five minutes, we found ourselves alone in the world
And for good reason: a storm was forecast for 2 p.m. It arrived at 2.30 p.m., just enough time to set up camp as an exception. I had warned the rangers. And I was right to do so, because for two hours we were treated to a downpour... but the tent ⛺️ held up.
Then the sun came back out and we were able to enjoy a sunrise all alone in the world. The next morning, as we were packing up our camp, the flow of hikers became significant. It's apparently a popular spot for a day picnic when starting from Madone de Fenestre.
Then the descent into the Gordolasque valley is long and uninteresting. We picked a few raspberries to console ourselves.
And a nice barbecue at the Relais des Merveilles when we arrived.
33rd place, but we enjoyed ourselves after our freeze-dried meals...
Punch
All-you-can-eat salad buffet
Chicken drumsticks
Excellent lamb skewers
Merguez sausages and codivaux
Fruit salad
Blueberry tart
When I went back to get our car, the car park was full, as were the side roads leading to it
Titou

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