Tuny refuge

An easy, short hike where you can grill your meal.

Details

29427
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.59 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 417 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 411 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 551 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 167 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Go to the car park on the Route de Saint-Jean de Garguier in Gémenos

(S/E) When you leave the car park, turn left and then take the first road on the right.

(1) At the roundabout, turn left towards the housing estate. Ignore Allée des Amandiers on your right, stay on the tarmac road and continue along the wide forest track that winds around three hairpin bends.

(2) After 300 metres, at the fourth bend, leave the forest track and take a small path on the left. At the first crossroads, turn right to visit the Saint-Clair Chapel.

(3) Go back down the same path and turn right. You will come out onto the wide forest path you took at the start.

(4) Follow it uphill to the left.

(5) About 3 km further on, ignore the track that branches off to the right and continue to the big bend just after it. At this point, leave the track and turn right to arrive immediately at the Tuny refuge.

(6) After lunch, where you should remember to bring some lamb chops, merguez sausages and drinks, leave the refuge and take the small path on the left that climbs into the forest and visit the small cave with a torch.

(7) Take the same route as on the way there to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 167 m - Saint-Jean de Garguier car park
  2. 1 : km 0.25 - alt. 177 m - Roundabout
  3. 2 : km 1.05 - alt. 260 m - Path on the left
  4. 3 : km 1.76 - alt. 374 m - Saint-Clair Chapel
  5. 4 : km 1.99 - alt. 350 m - Forest path junction
  6. 5 : km 4.56 - alt. 534 m - At the fork in the track, go straight ahead
  7. 6 : km 4.74 - alt. 547 m - Cabane de Tuny (565m)
  8. 7 : km 4.8 - alt. 551 m - Cave
  9. S/E : km 9.59 - alt. 167 m - Saint-Jean de Garguier car park

Notes

There is no water source, so bring a headlamp.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 35 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
BrigitteGenolier
BrigitteGenolier

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Not as easy as it sounds given the elevation gain, but this hike was fantastic.

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Claudio61
Claudio61

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A short, easy walk that is ideal for families with children.

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plovier
plovier

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

hello, is it still possible to barbecue at the refuge?
thank you in advance for your reply
plovier

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plovier
plovier

i haven't been there for two or three years, but at the time, the car park was reserved for the abbey, although there was no barrier, and you could barbecue at the refuge thanks to a large fireplace (sometimes it was better to bring your own charcoal). In front of the refuge, there is a large field. Inside the refuge, there is only a large table and benches, and no sleeping accommodation.

as the hike is quite short, I recommend doing a return trip to check it out before taking everyone there!

let us know if this place is still as friendly as ever

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TinoFamily
TinoFamily

Hello,
I would like to organise a hike with some friends who are firefighters and nurses, including a night at the Tuny refuge. I see that it is possible to sleep in the refuge (if there are places available) and to light fires. We have our own tents so we don't need accommodation. Is it possible to camp outside? Is it possible to light fires outside to warm up? Is the Saint Jean de Garguier car park free?
Thank you for your replies.
Tino

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plovier
plovier

you have to go to the end of the field where the lodge is located.

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EZQUERRA
EZQUERRA

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a lovely, pleasant walk. The chapel is indeed very charming, but we couldn't find the cave!

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Autrautruche
Autrautruche
• Edited:

yes, some ladies were barbecuing last Saturday.

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plovier
plovier

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

hello everyone, is it still possible to barbecue at the refuge? I haven't been there for several years
best regards

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Autrautruche
Autrautruche

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 13, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with no major difficulties, apart from a few hills.
The chapel, refuge and cave make this a very enjoyable hike.
Please note that the priory car park is reserved for visitors to the Priory.

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hervé.genet
hervé.genet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Perfect

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Laurence et Massi
Laurence et Massi
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant walk and a great spot for barbecuing in beautiful surroundings (fireplace, grills, tables and chairs available). We went there for the first time on a Friday and were the only ones there, but on our second visit on a Sunday it was really busy. The Saint Clair chapel is really charming and the little cave 5 minutes from the refuge is very cute. In short, a very nice little hike

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David 13004
David 13004

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with a beautiful view David 13004:

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marcdye
marcdye

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It is possible to make a loop. Climb up to the refuge as described and descend via the bottom of the St Clair valley, which is to the right of the ascent route. It is shaded and leads to the paved road near the start.
The ruins of St Clair Chapel are of some interest.
Marc

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Marinoperrin
Marinoperrin

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

I think it's a shame to return by the same route when you can do a loop (hence the "average" rating for the interest of the circuit). On the way there, I recommend taking the path that climbs up along the bottom of the Vallon Saint-Clair, dominated by the forest road that you will take on the way back. This well-marked but unsignposted trail can be found on the right at the fourth bend in the road. It's charming, easy and shaded. You rejoin the forest road a few hundred metres before the refuge. Once you've eaten your barbecue at the refuge and night is falling, you can take your time returning along the forest road (described in the information sheet) and enjoy a different view from the one on the way there. The only downside is that you can't enjoy the Saint-Clair chapel as much if it's already dark. But in the end, that's just as well, because it's magical!
Marie-Noëlle

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