Semaphore, viewpoint and Cap Canaille Arch

A lovely walk with magnificent sea views. Follow the GPS track carefully to pass through the arch. The path tempts you to go around it, causing you to stray from the track.

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Date of your route : Nov 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Like many others, we had a bit of trouble when we arrived at the arch, trying to figure out where to go. In fact, you have to find your way to the top of the arch (more precisely: slightly to the south) in order to find the way back.
We went around the arch and then followed some pseudo-paths and climbed over some rocks to get to the top (there are some bushes, but it's fairly easy to get through).
I think there was another path starting from the west side of the arch, but I can't say for sure because we didn't go that way (go around the arch to reach the east side, climb up to get under the arch, and then you'll see a path that branches off to the left towards the south).
Apart from this slightly tricky passage, this hike is very enjoyable for those who don't want to walk for hours but still want to enjoy magnificent views.

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Date of your route : Jul 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike with beautiful views but on a very narrow trail (watch out for scratches on your legs). The description and approximate route at the end of the trail were unclear, which meant we had to do a bit of climbing to get back to the road.

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Date of your route : Jul 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The signposting after the hole in the rock definitely needs to be corrected because we left the cliff on the left on the way back, when I think we should have gone right (GPS very inaccurate). We got lost and had a lot of trouble (cliff) getting back to the path.
I strongly recommend taking plenty of water with you: it is very hot, there is little shade and the path is very steep.

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Date of your route : May 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Nice hike with several interesting viewpoints, but why choose this somewhat poorly designed route + difficulty parking at the start. We missed the path to the semaphore climb (so the alternative marked in yellow was better). Numerous "goat paths" on the descent where the only interest is scratching your calves. There were better things to do

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Date of your route : Feb 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Crowds around the semaphore, but not long after.
Best done in good weather and with magnificent views.
Afterwards, thank you for the advice. Pass under the arch, then the trail is not easy to find.
But very beautiful views along the entire route.

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

I did this hike with my two children, aged 10 and 14, and I would like to share our experience to better inform future hikers.

First of all, the trail markings are almost non-existent. From the outset, there are no clear signs at the car park, and at point 3, there are no signs at all. From this point onwards, the hike becomes difficult, especially for younger children. A long, fairly technical descent makes progress difficult, and the GPS was completely wrong when we arrived at the arch.

Fortunately, we were able to rely on valuable comments from other hikers to complete the route. In fact, we had to cross the cliff above the arch to reach the road. This passage is impressive and can be frightening, especially with children.

Another important thing to note: we heard repeated gunshots from this point, which was very disturbing. It was only once we got there that we discovered there was a shooting range behind the arch. This added a feeling of insecurity to our experience.

Despite these difficulties, the hike is still very beautiful and offers magnificent scenery. However, it is far from suitable for all levels, especially for families with young children.

You should also allow more time than the estimated duration: it took us 2 hours and 45 minutes instead of 1 hour and 50 minutes.

In conclusion, this is a hike that should be undertaken with caution and good preparation, taking into account the obstacles and the lack of signposting.

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Date of your route : Dec 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Quite a few people between the Semaphore and the viewpoint.
One piece of information not included in the description: the ridge road is closed to traffic every Sunday until September 2025. The hike must therefore start from the bottom of the road, at the exit of La Ciotat at the end of Avenue Marcel CAMUSSO. To avoid walking along the tarmac road, you can set off from La Tocade (water tanks). This is a little-used path (dashes on the map) which joins the route described on the D141b just after the start of the hike in the description (additional elevation gain of 230 m).

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Date of your route : Oct 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This hike has the advantage of being very quiet.
At this time of year, the heather is in bloom: it's magnificent!
Be careful when passing under the arch: don't rely on your GPS. You need to go right under the arch (not around it) and continue along the cliffs (the path isn't very visible). We decided to take the small path just before the arch and climbed back up the cliff.

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Date of your route : Sep 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Like others, I couldn't find a way to climb the cliff at point 5. I had to turn back. It's a shame because the hike is very interesting

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Date of your route : Jun 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike, except for point 5
incorrect route , and the scrub had grown so thick that it was impossible to find according to the descriptions given by other hikers
i had an Anima GPS with IGN maps... no other option but to turn back... if we didn't want to go down to the shooting range

it would be good to have the correct route, or to delete the incorrect one

otherwise, beautiful scenery and a nice trail, whether on the coast or further inland

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Date of your route : Apr 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent short hike that combines splendid sea views on the way there and magnificent panoramas on the way back inland. At this time of year, you are constantly surrounded by wild flowers, which is truly sublime.
Regarding the previous comments about the difficulty of finding the path when you arrive at the Arch: having done it a second time after getting a little lost the first time, the easiest thing to do when you arrive at the Arch is to pass it and take the first right immediately after. You go around it and climb up under the arch from behind, which is much easier (and the view is stunning). You then pass under the arch and turn left up the slope to climb onto the arch and finish the walk. It's much easier and safer than climbing directly in front of the arch when you arrive, as other hikers have done.
There were three of us and we loved this walk!

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Date of your route : Feb 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike above La Ciotat.
Please note that the GPS track is not accurate from point 5, the stone arch. You need to turn right 40 metres before reaching the arch and climb back up to the road via the ridge line.
The hike is easy except for this last 30-metre section, which is difficult and dangerous.

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Date of your route : Feb 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The entire hike is fairly easy to follow, but the passage through the arch and the climb to the top of the ridge are very difficult because the written explanation is impossible to follow without taking great risks. In addition, the GPX track is completely wrong and cannot be relied upon.
You have to reach the ridge by climbing up a gully located about twenty metres before the arch as you arrive. This is the only possible route. Furthermore, the descent into the ravine before the climb up to the arch is quite dangerous and frankly not recommended for young children or people who are not very fit. Good footwear is essential.

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Date of your route : Jan 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful, well-designed circular that combines a cliffside route with breathtaking panoramic views and a trail through wild surroundings where you can see caves and arches up close.

In general, the description would benefit from the addition of navigation details (although following the route with the app may be sufficient... provided you have the app).

At the arch, both the route (which gives the impression that you have to go past the arch) and the description need to be refined. We found a passage on the right just before the arch, not by "going underneath". Then, a path over the rock and through the scrub (caution required) quickly leads to a trail.

The suggested car park has limited capacity. If it is full, there is another, larger car park a little further north on the ridge road, where the 1:25,000 map shows a cistern.

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