Tête du Douard

This circular hike starting from Gémenos will take you to the summit of the Tête du Douard, via a varied route that favours walking on trails, avoiding tracks as much as possible. This beautiful viewpoint offers a view of the Pic de Bertagne, the Montagne Sainte-Victoire, the Huveaune valley with Marseille in the background, the Bay of Cassis and the Grand Caunet massif. Along the way, you will climb the Gorges de la Petite Sainte-Baume with its unique atmosphere.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.02 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 388 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 388 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 494 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 124 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park outside the Domaine de Gem (Reception Hall) located on the D8N, at the three-way junction leading to Gémenos at the entrance to the gorges leading to Cuges-les-Bains.

(S/E) At the end of the car park, take the track closed by a barrier and follow it for about 200 metres to an intersection.
Follow the track to the left, winding upwards to a crossroads (fire water reservoir).

(1) Leave the track and take the path opposite, to the left of the reservoir (south-west), which you follow uphill (mountain bike markings, downhill arrows and blue dots). Cross a path and continue straight ahead (south-west) uphill, following the blue dots.

You will come to a gap in a gas pipeline. Continue along the mountain bike trail (south-west) which follows the path opposite (not on the IGN map) until you reach an intersection with a path (on the IGN map).

Continue straight ahead (south-west) uphill, following the blue dots (not on the IGN map) until you reach a track.
Cross the track to take the path opposite (not on the IGN map), which joins a path under a medium-voltage power line. Continue to the left and, after about 100 metres, join the DFCI track.

(2) Cross the track and take the path opposite, at the cairn, which is not very visible as it is rarely used and partially overgrown with vegetation. After a short descent, join a path leading down to the vineyards below.

Note: this path branches off to the right of the track 50 metres after the end of the previous path (east) and is easier to walk on as it is regularly used by mountain bikes.
Follow this path downhill, overlooking the vineyards, until you reach an intersection.

Note: To the left, after about 100 metres, you will reach a shaded area planted with oak trees, ideal for a picnic.

(3) Take the path ascending to the right at the Gorges de la Petite Sainte-Baume.
The path becomes increasingly steep. On the left, at the foot of the cliff, you will come to the circular ruins of an ancient dwelling, partially buried, with only the roof protruding from the ground.

Climb up the valley along the left side of the cliff (high-level climbing routes) following the cairns until you reach a three-way junction located in a bend.

(4) Leave the obvious mountain bike trail climbing to the right (blue arrow on rocks) and take the slightly uphill trail on the left. Continue straight ahead, passing to the left of the cairn marking the start of a trail climbing to the right.
Join a track (cairn) and follow it to the left (west) for about 250m until you reach an intersection after a large bend.

Turn right (north-west) onto the track towards Tête du Douard. Follow it to a crossroads near a well and a drinking trough.

(5) Continue on the track climbing opposite until you reach a crossroads at the top of a small hill.

Leave the track and take the path furthest to the left, going straight up (north-west). After about 250m of steep climbing, the path turns left (west). The less steep climb continues along a ledge above the valley, then takes a small canyon which you climb up to a three-way junction.

Take the path on the right, continuing uphill. At the end of a steep section, you will come out under a secondary summit (beautiful viewpoint) located on the western ridge of the Tête du Douard, where you will join a red trail.

Continue to the right to go around the secondary summit and climb up the ridge, following the trail marked with cairns and red dots. The trail, combining paths and rocky passages with a few steps to climb, winds through the sharp limestone pavement and vegetation. Reach the summit of Tête du Douard (480m), marked by a cross.

(6) Follow the cairns and red dots marking the descent route, which winds through the sharp limestone pavement to an intersection.
Continue left uphill (north) and, after 20m, you will reach a crossroads. Turn right (east) onto a narrow downhill path (red mark on a cairn below). This narrow, little-used path is partially overgrown with vegetation (avoid wearing shorts). You will come out onto a wide track (cairn).

(7) Descend this path on the left (northeast) to reach a track that you take downhill on the right (south). At the bottom of the descent, near the sports fields, you will come to a track that you follow to the right until you reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 124 m - Car park (Domaine de Gem)
  2. 1 : km 0.5 - alt. 179 m - Reservoir
  3. 2 : km 1.38 - alt. 310 m - DFCI track
  4. 3 : km 1.74 - alt. 284 m - Access route to the Gorges de la Petite St-Baume
  5. 4 : km 2.11 - alt. 354 m - Intersection
  6. 5 : km 2.72 - alt. 348 m - Well and drinking trough (crossroads)
  7. 6 : km 3.83 - alt. 491 m - Summit of Tête du Douard
  8. 7 : km 4.68 - alt. 297 m - Road suitable for vehicles
  9. S/E : km 6.01 - alt. 124 m - Car park (Domaine de Gem)

Notes

Walking poles may be useful between points (6) and (7) for the ascent and descent of the Tête du Douard. This section is more technical than the rest of the hike (route over sharp limestone pavement, small scree slopes and small steps).

The duration indicated by the app is only valid for very fast walkers. Allow 4 to 5 hours (including a meal break) for a group or moderately fit individuals.

For information, the estimated FFRando rating is E3/T3/R2 for a moderately fit person.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 28 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.1 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
Much
Much

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk! Be careful, however, of the many mountain bikes that come down fast. The climb is very pleasant, not too steep. The view at the top is superb, but the descent is difficult to follow and navigate: it is better to wear trousers than shorts because the vegetation scratches. The trail is relatively shaded and not very exposed to the wind.

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POLHRI
POLHRI

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike completed at a leisurely pace in 3 hours and 15 minutes on Sunday, including a 20-minute break for photos and "exploring the gorges".
The total elevation gain was about 400 metres, fairly gradual until a short steep section over rocks to finish at the summit of Tête du Drouard.
The descent from the summit is parish specific to Brittany and very steep on rocky ground, and it is essential to follow the GPS track between points 6 and 7. We made the mistake of going straight downhill through the thorns for at least 300 metres.
I would not recommend this route with small children. I recommend wearing trousers and hiking boots and taking plenty of water with you.
Thank you to the Visorandonneur who suggested this lovely route to us.

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Nathechris
Nathechris

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Complicated without GPS, but well done to the person who devised this hike: few tracks, hidden paths, superb panoramic views...

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SiobanS
SiobanS

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Please note: at Tête du Douard, you need to be sure-footed and wear good footwear (preferably high-top boots) as the path is rocky. You also need the Visorando app to find the trail.

In addition, the paths are sometimes very narrow with kermes oak trees (do not wear shorts, and it is probably not advisable for children who, given their height, would end up badly scratched).

The plus: at the summit, there is a panoramic view of Garlaban, Sainte-Victoire and Pic de Bertagne all at once.

The downside: the gorges are not spectacular

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robertrouen
robertrouen

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
Thanks to VisoRandonneur for creating this route.
Completed in a small group.
Very windy near the chapel.

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fanmirando
fanmirando

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The blue and red dots indicated in the description are practically non-existent.
A GPS device is absolutely essential on the return journey from the summit.
Otherwise, this is a very interesting hike due to the variety of landscapes and the view from the summit of Douard

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Diane13
Diane13

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A varied and rather pleasant hike.
The hesitation between 1 and 2 (private property) is now evident in the rocks blocking the path, so it is impossible to go wrong.
The GPS tracks are very accurate and extremely useful! There are many paths to choose from along the way, and without GPS I would have gone the wrong way!
Not very comfortable on the summit of Douard (I'm afraid of heights, which plays a part), the red tracks are almost erased, so we lost the trail for a moment, but the cairns helped.
We completed the walk at a leisurely pace in 2 hours and 15 minutes. Was I going fast, or was the time a bit generous?

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Freco
Freco

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk completed in 2 hours and 50 minutes, taking the time to explore the Pte Ste Baume gorges and stop for photos..
A small mistake in the route on the descent between 6 and 7, but quickly corrected (thanks to the GPS track). It would be natural to continue straight ahead, but you actually have to turn left..

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Mars13
Mars13

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
I didn't see any signs either
You have to follow the planned route (on the GPS) exactly, especially between points 6 and 7 after Tête de Douard, because you're right next to the cliff and the markings are almost completely worn away. Luckily, there are also cairns to help you find your way.
Still between 6 and 7, the path is really narrow and the bushes scratch a lot: remember to wear trousers even if it's very hot!

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Autrautruche
Autrautruche

hello,
the signs have probably been removed since then. Perhaps they are only there during hunting season.
I followed the GPS directions to the letter and I have no doubt about that.
Regards,

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gser
gser
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I have just done this hike again, and it is still as appealing as ever with its variety of views and challenges...
Following the planned route exactly (using GPS), there is no private property and no restrictions. In fact, between points 1 and 2, there is nothing that resembles private property. I don't know where those who saw this restriction went wrong.
It's true that this is a hike best done with a GPS, as there are many small forks in the path created by mountain bikers, which may or may not lead to mistakes (simple alternatives!) during the climb

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Ontour
Ontour

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 09, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely hike with a superb view from the summit of Tête du Douard. Between points 1 and 2, there is a new sign indicating "private road". This is unexpected, especially since this good path (which seems to be used by mountain bikes) passes through a wooded area far from any houses. So we continued our walk following the GPS directions. The GPS is very useful on this route, especially when the trail takes us through the sharp limestone pavement at the summit or along overgrown paths (not easy to find). The last section (the track before reaching the starting point) is a little steep. But overall, we enjoyed this hike.

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Autrautruche
Autrautruche

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

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

I attempted this hike today.
Unfortunately, between points 1 and 2, the path becomes private and is prohibited after crossing the gas line. (very clear sign)
So I don't think this hike is still feasible.

I turned back and tried to go around via the track, but had the same problem.
I went backwards to point 6 (the cross) and then turned back. There are quite a few cairns in the sharp limestone pavement area, but the red markings are starting to fade and are a little more visible on the descent. The passage is tricky and you have to be very careful not to get lost.
The descent is then very bushy and you need to be well covered to avoid getting scratched.

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Denis Ehret
Denis Ehret

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant short hike, with unexpected diversity close to the commercial and industrial area of Gemenos.
I had trouble finding my way out of the Petite Sainte Baume gorges (a very beautiful section). There are many more intersections than described, and there are no longer any blue or red markings on the ground. This isn't a big deal, though, because most of the trails lead to the main path that you then have to follow.
The passage over the secondary summit and after the head of the Douard on the sharp limestone pavement is fun, but you have to pay close attention to the route. GPS is essential.

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Dume13
Dume13

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike to the Tête du Douard.
Breathtaking views.
The descent from the Tête du DOUARD is a little tricky (scree, risk of falling). Avoid without walking sticks.
For your safety, take the path in the opposite direction to the track and continue to follow the route.
It took me an extra half hour

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