Slightly before the village of Quinson (arriving from Montmeyan), you cross a bridge overlooking the Verdon river. A car park is located on the left side just after the bridge and before the pizza bar-restaurant called "Chez Kinou". A potential reward after your effort. Park your car in the car park. Walk back over the bridge by foot towards Montmeyan. The starting point of the hike is located a couple of meters away on the right-hand side.
CAUTION: shortly after the start, follow the signs marked with a horizontal yellow line (PR - Petite Randonnée (Short Hike) - signs).
You then pass through a converted stairway in the rock and suspension bridges, near the Verdon River. The view is superb. Nothing difficult but you should stay alert and watch where you're putting your feet. There are secured cables along the way but children, for instance, should not hike alone without adults' help.
After walking along the Verdon river for a while, alternating between rocky slopes and woods - following the Verdon River's ancient canal you'll reach a junction named "La Draille des Vaches" going up to the left. Keep going straight ahead. The hike keeps going alongside the Verdon's canal.
You will soon arrive at a tunnel entrance with a little stone house located above to the right. Go through the tunnel, and at the end, stairs will allow you to make your way back.
Before the stairs, if the bars blocking the access to the following tunnels are open, you may venture through the tunnels following alongside the gorges. But be advised, the trail is no longer secured.
Going back: After climbing a few metal steps of the last stairway, the path weaves under intense vegetation. A junction is indicated thanks to a stone cairn. Take a left and charge up a hill with a large, fairly steep until you reach the Sainte Maxime chapel. Once you get there, take the GR99 - Grande Randonnée 99 (Long Hike 99) - and follow it back to the starting point. GR99' signs are two horizontal white and red lines (GR' signs). The same markings crossed means that you're leaving the GR path and that you should not follow that direction.
On the plateau - on the top of the cliff overviewing the Verdon river - you won't have the view of the gorges anymore, you walk along an even, relatively large path surrounded by vegetation. After a few dozen minutes you'll begin the descent bringing you back to the starting point.
You will then be able to enjoy a breath-taking view of the valley and the dam.
Wear good hiking shoes and keep a torch with you.
Over 25 tunnels accessible alongside the canal.
Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.
Date of walk: 12/10/20 Clarity of route description: ★★★★★ Very good Clarity of route map: ★★★★★ Very good Walk interest: ★★★★★ Very good
Lovely walk, but would recommend doing opposite way round so you save the best for the return journey
Broadbridge
le Sat 06 Jul 2019 16:58:04 EDT
Overall rating:
5 / 5
Date of walk: 27/06/19 Clarity of route description: ★★★★★ Very good Clarity of route map: ★★★★★ Very good Walk interest: ★★★★★ Very good
An excellent walk, very beautiful.
Pinguing
le Wed 03 Jul 2019 18:09:05 EDT
Overall rating:
4 / 5
Date of walk: 25/06/19 Clarity of route description: ★★★☆☆ Average Clarity of route map: N/A Walk interest: ★★★★★ Very good
Very nice hike, lots of shade and cool breeze while it was very hot that day. Beautiful views to the Verdon river. Lot’s of stairs, but most of it went down.
The start of the hike in the description was unclear. You walk from the parking over the bridge, there you’ll find stairs going up on your right hand. You follow white/red route from the start (yellow is unclear). Halfway on stairs there is split up: take right side and walk further up the stairs. After that it is an easy route to follow. After tunnel go upstairs and follow signs back to Quinson. You can take longer route or shorter (the kilometers are on the signs). You can make a short detour to the sainte Maxim chapel, from there retrace your steps back to the main trail. Finally if you take the shorter route back to Quinson, you’ll go down on many stairs ending up at the point where the split up to la Draille des Vaches was (on your way in, you went straight there following the path alongside the canyon). Coming back downstairs to this crossroad you go to the right back over the begin part of the canyontrail to the car.
