Tour of the Tête de Nige

An easy hike with views of the Sainte Baume mountain range. Please note that the path is very steep and unstable.

Details

242847
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.63 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 289 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 290 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 453 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 279 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Access: Coming from Ceyreste, take the D3 towards Signes. At a place called Le Grand Caunet, turn left onto the D3d towards Col de l'Ange - Cuges-les-pins and continue for 100 metres. There is a car park on the left at the edge ofthe GR®51.

(S/E) From the car park, cross the D3D opposite the equestrian centre, continue for about 30 metres and then take the track on the right. Go through the barrier and continue to the junction.

(1) Continue straight ahead until you reach another fork (mountain bike signpost 1-2-3).

(2) Follow the track to the right, pass an underground cistern and continue straight ahead for about 450 metres.

(3) At elevation 453, leave the track and turn left, following the MTB3 route sign.

(4) After about 160m, turn left onto the steep, rocky path to descend into the valley (Mountain Bike 3 sign) and reach a fork.

(5) Continue straight ahead on the path, which widens and arrives at a junction before the Font Blanche equestrian centre, where it joins theGR®98(white and red markings).

(6) Turn right onto theGR®98, which runs alongside the property for about 300 metres.

(7) Leave theGR® which continues straight ahead and follow the path uphill on your right. Pass a path on your left and continue to a Y-junction with an underground cistern in the centre.

(8) Turn left downhill onto the Vallon de Carafa track and stay on it to go around the Tête de Nige. Go through a gate and pass in front of a buried cistern below on the left.

(9) At the junction of three tracks, turn right towards the D2.

(10) Just before the road, turn right onto a small path running parallel to it. Follow it to the barrier on the right and take this northbound track.

(11) Leave the track and turn left opposite the high-voltage power line. Follow this track, which curves sharply to the left, until you reach a green and yellow cistern. Go behind it and take the track going uphill to the right. Continue left at the first fork and do the same at the next one to reach a new intersection not far from an intersection you passed on the way there, at elevation 453.

(12) Turn left onto the small downhill path and follow it straight ahead until you reach the junction with the starting track.

(1) Turn left until you reach the road opposite the car park, cross over to reach it. You have arrived (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 399 m - Car park on the edge of the D3 and GR51
  2. 1 : km 0.2 - alt. 400 m - At the fork, continue straight ahead
  3. 2 : km 0.62 - alt. 421 m - Turn right and follow mountain bike markers 1, 2 and 3
  4. 3 : km 2.26 - alt. 453 m - At elevation 453, leave the trail and turn left
  5. 4 : km 2.42 - alt. 440 m - Turn left onto a steep path with loose stones
  6. 5 : km 3.1 - alt. 321 m - At the fork, continue straight ahead on the gas track trail
  7. 6 : km 3.39 - alt. 292 m - GR98, turn right
  8. 7 : km 3.7 - alt. 289 m - Leave the GR, climb to the right
  9. 8 : km 5.14 - alt. 382 m - Fork, underground cistern, on the left
  10. 9 : km 6.89 - alt. 358 m - At the junction of three tracks, continue straight ahead
  11. 10 : km 7.54 - alt. 408 m - On the right before the D3
  12. 11 : km 7.95 - alt. 414 m - Leave the trail, turn left
  13. 12 : km 10.14 - alt. 453 m - At the fork, turn left onto the path going downhill
  14. S/E : km 11.63 - alt. 399 m - Car park on the edge of the D3 and GR51

 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.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 20 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
22845432
22845432

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Mostly hiking on wide dirt tracks in a wooded environment without much difficulty, except for a short, steep, rocky section with some tricky passages. Avoid in wet weather. Some shaded sections. Beautiful unobstructed views of Sainte Baume.

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22845432
22845432

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike on trails and wide tracks without much difficulty except for the very steep but fortunately fairly short climb up Mont Cruvelier. Beautiful views of Sainte Baume and the Cuges plain. The last part of the hike, on a long track to return to the starting point, is rather monotonous...

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jeannot 83
jeannot 83

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lack of network coverage disrupted our journey

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XAM
XAM

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 16, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Well-written and clear description, accurate map.

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rando7
rando7

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely hike on wide trails, with beautiful views of Sainte Baume, Font Blanche, and Les Barres de Castillon. A magnificent day under the spring sunshine. Hiking with friends.

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jeandadou
jeandadou

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike without any particular difficulty, except for the descent, which is a little steep and slippery in places. But you need to take it slowly. Otherwise, the paths are pleasant and varied. A lovely walk

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eliette roger
eliette roger

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful route, well marked and very easy (great):

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Choucha robert
Choucha robert

Thank you for your appreciation, please take care of yourself

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stefaix
stefaix

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

Easy hike

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Choucha robert
Choucha robert

??

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DEPIT
DEPIT

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Why is the trace display different between a mobile app and an Android mobile?

AND WHY IS THERE A SUMMARY AT THE END OF THE ROUTE WITH THE APP, BUT NOTHING WITH ANDROID?

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The user account associated with this content has been deleted.

Ludicus
Ludicus

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Nothing to say about the route, except that it is of little interest. We couldn't find the descent among the rocks, but fortunately the view of the Fontblanche bars encouraged us to look for it and find it. The descent into the Carafa valley on a wide track sometimes used by quad bikes was uninteresting. Fortunately, this part was full of arbutus trees in early October, and the berries were ripe. Yum! A thought for jmr1, thanks to whom my daughter and I went to the top of the Fontblanche ridges.

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toietmoi88
toietmoi88

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 24, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Beautiful route, pleasant, lovely walk. Worth doing again.

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jmr1
jmr1

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 23, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

I made a mistake at the start by confusing the first junctions, even though the distances given are correct (I don't have a GPS). I should have been more careful!
In my opinion, it would be better to read:
S/E Cross the D3d opposite the equestrian centre, continue for about 30 metres on the left, then take the track on the right. Go through the barrier and continue to the first junction. Mountain bike signpost 123
(1) Continue straight ahead. Do not take the path on the right marked in yellow. Continue to a second junction (mountain bike signpost 123)
(2) Follow the track on the right... etc...
At point 4, you can go straight on to the highest point of the Font Blanche bars and back (10 minutes), which I think is a good idea to enjoy an extraordinary view of Cuges and Sainte Baume to the north, Garlaban to the west and the sea and Les Embiez to the south.
But everyone does as they please and, above all, as they can!
One day, perhaps, I'll buy a GPS, but that seems to me to be the beginning of the end... retirement home... no more
hiking and our hills that I love so much!

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.