Tour of Mont Inarte via Mont Cima

This beautiful route, starting from La Gipasse, goes around Mont Inarte via Mont Cima. It offers views of the Var valley, the Estéron valley, Mont Vial, the peaks of the Mercantour and the Tourette-Levens valley.

Details

n°4409913

Creation:
08 Dec 2020

Last update:
28 Dec 2025

Last review:
28 Dec 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 8.87 km
Average duration: 4h 05
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 539 m
Descent: - 543 m
Highest point: 873 m
Lowest point: 383 m

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Préalpes de Nice
District: Saint-Blaise (06670)
Start/End: N 43.809406° / E 7.231012°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3741ET, 3742OT
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Description of the walk

Park your vehicle next to the Gipasse bus stop or at the Carrefour de la Loubière (junction of the M1114 and M14).

(S/E) Follow the M14 road west towards Saint Blaise. A few metres after the Gipasse bus stop, turn right and climb towards the Gipasse district. Turn right at the first intersection and go through the barrier. Continue on the forest track that winds its way up to an altitude of 551 metres. The Inarte and Cima mountains are on your right. Continue along the track and leave the path that climbs to Costa Rasta on your right. The track descends to the Plamari cistern. Nice view of Gilette and Mount Vial. Continue along the forest track overlooking Saint-Blaise and the ruined castle. Pass the Amandier water reservoir.

(1) At the fork, take the track on the right. Continue more or less level until you reach the crossroads (elevation 532).

(2) Take the track on the right. Cross several streams flowing down from the north face of Mont Cima. Further on, leave the track descending to the left towards Campo Plan and join the track coming from Saint-Claire.

(3) At marker 820, follow the^GR®5south towards Mont Cima. The path follows the ridge of Mont Cima.

(4) At marker 844, turn right towards Mont Cima and leave the^GR®5, which continues towards Aspremont. The path crosses a coniferous forest and passes above the cliffs north of Mont Cima. Take care with children. Arrive at the summit of Mont Cima and its orientation tables.

(5) The 360-degree view gives a very good overview of the Nice hinterland.
Descend southwards via a stony path.

(6) Please note that marker 845 has disappeared, along with the direction to Ravin de l'Abeiroux. Therefore, take the path on the right that starts at a large flat rock in the north-west direction of Ravin de l'Abeiroux. The path descends rapidly to an intersection.

(7) At marker 875, turn right and cross the Abeiroux stream. The path passes at the foot of a small limestone cliff below Mont Inarte and reaches a crossroads at elevation 495.

(8) Turn right and descend along a fairly steep path through a property. Reach the bottom of the property and immediately turn left. Continue along the property towards the south-west to finally reach the M14 road.

(9) Take the M14 road on the right towards Saint-Blaise until you reach the Gipasse bus stop (E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 394 m - La Gipasse bus stop
1 : km 2.26 - alt. 522 m - Junction
2 : km 3.4 - alt. 533 m - Crossroads of forest tracks
3 : km 4.33 - alt. 608 m - Marker 820 on the GR5
4 : km 5.05 - alt. 697 m - Marker 844 on the GR5
5 : km 5.99 - alt. 873 m - Mont Cima
6 : km 6.42 - alt. 745 m - Marker 845 (no longer there) large flat stone
7 : km 7.16 - alt. 637 m - Marker 875
8 : km 7.96 - alt. 504 m - Crossroads - Cote 495
9 : km 8.52 - alt. 400 m - Carrefour de la Loubière
S/E : km 8.87 - alt. 391 m - La Gipasse bus stop

Notes

The descent into the Abeiroux ravine is a little steep, especially along the property. Avoid rainy days.

Worth a visit

Chocolate is sold atthe Abbaye Notre Dame de la Paix.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5

Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5

Route interest
4.6 / 5

Pan_bagnat

28 Dec 2025 at 20:15 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike. The first part is a warm-up, and the section leading up to Mount Cima is steeper but steady. The view at the top is superb. The descent is quite rocky. At this time of year, I found the last part difficult. Without GPS tracking, it would be impossible to find your way back. Nature has reclaimed its rights, and you have to bend over to get through the brambles. The path for the last two kilometres is not maintained, so I will report this. I will have fond memories of this hike! Thank you.

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Emmanuel Nice

29 Jan 2024 at 13:01 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A beautiful walk. The climb up Mount Cima is quite steep, but the 360-degree view is well worth the effort.
It is a little difficult to follow the path on the descent after point 8. Follow the route on the GPS.

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GOGO

31 Jul 2023 at 19:14 7200 • Edited: 31 Jul 2023 at 19:17 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Preliminary notes:
1 - Parking is prohibited at the Gipasse bus stop.
2 - At the start of the route, there is a huge sign saying "private property - no trespassing, etc.". Seeing someone on this "property", we approached them to ask for information. We were given a very hostile reception and accused of trespassing on private property. After some discussion, as the trail was only a few steps away, we were able to continue. However, it seems surprising that a trail should start inside private property.
It would have been a shame not to be able to do this hike, which is very pleasant with superb views.

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Francois Marchais

08 Apr 2023 at 08:49 7200

Thank you, Daniel. I will update the description. Have a good day, François.

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danielaime06

06 Apr 2023 at 22:13 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for this route and the beautiful views it offers .
The only thing preventing me from giving it a 5/5 rating is the descent at the end of the route, as some sections are a little tricky to negotiate, so much so that you sometimes wonder if you are on the right track...

Note for point (6): as marker 845 has disappeared, along with the direction to Ravin de l'Abeiroux, I suggest changing the description to specify: "take the path on the right that starts at a large flat rock".
Best regards,

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leopal

09 Oct 2022 at 09:56 7200 • Edited: 09 Oct 2022 at 09:58 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An interesting hike with a beautiful 360° panorama at the summit of Mount Cimia (don't forget your binoculars), which is quite a steep climb!
Be careful on the rocky descent.
When you reach point 8, go well past it to find the path on the right.

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Isnardd

15 Feb 2022 at 07:19 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Some difficulties in finding the route at the end of the route

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lutineluti

19 Oct 2021 at 06:55 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you to Visorando for its wonderful hiking suggestions!
It has become my go-to resource!
Lutineluti

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Ladoie

28 May 2021 at 17:49 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello and thank you for suggesting this route.
With lockdown now over, today, 28/05/2021, we met one cyclist and one hiker.
It is a beautiful route offering varied 180° panoramic views.
I also noticed that the markers had disappeared from the descent of Mont Cima. I think it is important to mention this because these missing markers (845 and 875) are indicated in the Visio randonneur description.
The route on the map is therefore a valuable aid.

We were unable to park at Carrefour de la Loubière, which we had chosen for the return journey.
nor at the Gipasse bus stop.
We drove past the bus stop and soon found a safe place to park on the right-hand side of the road (only one car).
On the return journey, as indicated in the description, we followed the busy M14 road.

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vernedd

05 Apr 2021 at 15:58 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello
A beautiful route, ideal during lockdown, with a great viewpoint at Mont Cima.
As usual, the disappearance of markers and signs from the General Council can cause problems in some places.
Will the stupidity of some people and hunters never end?

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lorendonneur06

09 Feb 2021 at 10:17 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Already! Well done to Osiris for sharing this route with us. The approach via the track is necessary to warm up and catch your breath before climbing Mount Cima. I would recommend a short detour to point 1 via the pretty downhill path, with signposts, to get a closer look at the ruins of St Blaise Castle (access is free with a nice description, but visiting inside is prohibited).
However, at point 6, be sure to follow the GPS track of the route to stay on the right path and not be misled by the numerous motocross tracks in this area - always stay in a straight line, keeping all the motorcycle tracks on your right!
This pleasant path - after the rocky section - narrows as it descends and appears to be old, with ageing or non-existent markings in places. It can be slippery as part of this narrow path, which is partly clayey-marly, is also covered by a fairly deep rut caused by rainwater runoff.
This route is very varied and enjoyable, with its views, panoramas and different types of paths.

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Author

Francois Marchais
33 Walks

Visorando member

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