Extended version of the small passes of Luberon East

Car park and picnic area, 2 km past La Bastide-des-Jourdans on the D956 towards Forcalquier.

(S/E) Take the path leading from the far end of the car park. It is marked in yellow but with very few markings. Continue along the same track as long as it goes uphill.

(1) At the junction at the pass, take the wide, motorable track straight ahead (slightly to the right) which goes round the Pié Cabrier. Continue along this track, which turns east then south-east.
Do not leave the track before the pass, even if attractive tracks tempt you to do so.

(2) Just after passing a farm on your right, take a path running perpendicular to the left, descending towards a barely defined valley. Caution: deep mud at the bottom if it has rained recently, somewhat overgrown brambles and tall thistles. You may spot a roe deer here.

(3) With Château Véron in sight, after the concrete basin and the hedge running perpendicular to the path, turn right, follow the field on your left for 120 metres and rejoin the path that comes into view near the road.
Please note: the path is blocked by vegetation at the bottom of the valley; feel free to follow and walk alongside the hedge once you’ve passed it.

(4) Take the DFCI track on the left. Please note: there are two parallel paths. The lower one leads to the château, so you must take the upper one for about 1.5 km.

(5) At the junction, take the wide path in the middle which climbs due west, following the ridge (yellow markings), ignoring the^GR®97and the paths to the left and right. Throughout this section, you can see, on the right, the Lure mountain, the Alps and the Vaucluse mountains.

(6) At the cistern, continue straight ahead along the track.

(7) At a fork in the road, the path – still marked in yellow – leaves the main track for a shortcut heading to the right. Join the track you left earlier and you’ll soon reach a crossroads with a cistern on the right.

(8) Carry on straight ahead, leaving the Vallon de Jacquas on your left.

(9) You’ll reach the Collet Rouge, the highest point of the walk.

(10) At the water tank, carry on straight ahead.

(11) At the Carrefour de Piégros, turn left, heading due south, towards Les Mines and Vitrolles-en-Lubéron (yellow signs). Enjoy the view to the north one last time.

(12) Cross the D33 and continue straight ahead on the well-marked path at the bottom of the valley.

(13) At a place called Les Mines, continue down the valley to the left to join the D33 and follow it.

(14) Walk through the very pretty village of Vitrolles-en-Lubéron and, at the roundabout below the village, join the^GR®9, which you should now follow along the road.

(15) After about 400m, leave the road and take a path on the left, heading due east, and carry on straight ahead without hesitation until you reach a track suitable for vehicles, which you follow down to the right for just a few tens of metres.

(16) Walk down a little way around the bend (no more than 50m) and leave the track to the left, onto a small, unmarked path. This avoids having to go through Les Serres and walk along the tarmac of the D33. Continue straight on, heading down towards the Vallat de Pissaire.
Please note: the start of the path isn’t very visible, but if you zigzag through the scrub, you’ll find a single track a few dozen metres further on, heading straight down with the ridge line on your left.

(17) On reaching the valley, cross a ford (usually dry; if not, the water is very clear in autumn and you can cross without difficulty) and rejoin the GR®9, which climbs to the left.

(18) After 500m, the^GR® leaves the main track to climb to the right and go round the Collet du Paradis. Cross a small pass on the same path and descend about fifty metres;

(19) Then take the well-marked^GR®9track, which leaves the main path by veering to the left. When you reach the Pas du Loup junction, continue straight ahead on the main path, which winds south-southeast for about 800 metres.

(20) At a bend, leave the^GR®9and take a small track that branches off to the left, running alongside a small, ascending valley, and joins a path 300 metres further on. Continue along this path to the right, passing above a sheepfold and arched greenhouses, until you reach the D956.

(21) Head up the D956 to the left for 500m to return to the car park (S/E).

No special equipment is required, but water and good walking shoes are recommended (as there are sections on stony paths).

An extended version of a route published by pbrion (many thanks!) – I’ve left the shared section almost unchanged whilst adding a few details to make it easier to find the path in certain places.