Venanson walks

A hike starting from the village of Venanson in the Vésubie Valley; relatively short but with a significant elevation gain. It offers a variety of views over different parts of the region: the Tinée and Vésubie valleys, and the villages in the Valdeblore area. A good mix of wooded and open sections. There are no difficulties with navigation. The paths are clearly visible and the signposts are very helpful.

A magnificent mid-mountain hike offering a variety of landscapes: the village of Saint-Martin-Vésubie, the Boréon forest and, finally, a rocky landscape with a 360° view of the surrounding peaks.

TheGR® 52 is a route that crosses the Mercantour National Park, through the Alpes-Maritimes from Saint-Dalmas-de-Valdeblore to Menton. ThisGR® route is very challenging due to the varied terrain and significant elevation changes. You’ll reach altitudes of up to 2,700m, where you can admire the high-mountain landscapes, flora and fauna. Then, in the second half of the route, you’ll encounter panoramas that are more southern in character but just as extraordinary.

The GR®52 starts in Saint-Dalmas de Valdeblore. This first stage is a transition to reach the starting point of the GR®.This is a lovely hike that passes through the small resort of La Colmiane and offers a relatively easy climb, following the GR®52 A through the woods for just over 6km.

An easy hike offering beautiful views of the Mercantour Massif and, opposite, the Madone de Fenestre valley. You can extend the hike on the mountain pasture towards the Tête du Brec (2566m).

A magnificent viewpoint, the summit of Caïre Gros, between the Tinée and Vésubie valleys, offers superb views of the Franco-Italian mountain range and the main peaks of the Mercantour.

This is a beautiful circuit that allows you to discover the Baus de la Frema and Mont Pétoumier with incredible views of the Argentera and Gélas massifs, then the Lacs de Millefonts with the final climb to Mont Pépoiri, which offers an extraordinary panorama of the entire Mercantour and the middle country.

This twentieth stage marks the end of the crossing of the Mercantour Massif. From Saint-Dalmas, the GR®5 heads south to climb the steep slope towards the Cime de Colmiane, which it bypasses by heading for the Col du Varaire. It crosses the Bois Noir and reaches the Col des Deux Caïres, then the Caïre Gros. The route follows its ridge and, hugging the hillside, passes beneath Mont Chalancha, La Partissuola and the Cime de la Combe before descending to the small pass of Trous. Before the Col du Fort, the path descends to the Granges de la Brasque, crosses the upper part of the Riou du Figaret valley and arrives at the Col d’Andrion. Cutting across the hairpin bends of the M33, the GR®5 reaches the Col des Fournès and the Col de Gratteloup. Through rocky gaps, it runs alongside the Petit Brec d’Utelle and then the Brec d’Utelle. From there, the path descends towards the Crête de l’Albaréa and reaches the Col du Castel Ginesté. It crosses the slope below the ridges of the Têtes du Sac de Bécasse, Parabosquet and Les Pennes to reach the Utelle community lodge.

Étape de la traversée des Alpes de Saint-Dalmas de Valdeblore jusqu'à Utelle. Randonnée sur une ligne de crête offrant des panoramas extraordinaires sur l'arrière pays niçois.

A beautiful hike in a very shady forest environment, best done in spring or during the warmer months, where you can enjoy this area rich in fir and spruce trees. Finally, enter the fortified village through the old ogival gate to discover what is certainly the oldest of the three villages of Valdeblore.

Second stage of the route and first stage on theGR®52. A long 21km stage taking in the Col de Veillos, numerous lakes, the Col du Barn, the Vacherie du Collet and the Col de Salèse, ending at a place called Le Boréon. A spectacular stage thanks to its landscapes and views, but very difficult.

A very beautiful hike offering stunning views of the Vésubie Valley. The imposing Villette ridge overlooks the return trail. The route between points (8) and (9) bears witness to an ancestral agricultural past.

A circular hike starting from the Férisson cattle shed and passing through all the ridges around the Férisson cirque. Superb views all along the way, with the sea on one side and the Mercantour peaks on the other. As the end of the route is off-trail and unmarked, a good sense of direction and route-finding skills are essential.

This first stage largely follows theGR®52. It takes you through wooded countryside and offers a relaxing break by the peaceful Lac de Trécolpas. From the Cougourde Mountain Hut, you’ll enjoy superb views of this majestic, pumpkin-shaped peak. Editor’s note added on 26/07/2021: A section is closed due to bad weather. See the notices for an alternative route

A short but challenging hike in a wild valley in Haute-Vésubie. Rocky landscape, a pretty lake and a beautiful view of several Italian peaks, including Monte Matto (3,088 m).

A lovely summit hike, as you’ll be climbing over 1,000 metres. Initially sheltered by a forest, you’ll then move through a more alpine landscape before finishing with a pleasant climb over scree. You’ll pass by the little Lac de Cerise. On the way down, the easier going will surely allow you to spot the chamois and marmots you may have missed on the way up.

The secondary summit of the park, to which it gives its name (by mistake, according to legend), the Cime du Mercantour is relatively accessible and offers a pleasant, uncrowded hike. Please note: the descent to the Vallon des Erps requires caution and is only suitable for experienced walkers.

The most difficult stage of thisGR®, but the most beautiful for its landscapes, flora and fauna: chamois, marmots, ibex. After the Pas des Ladres, we chose to take theGR®52via the alternative route that passes close to the Col de Fenestre, then descends to Lac de Fenestre before reaching La Madone de Fenestre. Three sections are particularly difficult: between Lac de Trecolpas and the Pas des Ladres, the ascent of the Pas du Colomb, and the descent from the Pas du Colomb.

A challenging hike to reach the Tres Crous viewpoint, characterised by its three crosses and the panoramic view of the Vésubie valley stretching all the way to the sea.

We offer a hike through the Valdeblore mountain pastures, including the ascent of one of the area’s major peaks, Mont Pépoiri, offering exceptional views across the entire border ridge of the Mercantour massif.Views of Corsica on a clear day.

Starting from the Millefonts car park, this hike will take you via Lac Petit to Cime des Lauses, a peak offering exceptional views of the Mercantour. After a section off the marked trail along the Têtes des Margès and Barn ridges, you will reach Col du Barn and descend to the other beautiful lakes of Millefonts: Lac Gros (slightly heart-shaped) and Lac Long (entirely colonised by aquatic plants).

A very beautiful hike in the Colmiane area. No difficulty on this route.

The Millefonts lakes hike will take you to no fewer than five lakes at the foot of the Mercantour. The Col de Barn offers breathtaking views of the Molières valley and the lakes.

This is a fine route with the beautiful Lac de Trécolpas at the foot of the Pas des Ladres. Please note that following storm Alex, the start of the hike on the right bank is no longer possible and must therefore be made on the left bank.

A challenging hike that takes you to the Cime Guilié (2,999 m), a border peak just one metre short of reaching the Mercantour’s 3,000-metre peaks. At the top, there are magnificent views both on the French side and of the lakes on the Italian side. On the way back, a short detour will allow you to explore the Bessons Lakes.

This hike in the Haut Boréon will take you, via the iconic Lac de Trécolpas, to a minor but wild summit that is particularly interesting for its breathtaking view of the Cime du Gélas. The ascent presents no major difficulties, apart from a section off the beaten track and a few easy climbing moves towards the end, as well as the possibility of encountering chamois and ibex along much of the route.

The Bessons Lakes are among the most beautiful and airy in Boréon. The striking glacial relief, with the passage of barriers defending this cirque, is truly awe-inspiring.

This walk around La Bolline, a village in Valdeblore, takes you along pretty paths through wooded valleys. It takes you to the village of La Bolline, the Chapel of Sainte-Croix des Pénitents Blancs, the fountain in Place de Casetto (1857) and the Church of Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur (17th century), as well as the village of La Roche and the Chapel of the Pénitents Noirs de l'Annonciation.

A circular hike around the lower part of the Salèse valley, passing the Cavalet and Erps cattle pastures, Lac du Boréon, the waterfall and the larch forests. A short hike suitable for the height of summer, as much of the route is shaded. (Please note): The route description is likely no longer accurate following Storm Alex, as the route was mapped out before the storm.

From the Vallon de Salèse car park, there are numerous hiking routes. This one takes you up the valley to the Col de Salèse and then on to two magnificent lakes: Lac Nègre and Lac de Graveirette.

A lovely hike offering the chance to climb two peaks in the Salèse area of the Boréon, following a wild and little-used route. From the summit of the Cime de Pagari de Salèse, the view over the Argentera massif is breathtaking. The return journey takes you partly off the beaten track to explore the French Fremamorte lakes. A detour via Lac de Graveirette rounds off the route before heading back via the classic Salèse valley.

A challenging hike with an off-trail finish on Caire Archas, offering panoramic views of Mont Pépoiri, Cime de Frémamorte, Cime Guilié, Mont Pélago and other peaks on the border with Italy.

This is a beautiful French-Italian circuit, partly off-trail (Visorando app or GPS recommended), which allows you to discover different landscapes: the Boréon forest, high-altitude lakes, mineral landscapes and magnificent views of the surrounding peaks.

Off the beaten track, these two small lakes in the Mercantour are both beautiful and uncrowded. Here I suggest a circular route that will allow you to avoid descending directly to the Col de Salèse and enjoy a view of Lac Nègre that you don't get when arriving via the traditional route. A few changes to this route, see reviews.

This small natural lake is little known to hikers. Surrounded by greenery, it is very pleasant and peaceful.

One of the main sites in the Mercantour, Lac Nègre offers the reward of a sudden view of a rocky high mountain landscape that contrasts with the peaceful forest climb that precedes it. The Pas du Préfouns is the viewpoint of the Préfouns valley with the Aiguilles de Questa on the Italian side and the Lac Nègre cirque on the French side.

A long but relatively easy walk to the very beautiful Lake Tavels. There is the option of a detour on the way back to the lovely Lake Scluos.

A very beautiful round trip hike in Haute-Vésubie from the Salèse car park. There are numerous lakes, including the large Lac Nègre, and beautiful panoramic views at the Col de Frémamorte and the peak of the same name.

This short walk, mainly through the forest, will take you to a pretty little mountain lake (2,130 m). It's a good warm-up or an easy goal that can be done with children who are good walkers (be warned, it's still in the mountains, so... it's uphill).

This short circular loop takes you past Lac des Adus, then on a short way towards Pointe des Adus, before returning via theGR®®52.As it runs mainly through woodland, it’s particularly pleasant on hot days.

A beautiful loop around the Fenestre valley with Lake Fenestre as its centre point.

This route, which is closer to simple mountaineering than standard hiking, provides access to the highest peak in the Mercantour. From the summit, there is an exceptional panorama of the surrounding mountains and a view of the sea, stretching as far as Corsica on a clear day. The proposed ascent is via the small pass Saint-Robert and the west-southwest ridge, descending via the northeast ridge and the Balcon du Gélas.

From the summit of La Valette, there is a breathtaking view of all the peaks of the Mercantour, La Colmiane and, on a clear day, Cap d'Antibes. You will pass by the five lakes of Le Prals.

This hike in the Vallon de la Madone de Fenestre will take you to the wild lakes of Balaour, a little-visited spot at the foot of the Cime du Gélas, the highest point in the Mercantour. These lakes are fed by the famous Vésubie river, which rises some 300 metres higher up at Lac Blanc.

The Lacs de Prals or "Cinq Lacs" route takes you into the heart of the Mercantour, along pleasant, easy trails that are suitable for all walkers. This route will allow you to discover the Tête de la Lave, the Cime de la Valette de Prals (2,496 m) with its panoramic view of the upper Vésubie and the great snow-capped peaks of the Oisans, before reaching the Lacs de Prals site.

This third stage is less demanding than the previous two. The entire route follows a marked path. Only the start of the descent from the Pas du Mont Colomb and the sections over scree require a little care. This is the classic route linking the Madone de Fenestre valley with the Gordolasque valley. The scenery along the way is magnificent, and the Pas du Mont Colomb offers two completely different views from its eastern and western sides.

A charming circular hike that can be done at the start of the season (June) when there is still snow. Chamois are often seen (early in the morning). The lake area is very pleasant and offers many options and views for picnics.

Route linking the Vésubie and Gordolasque valleys.

This hike is mainly through forest and offers beautiful views of the Alps. The Clamia ridge is a rocky outcrop facing the village of Rimplas, which overlooks the Tinée valley.

A pleasant hike thanks to its diversity. Wooded areas with different species of trees, beautiful views, ancient trails including the Crête des Martourins, and a finale in this little aquatic paradise where the elephant is located, a swimming spot once known mainly to the people of Lantosquois and its surroundings.

A long hike that will take you to the summit of the Cime de l’Authion for a breathtaking view of the Vésubie valley.

An excellent area to prepare for the alpine summer season. Areal pleasure to explore this wooded massif, home to a rich variety of species and one of the most beautiful forests in the Alpes-Maritimes department. This paved slanting street, these terraced walls and these ruins bear witness to an ancient agricultural tradition.

A walk through wooded countryside, beginning with two hours of gentle incline – a rarity in this mountainous area. The return route follows an abandoned irrigation canal, leading onto the wooded paths near the village of Pélasque.

In the heart of the magnificent Turini Forest (3,500 hectares), the pass of the same name (1,674 metres) marks the climatic boundary between the Mediterranean hinterland of Nice and the mountainous "high country". Olive groves give way to fir, beech and larch forests, which are ablaze with colour in autumn. Throughout this loop, you will enjoy superb views of the entire region, including the Mounier, the Cime du Diable and the Vallon de la Maïris.