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Best Forest Hikes in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

270 routes in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur qualify, ranked below by how much walkers rate them. They average 3.6 km and 112 m (367 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 62.4 km.

That is 18 percent of the 1,527 routes we map in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. They are shorter than the local average, 3.6 km against 5.6 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day. They also climb less than the area average, 112 m (367 ft) against 179 m (587 ft), so they suit a recovery day or a group with mixed fitness.

Forest trails are the dependable choice: shade when it is hot, shelter when it is not, and a completely different character once the leaves turn. The mix is broad: 221 are rated easy and 13 are hard or harder, so there is something here whether you have two hours or a full day.

Trails

Expert

Sentier de Grande Randonnée 98

Parc national des Calanques (cœur) · Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Distance
62.4 km
/ 38.8 mi
Elevation gain
1,373 m
Typical duration
16 hr
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Hard

Via Alpina Red R128

Parc national des Écrins (cœur) · Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Distance
19.8 km
/ 12.3 mi
Elevation gain
436 m
Typical duration
4 hr 55 min
  • Forest
Hard

Les lacs de Crupillouse

Parc national des Écrins (cœur) · Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Distance
16.4 km
/ 10.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,351 m
Typical duration
5 hr 28 min
  • Waterfall
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Le Col du Cheval de Bois

Parc national des Écrins (cœur) · Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Distance
18.6 km
/ 11.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,024 m
Typical duration
5 hr 31 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Les Auberts - Pré de la Chaumette

Parc national des Écrins (cœur) · Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Distance
4.5 km
/ 2.8 mi
Elevation gain
98 m
Typical duration
1 hr 4 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Les Fermonds - ?

Parc national des Écrins (cœur) · Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Distance
3.0 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
65 m
Typical duration
43 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Les Merveilles par la Gordolasque

Parc national du Mercantour (cœur) · Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Distance
13.1 km
/ 8.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,221 m
Typical duration
4 hr 34 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Les Ferrailles - Montjustin

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
10.1 km
/ 6.3 mi
Elevation gain
222 m
Typical duration
2 hr 26 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Le Saut du Laire

Parc national des Écrins (cœur) · Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Distance
9.0 km
/ 5.6 mi
Elevation gain
415 m
Typical duration
2 hr 30 min
  • Forest
Moderate

Le refuge du Tourond

Parc national des Écrins (cœur) · Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Distance
5.7 km
/ 3.6 mi
Elevation gain
321 m
Typical duration
1 hr 41 min
  • Forest
Hard

Via Alpina Red R127

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
16.6 km
/ 10.3 mi
Elevation gain
365 m
Typical duration
4 hr 3 min
  • Forest
Moderate

Le balcon du Caderaou

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
12.4 km
/ 7.7 mi
Elevation gain
273 m
Typical duration
2 hr 59 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Easy

Côte Longue- Les Chaussets

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
28 m
Typical duration
19 min
  • Coastal
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Côte de la Fleur - Les Sagnes

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
23 m
Typical duration
15 min
  • Coastal
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Entre ville et nature (Istres)

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
13.3 km
/ 8.3 mi
Elevation gain
293 m
Typical duration
3 hr 13 min
  • Coastal
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Lou Camin Nissart

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
44.8 km
/ 27.8 mi
Elevation gain
985 m
Typical duration
11 hr
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Bois de Roue - Lac de Roue

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
0.4 km
/ 0.2 mi
Elevation gain
9 m
Typical duration
6 min
  • Lake
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Lac Miroir - Les Preynasses

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
0.4 km
/ 0.2 mi
Elevation gain
9 m
Typical duration
6 min
  • Lake
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Château Lombard - Les Faix

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
15 m
Typical duration
10 min
  • Forest
  • Castle and ruins
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Château-Queyras - Les Arbourets

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
2.0 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
44 m
Typical duration
29 min
  • Forest
  • Castle and ruins
  • Waymarked route
Easy

La Montagne - Les Cassettes

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
10 m
Typical duration
7 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Moderate

A travers la forêt du Bessillon

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
8.1 km
/ 5.1 mi
Elevation gain
190 m
Typical duration
1 hr 59 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Bois Foran - Balarin

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
32 m
Typical duration
21 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Bois Noir

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
3.8 km
/ 2.4 mi
Elevation gain
506 m
Typical duration
1 hr 34 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Bois Noir - Prairies du Col

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
15 m
Typical duration
10 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Bois Noir - Ravin de Thioure

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
2.8 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
61 m
Typical duration
40 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Bois de Buche

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
9.7 km
/ 6.0 mi
Elevation gain
486 m
Typical duration
2 hr 45 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Bois de Gierre

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur · France

Distance
2.6 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
470 m
Typical duration
1 hr 15 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Sentier de Grande Randonnée 98Parc national des Calanques (cœur)62.4 km1,373 m16 hrExpertApril to October
Via Alpina Red R128Parc national des Écrins (cœur)19.8 km436 m4 hr 55 minHardApril to October
Les lacs de CrupillouseParc national des Écrins (cœur)16.4 km1,351 m5 hr 28 minHardApril to October
Le Col du Cheval de BoisParc national des Écrins (cœur)18.6 km1,024 m5 hr 31 minHardApril to October
Les Auberts - Pré de la ChaumetteParc national des Écrins (cœur)4.5 km98 m1 hr 4 minEasyApril to October
Les Fermonds - ?Parc national des Écrins (cœur)3.0 km65 m43 minEasyApril to October
Les Merveilles par la GordolasqueParc national du Mercantour (cœur)13.1 km1,221 m4 hr 34 minHardApril to October
Les Ferrailles - MontjustinProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur10.1 km222 m2 hr 26 minModerateApril to October
Le Saut du LaireParc national des Écrins (cœur)9.0 km415 m2 hr 30 minModerateApril to October
Le refuge du TourondParc national des Écrins (cœur)5.7 km321 m1 hr 41 minModerateApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Sentier de Grande Randonnée 98, Via Alpina Red R128, Les lacs de Crupillouse. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

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