[en] Itinéraire dans le massif des calanques

Hi everyone,

I want to design an itinerary in the calanques massive for this Sunday and there some unclear aspects about this.

The maps that I use are hikebikemap.org and IGN.

First of all, on hikebikemap I see that there are some different markers (fr: balise):
blue band, yellow band, red band, green band, and red + green dots around Mont Puget

Where can I find a description of these trails ?
Is the color associated to some level of difficulty ?
Which of these marked trails can be walked without special escalade equipment ?

In your opinion, what are the « must see » landmarks of this region ?

Thanks for any information
(You can also reply in French, I easily understand it)

Hi,
sorry I won’t give you a lot of information, but know that all paths that appear on the IGN map are easily practicable, unless they use red dots (and still, it isn’t necessarily difficult depending on your skills). On hikebikemap (and thus openstreetmap), some paths may be referenced that aren’t on the IGN map. Still, most of them will be practicable, but sometimes more difficult to follow.
So, if you want to be sure, follow the red paths on the IGN map, they are the main ones.

As for the must see, I’m not a specialist either, but the coast should be visited of course, the most famous calanques being Sormiou, Sugiton and En-Vau

Hi John,

This website provides an explantion (in french) for the different colors

[quote]Bon à savoir : Le balisage des sentiers dans le massif des calanques répond à des critères précis,
balisage bleu : parcours de crête principale
balisage vert : parcours perpendiculaire aux crêtes
balisage jaune et marron : parcours sécants et de raccordement
balisage rouge : parcours franchissant les crêtes en oblique
balisage noir : parcours en corniche
rouge/blanc : sentier de Grande Randonnée traversant le massif (GR 98-51)
Sur les cartes IGN au 1/15000ème il sera reporté la couleur exacte du balisage (ce qui facilite la reconnaissance d’un parcours) et 1 , 2 ou 3 étoiles en fonction du degré de difficulté.
D’autre part un numéro est affecté à chaque sentier, de manière à ne pas les confondre. Dans la rando décrite ici, nous avons utilisé partiellement, le vert 1, le bleu 1, le jaune 5 qui parfois sont eux mêmes et localement conjoints avec d’autres.
exemple: au niveau du col de la selle, le jaune2 côtoie le vert3, le rouge1, le noir5.
Des pointillés de la couleur du sentier principal représentent des variantes, des raccourcis.[/quote]

I’ve been hiking and climbing in the Calanques several times, and my feeling is that the black trails tend to be the most interesting and difficult hikes (but no climbing gear needed).

In addition to Sormiou, Sugiton and En-Vau, Luminy is also definitely worth a trip

Posté en tant qu’invité par gitaneau:

Hi,
If you come and see us for a three-day visit, the worthseeing sites are (my selection) :
-Marseilleveyre Summit : from the top there is an overlooking view to Marseille (North) and Les Goudes Rocks and cliffs (South).On the path there is a 3 meter- step of climbing equipped with chains.

• Sugiton Calanque from Luminy Campus by bus from Marseille downtown (free access through University coumpound). From the last stop, you can go down to the calanque and walk around along the seaside.
  -Calanque d’En-Vau: the most famous calanques fjord-shaped, where you can climb, swim and hike.A lovely place indeed !

From any of these sites you can hike for a couple of hours or more and a map is useful ( and a handbook as well if possible) because of the extensive path network.

No water in the Calanques.Special tough regulations for access from May to September due to forest fire.

Posté en tant qu’invité par gitaneau:

From the 1st of June till the 30th of September, please check the following website « Calanque13.com » then « accès à pied » then « conditions d’accès selon le risque de feux de forêt ».

Very important to check because in case of strong wind, the clearance for access to the Calanques is granted the very same day of your visit !

Thanks for the great answers so far

I’ll take the TGV back the same day, so I’m leaving Marseilleveyre for the next time.
If you recommend Sormiou, Sugiton, En Vau, I’d start from « Les Baumettes » or « Luminy » bus stops and walk along the coast on GR 51- GR 98 till Calanque de Port Pin. For return, is it a good pick to take the « balisage jaune » on « Crete de l’Estret » ? Can I reach the summit of Mont Puget easily from « Cap Gros » ?

I read about the access regulation to the massive during the summer. The temperature and wind speed predictions from meteoblue are looking great.

I you are physically fit, you could also traverse from Marseille to Cassis and go back by train, this can be easily done with public transportation. /routes/158015/fr/massif-des-calanques-traversee-des-calanques-marseille-cassis

Posté en tant qu’invité par gitaneau:

I haven’t been walking for years in the vicinity of Mt-Puget so I can’t help you (it’s too old in my mind !).Moreover I am not at home and I don’t have any IGN map available.Sorry !

I did not manage to reach Mont Puget, as I got extremely thirsty on my way back from En Vau (where I have finished all my 1.5L of water).

When I was above Calanque de l’Oule (at the belvedere point), I noticed on the map a trail towards En Vau passing near the « Trou du Serpent ». The entrance to this trail is that place where is written on the rock something like « Danger de mort, meme si tu n’as pas peur » ? Even from the other side (at the intersection with balisage rouge) I could not see any relevant entrance. Is it this one? AN Trou du serpent - YouTube

My itinerary was this one: http://i.imgur.com/nviioo4.png , mostly on GR