Hiking in the Mercantour National Park

In the Alpine setting of the Parc National du Mercantour you’ll find chamois, mouflons, marmots and ibex. Between Provence and Italy, nestling not far from the waves, the vast expanse of mountains reveals its wonders along the way. A nature sanctuary with 10,000 protected plant and animal species, offering visitors peaks of over 3,000 metres. Grab a good pair of trainers and your best camera and head for the wildest and most varied expanse of France! The start of your hiking trail awaits you just 1h30 from the Côte d’Azur coastline.

The history of the Mercantour National Park

Did you know? The history of these valleys began in the mid-19th century, under the reign of Vittorio-Emmanuel, renamed the Hunter King. Faced with declining chamois numbers, the reigning sovereign decided to create a royal hunting reserve. It was in 1979, after many years of negotiations with hunters, that this privileged area became the Mercantour National Park. This vast area of 700 km2, which stretches across two départements (Alpes-Maritimes and Alpes de Haute Provence) and 21 communes, reveals its beauty along 600 km of well-maintained, signposted trails. It’s a great invitation to try your hand at some of the most coveted nature activities. Top of the list: hiking, of course! The Mercantour National Park is one of the most beautiful hiking sites on the Côte d’Azur.

The most spectacular hiking routes

1. The Cime du Diable

Here’s a great hike in the Mercantour National Park to do between June and October: the Cime du Diable (2685m). Its evocative name recalls the cursed nature of the high mountain in days gone by. Departing from L’Authion, this hike offers breathtaking views of the Mercantour, the lakes of the Vallée des Merveilles and its age-old engravings. With each peak, its own set of spectacles!

🗻 Level: Difficult
🗻 Upgrade: +1350 m
🗻 Distance: 20 km
🗻 Starting point: L’Authion – Cabane de Tues.

Consult the itinerary.

2. Vallée des Merveilles and Cime des Lacs

Spectacular in its beauty, this 8:45 hike to Cime des Lacs transports you to another time. It offers panoramic views over a dozen lakes and the main peaks of the Vallée des Merveilles, such as Mont Bégo, Grand Capelet and Cime du Diable.

🗻 Level: Difficult
🗻 Distance: +1170 m
🗻 Distance: 20 km
🗻 Starting point: Parking du Lac des Mesches (Saint-Dalmas-de-Tende)

Check out the route.

Tours to do with the family

1. Walking and picking on the Lacs de Prals trail

Looking for a wonderful way to introduce the little ones to the joys of hiking? Point out the park with the forty species of clover on the map. Here, the Lacs de Prals trail is a great way to introduce your little ones to walking. As tummies begin to rumble, the five lakes along the way provide the perfect backdrop for a tangy snack. On the menu: delicious blueberries picked in the valley. Be careful, though, not to overindulge and respect the regulations. While savouring your pickings, watch the tapering ridges of Pointe André and the Gélas touching the clouds.

🗻 Level: Medium
🗻 Height gain: + 530 m
🗻 Duration: 4 hours
🗻 Starting point: Sanctuaire de Fenestre – Saint-Martin-Vésubie.

Consult the itinerary.

2. Around Europe’s largest natural high-altitude lake

To complete your tribe’s introduction to the pleasures of hiking, make a detour to Lac d’Allos. In this Alpine landscape shaped by centuries of glaciers, all you have to do is marvel at the beauty of the rocky outcrops and jagged peaks. The turquoise jewel of the Mercantour National Park, Lac d’Allos is an ideal family destination, accessible via an interpretation trail. Please note, since summer 2021 parking and access have been regulated.

🗻 Level: Easy
🗻 Height gain: +575 m
🗻 Duration: 4h30
🗻 Starting point: Depart from La Cluite car park.

Consult the itinerary.

Trails for the most seasoned walkers

1. Climbing Mont Ténibre

Inveterate walkers, take up the challenge of climbing Mont Ténibre. The highest point in the Haute-Tinée, this Alpine peak is perched at an altitude of 3031 metres. The route from Rabuons to Vens via Mont Ténibre offers an exceptional two-day hike. There’s nothing like a good night’s sleep at the Rabuons refuge to recharge your batteries in front of the largest lake in the Alpes Maritimes!

🗻 Level: Expert
🗻 Distance: +1944 m
🗻 Starting point: Pont Saint-Antoine (Saint-Etienne-de-Tinée)

Consult the itinerary.

2. Tête de l’Enchastraye via Salso Moreno

Sure footedness a must, embark on the sumptuous Salso Moreno Vallon hike and reach the Tête de l’Enchastraye. Throughout this hike in the heart of the Mercantour National Park, marmots will be your walking companions. At the end, the peak of the Tête de l’Enchastraye invites you to finish in style, with a breathtaking view over the area. A moment out of time, making you quickly forget the efforts made on the trail!

🗻 Level: Expert
🗻 Height gain: +1100 m
🗻 Starting point: From Camp des Fourches (2,240 metres)

Consult the itinerary.

Are there any hiking trails you can do on snowshoes or skis?

Of course! Mercantour hikes offer a range of routes for snowshoeing and skiing enthusiasts.

1. Get away on snowshoes in the Mercantour

If you’re new to the art of snowshoe trekking, opt for the Plateau d’Annelle Here, chamois, roe deer or fox footprints lead the way to the “Belvédère de la Tinée”. 100% natural signposting! Admire the mountain pasture barns along the way, with only their roofs visible in heavy snow.

🗻 Level: Easy

🗻 Height gain: +330 m – 6 km AR

🗻 Starting point: Saint-Dalmas-Le-Selvage

Consult the itinerary.

A keen snowshoer, the ascent to the Pointe des 3 Communes is a real favourite. To walk at sunrise over the airy ridges that encircle the Authion plateau is to forget the laws of weightlessness. This site offers a sumptuous panorama of the Mercantour side as well as the Mediterranean, and sometimes even Corsica. Memorable!

🗻 Level: Easy
🗻 Height gain: + 340 m – 8 km AR
🗻 Starting point: Turini Camp d’Argent
Consult the itinerary.

2. Put on your skis

1 park, 4 valleys and unlimited descents. The Tinée, Vésubie, Roya and Haut-Var invite you onto their snowy slopes. Treat yourself to the most beautiful descent in the Alps on the Grande Barre. It’s an out-of-this-world session for solo skiers or groups of explorers. And if vertiginous slopes and narrow ridges are child’s play for you, juggle mountaineering and ski touring in the upper Tinée valley. So grab your crampons and ice axe!

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Top hikes in the Mercantour National Park:

1️ 🗻 Le sentier des Lacs de Prals – Hiking in the heart of the Vésubie Valley

2️ 🗻 Le tour de la tête du Lac Autier – Hike criss-crossing the Gordolasque Valley

3 🗻 Le Sentier Planétaire de Valberg – Ideal family hike

4 🗻 La traversée Lac de Millefonts – Mont Pépoiri – Ideal for families

5🗻 Le Lac Nègre – Advanced hikers

6 🗻 La Tête de l’Enchastraye – Advanced hikers

Easy access to the Mercantour’s iconic hikes thanks to the summer shuttles

During the summer season, several shuttles provide easy access to the spectacular scenery of the Vésubie valley and the Mercantour National Park, departing from Nice or from the mountain villages. This practical and eco-responsible service particularly concerns hikes to Lac Autier (Gordolasque valley) and Lac Nègre (Boréon sector), two popular routes in summer.

From 5 July to 21 September 2025, the Bus Été Vésubie links Nice to the villages of the valley. This bus offers connections to two mountain shuttles providing access to the most emblematic trailheads:

The navette de la Gordolasque, available every day, including public holidays, runs between Roquebillière and the Pont du Countet. The latter marks the start of the hike to Lac Autier, in the heart of a wild and unspoilt setting.
The navette du Boréon, operating on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, runs between Saint-Martin-Vésubie and the gateway to the National Park, heading for Lac Nègre, famous for its crystal-clear waters and stunning views.

By opting for these shuttles, visitors can limit their environmental impact while enjoying easier access to the trails. It’s a great way to discover the mountains in a different way, with complete peace of mind.

More information

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