Hiking in the Mercantour

An exceptional natural area to be protected

With its impressive landscapes and protected natural surroundings, the Mercantour National Park is the ideal destination for keen hikers. Whether you prefer one-day hikes or hiking over several days, here is some key information to prepare for your adventure in the Mercantour.

Going on a one-day hike in the Mercantour

The Mercantour is a real Eldorado for keen hikers with more than a hundred one-day itineraries. Needless to say, each hike is worth it, but it’s impossible to name them all here! Nevertheless, here is a small selection of top hikes to do in one day:

Lac de Trécolpas: the itinerary follows part of the GR42 along the Torrent du Boréon and takes you to the outstanding Lac de Trécolpas via the Refuge de la Cougourde. Allow a total of 4 hours of walking.
Lac Niré: discover the Gordolasque valley and maybe get to see some chamois, cross the salt road, stop off in the Refuge de Nice and arrive at Lac Niré with its unique geology. A quite accessible 5-hour hike.
The engravings and lakes in the Fontanalbe valley: a 6-hour hike which will take you to the Voie Sacrée, an open-air museum at the foot of Mont Bégo showing rock engravings which date back over 5,000 years, and to the banks of the Jumeaux lakes and vast Lac Vert.
Lacs de Prals Circuit: an absolute must in the Mercantour! You can do the quite accessible circuit in 4½ hours. You will be able to discover 5 mountain lakes and go through pretty prairies, which are often home to marmots.
Mont Pelat: the round trip to Mont Pelat, a summit which reaches an altitude of 3,051 metres, can be done in 6½ hours from the Parking du Laus and is therefore for hikers in good shape.

You’re here with the family? Here is a bonus of three easy hikes of under 3 hours for short and long legs:

La Vacherie du Boréon: a family hike in the Boréon valley, amid Swiss stone pines, larches and wild raspberry bushes.
In the footsteps of Belle et Sébastien: A peaceful hike in the Gordolasque valley, where you may come across the house which was used in the filming of the TV series.
Lac d’Allos: from the same starting point as for Mont Pelat, an interpretive trail accessible to people with reduced mobility (by joëlette) will guide you to this emblematic lake in the Mercantour.

Setting off for several days: the long-distance hikes in the Mercantour

You prefer to set out on a long-distance trail with your rucksack? Immerse yourself in the Mercantour National Park with 3 long-distance hiking trails:

La Grande traversée des Alpes ou GR®5: this gruelling 620-km itinerary links Lake Léman to the Mediterranean Sea via the Queyras, Ubaye and Mercantour massifs. It officially enters the National Park at the Col de Larche and its route is made up of magnificent landscapes, Alpine passes, traditional villages and mythical huts. After an immersion in the mountains, the descent towards the Niçois hinterland ends at the water’s edge in Nice.
La Grande Traversée du Mercantour or GR®52: this 200-km itinerary links Entraunes to Menton in 17 days, and goes through the unavoidable sites of the Mercantour National Park. An exceptional wildlife, high-altitude lakes, unique geological formations, historic heritage and pastoralism. This hike is for seasoned hikers. There are many huts for authentic breaks in the middle of this wild and preserved territory.
The GR®52 A: starting from La Brigue, this long-distance trail takes you across the Haute-Roya and down towards the south to the superb village of Saorge, and then on to Sospel, where it meets up with the GR®52. The last portion goes along the Italian border and ends in Menton.

Hiking in winter, yes!

In winter, the Mercantour becomes a white paradise for keen snow-shoers and cross-country skiers. Whether you start from the ski resorts like Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage, Isola 2000 and Auron, or the many villages and hamlets, the Mercantour National Park has a number of itineraries with breathtaking panoramas of the snow-covered peaks. You can also complete your adventure out in the wild with a night in a hut, to immerse yourself completely in the atmosphere of the mountains. Please note that most of these huts are not manned during the winter, so you need to check their accessibility, remember to pay for your night and of course, respect the few basic rules to take care of the place.

You’re just beginning ski touring or you don’t know which itinerary to choose? Get all the information you need from the local tourist offices, and also the bureaux de guides. Snowshoeing or ski touring with an Esprit Parc National-approved mountain leader can be a good way to discover Mercantour serenely and safely!

The Mercantour in sustainable mobility

To discover the valleys of the Mercantour, public transport is an excellent option: you don’t have to keep your eyes on the road as you drive, you can enjoy the landscapes you go through and avoid packed car parks! A network of trains, buses and shuttles makes it easier to get to the National Park hikes without a car. Each valley has a regular bus line linking towns and villages, such as line 90 between Nice and La Bolline via the Vésubie, with more frequent trips during the summer.

Regional trains, such as the Train des Merveilles (Nice-Tende) or Les Chemins de Fer de Provence (Nice-Digne), also make it possible to reach the mountains and they meet shuttles to natural sites. You can also set out on a hike directly from the villages of Sospel, Breil-sur-Roya, Saorge… Please note that the Train des Merveilles is undergoing work until the end of 2025, and a bus has been substituted to get from Nice to Breil-sur-Roya. In addition to this, summer shuttles and transports by request serve strategic points and emblematic sites such as Gordolasque, Boréon, Val d’Allos, Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage, Isola 2000, etc. Get more information from the tourist offices!

Coming to the Mercantour without a car

The right reflexes

The Mercantour National Park is an area which is both magnificent and fragile. There are specific regulations for the heart of the Park, signposted with green hexagons, to preserve the beauty and biodiversity of this natural setting. Keep your eyes peeled to identify them and jot down these golden rules to be respected:

Do not feed the animals: Even though they are cute, marmots do not need your picnic. Their natural food is essential to their health.
Our dog friends are not allowed: even on a lead or in your arms, they disturb wildlife. But there are lots of other places to walk with your four-legged companion!
Look but do not touch: no picking of flowers or collecting natural souvenirs. Take photos and keep memories… in your head!
No drones: the presence of drones and the noise they make are disturbing for animals and hikers.
Camping prohibited, bivouac allowed: no wild camping, but you can bivouac is possible from 7 pm to 9 am, at over one hour’s walk from the access points.
No waste: take everything that you brought back with you. The best waste is one you don’t produce!
Silence, listen to nature: enjoy the birdsong and the sound of the wind in the trees. Avoid using loudspeakers and other noisy disturbances.
Fires and barbecues not allowed: the fire risk is too high. Keep your grilled meat for home!
Hunting prohibited: wildlife is protected! The only safaris allowed here are photo safaris.

Respect the herd guard dogs: if a patou comes towards you barking, stay calm and leave him a bit of time to lose interest in you.

Excursions to discover

All the walks