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The Verdon Gorge

A gorge 25 kilometres long and up to 700 metres deep with turquoise water at the bottom. Around it lie the Lac de Sainte-Croix and the lavender fields of Valensole.

View from Point Sublime into the deep gorge of the Verdon
View from Point Sublime into the gorge.

A gorge with walls up to 700 metres high

The Verdon carved out a gorge of about 25 kilometres between the Clue de Carajuan and the Lac de Sainte-Croix. The rock walls are up to 700 metres high. The gorge has been a protected landscape since 1990 and since 1997 it has been part of the Verdon Regional Nature Park.

The Lac de Sainte-Croix is a reservoir of about 2,200 hectares that began filling in 1973. The old village of Les Salles-sur-Verdon disappeared under the water in 1974. Boats with combustion engines are not allowed on the lake.

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie clings to the rocks above the lake. Between two rock faces there hangs a star on a chain of about 135 metres. On the Valensole plateau the lavender usually blooms from mid-June to mid-July.

July and August are hot and busy

The best time to walk is from April to June and in September and October. In July and August it is often more than 30 degrees and it gets busy. From 25 June to 20 September the forests can be closed when the fire risk is high (in 2026 already from 19 June): every evening the prefecture publishes a map showing which areas are open the next day. Swimming in the gorge is dangerous and forbidden in many places because the river can rise quickly when the dams release water. So stay away from the banks.

The gorge and the river seen from the Sentier Blanc-Martel
The gorge from the Sentier Blanc-Martel.

Beautiful walks

Sentier Blanc-Martel

6.5 hours · one way · about 600 m of climbing · starts at the Chalet de la Maline

The best-known walk through the gorge itself: from the Chalet de la Maline along the river to Point Sublime. You pass through two tunnels of 110 and 670 metres and at the Brèche Imbert you climb metal stairs. Bring a torch. The last section between the Couloir Samson and Point Sublime has been closed since 14 August 2026 after a rockfall (as of 12 November 2026): from the car park at the Couloir Samson you then walk along the road and the GR49 to Point Sublime. Dogs are not allowed and the path is not suitable for children under 8. You get back to your car by shuttle bus: it runs from Friday to Sunday in spring, every day in summer and from Thursday to Monday in autumn. Since 1 November it has stopped running (as of 12 November 2026). Park in La Palud-sur-Verdon because in the afternoon the bus no longer goes back to La Maline. Camping municipal le Grand Canyon is right next to the bus stop in La Palud.

View route on the map

Couloir Samson

there and back · 1.5 hours · about 150 m of climbing · starts at the Couloir Samson car park

A short introduction to the gorge: through the 670-metre Baou tunnel to Trescaïre and back the same way. Bring a torch and a jacket. Camping Verdon Carajuan is about 3 kilometres away.

View route on the map

Notre-Dame-de-Beauvoir in Moustiers

3.5 km · 2 hours · circular walk · about 120 m of climbing · starts in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

Up to the chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Beauvoir with a view over the village. You walk back through the olive groves of Les Claux. Waymarked in yellow. Camping Montdenier is just over 2 kilometres away.

View route on the map

Basses Gorges near Quinson

about 10 km · 4 hours · circular walk · about 300 m of climbing · starts at the prehistory museum in Quinson

Along the old canal keeper's path through the lower part of the gorge. You go through a 120-metre tunnel and over metal stairs. Bring a torch. A short detour takes you to the chapel of Sainte-Maxime. Dogs are not allowed here, not even on a lead. The path is closed for works from 28 October to 13 November 2026. Camping Les Prés du Verdon is a few hundred metres from the start.

View route on the map

Balcony path of Brandis

9.7 km · 3.5 hours · circular walk · about 320 m of climbing · starts in the hamlet of La Colle near Castellane

First along a narrow road and then up a path to the hamlet of Villars-Brandis. Then you follow a high balcony path above the Verdon to Brandis and return along the old road. The path to the Cadières de Brandis is closed. This walk is rated as hard. Camping Calme et Nature is right next to the start.

View route on the map

The chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Beauvoir against the rocks above Moustiers-Sainte-Marie
The chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Beauvoir above Moustiers.
The green water of the Verdon in the Basses Gorges near Quinson
The Basses Gorges near Quinson.

Our campsites nearby

For each campsite the map shows the circular walks that start close by.