Introduction

A small gorge that gives you a real canyon feeling! You can plan to follow the course down in the river bed, difficult spots can be bypassed locally. However, the official and marked hiking trails are only on both sides high up on the limestone plateau. The description deals with a route in the valley floor and is only recommended in stable and dry weather (risk of flooding).

You can't walk in the river bed in winter and after rain, too long and confusing sections are then under water. There are exits to the plateau and trails on an inner canyon rim (west side), but they are all difficult, overgrown, and sometimes over scree slopes. Only the Traverse de l'Échelle crossing is secured with via ferrata equipment, but this section also requires elementary climbing skills.

The facts

6,8 km total distance

3 h walk time

260 m total elevation

orientation easy on the plateau, very challenging in the gorge

mark 75% of the total distance

50% easy trails

20% in the riverbed

10% Trails with scramble passages

5% via ferrata

5% hard-surfaced city alleys

5% dirt roads

<5% hard-surfaced quiet side streets

dangers Heat in summer, risk of falling and drowning

children only with climbing experience

useful picnic stuff

required hiking boots, hiking equipment and water

difficulty level UIAA 2 (three points rule)

Difficulty level via ferrata F (easy)

GPS coordinates (WGS84) of start and end point 43.918778,5.58505

downloads

Public transport

There is no public transport to Oppedette or the relevant section of the Calavon river course. The best way is to take a taxi from Céreste. Expressline 62 (Avignon-Digne) takes you to Céreste, but only 4 times a day, see Zou! (only french).

Access by car

From the south and the major axis Cavaillon, Apt, Forcalquier you can reach the Calavon valley via the D33 towards Viens, then via the D155/D201 towards Oppedette. From the north (Sault, Banon) you can arrive via Simiane-la-Rotonde.

Useful parking spaces

Two free car parks: at the exit of the gorge (Parking du Grand Vallat) and in the northern part of the gorge (Parking du Belvédère). The tour is described from the Grand Vallat car park.

Hints

The official circular tour (Tour des Gorges) on the upper edges of the gorge is marked throughout. On the east side is the long-distance hiking trail GR4/GR6. This one is easy, but this side doesn't offer as many deep views into the gorge. The west side is more exposed, the trail also goes deeper into the gorge. The tour described here runs partly in the north part of the west side on the way there and partly in the south part of the west side on the way back. The start of this tour runs partly on the gorge floor, so the round describes an eight.

After rainfall and in winter, only the official circular tour (signposted) can be undertaken. Canyoning is forbidden in the gorge (protected area).

The whole region is a zone with a high risk of forest fires. In summer, but also in other seasons when it is very dry or by strong winds, access to the forest areas can be regulated. As a result, the roads may be closed to traffic and/or the trails prohibited to hikers. Current information: Access map to the forests of Alpes de Haute Provence (only french). The map shows the colours green, yellow, orange and red which correspond to levels of danger.

The sections

1. The first section is the most difficult, as we walk along the river bed. However, this is not always possible: deep pools in narrow sections, which are also filled with water in summer, or high rock steps force alternative routes. This are to be found on the west (left) side on a kind of shoulder that has to be climbed at least twice (however, you don't climb up to the official tour of the gorges). These are short climbs right on the edge of the inner gorge (fear of heights is an issue here). If in doubt, be sure to take the marked circular route!
   The scours and water-filled sections are very variable, but some water remains in the gorge throughout the year. In early summer you should be able to swim through some of these waterholes, but by mid-summer the water turns greenish and less inviting. In the off-season, the situation must be evaluated individually and workarounds must be sought independently. Do not enter the gorge if there is a risk of thunderstorms! This tour describes a route without water contact in midsummer.
2. The northern part of the west side on the Tour des Gorges is a marked trail to the village of Oppedette (bar open in summer).
3. From Oppedette and the Belvédère back to the starting point via the Traversée de l'Échelle and the southern part of the west side on the marked Tour des Gorges.

There is no source of drinking water on the entire tour.

Section 1: Parking du Grand Vallat - Traversée de l'Échelle

➙ 1,4 km ... 45 min ➚ 100 m ➘ 75 m ↝ easy

10% via ferrata, few marks

80% easy trails, with marks

10% hard-surfaced city alleys, without marks

Directly from the parking lot, we go down the dirt road parallel to the river bed in the direction of the level at the gorge exit. When you are at the level of the dry creek bed, you change into it. Now pass in it upstream and under the road bridge through (river level). Then pass the high rock wall on the left.

The river bed widens again and you pass a kind of very flat gate. It marks the beginning of the inner canyon. Here, a flat path leads up to a kind of ramp on the left. Normally you have to climb up here from the river bed, because further ahead after about 300 m there is a bottleneck with deep pools and steep steps. The water is okay (otherwise there wouldn't be so many insect larvae in it), but not inviting.

Without the appropriate canyoning equipment, you can only try your way along the sides, it's over for us here.

As always, exploring these tight spots pays off, even if you have to walk back afterwards. That's why there are some photos of it here. Depending on the water level, you can go under the natural rock arch, which we can see again later on the bypass from above. Shortly thereafter it becomes impassable for us.

The cul-de-sac is worth it just to see these bottlenecks and scours! The size of the scour does not change on the scale of a human lifetime, but the proportion of gravel on the bottom and the water level can vary greatly from scour to scour and also vary from day to day (even hourly if the water is running). When the scours are full of water, it is essential to check the depth one at a time before venturing into them. When water is flowing, you also have to pay attention to the current. As the waterholes are directly in the bedrock there are no siphons or similar hazards but even a small current can create a gyro in the scours making it very difficult to get out again. The walls are slippery.

So if you don't want to go too far or just come back from the dead end, you have to get out of the canyon on the left before the first right turn after the bridge (on the IGN map this is the place where the 450 m contour line apparently crosses the gorge at the plateau). The picture shows the exact spot, but you have to get out on the left (the hiker in the photo examined the other bank when exploring for this description).

The path that you take here is not the marked path of the Tour des Gorges further up (indicated by signs at the car parks). It is an old path used by fishermen and an old approach for canyoning in the gorge (now forbidden). It is quite well marked with yellow dots, but these signs will certainly not be renewed any further. In this way you get to the shoulder of the inner canyon, you get about ten meters above the creek bed. So you have a good insight in between and will recognize places that you previously tried to walk through below.

After less than a quarter of an hour's walk, you get the impression that the path is almost pushing you back into the narrow gorge. You actually have to go down again, first about three meters to an intermediate plateau (2 people can stand here) and then you go over a ledge into the river bed that opens further ahead. This section is particularly difficult for those inexperienced in climbing, but it is doable with children, provided they have some experience and are well instructed. There are good holds and you can send the most experienced person in the group to the central plateau, who will then be able to help the others.

Already from the small intermediate plateau you will see that it gets much easier further up the stream bed.

After bypassing the bottleneck, we are comfortably on our way again in the river bed.

Nevertheless, the canyon narrows again and depending on the water level in the pools, you can try to go further.

Those in the photo are not particularly deep, but you never know what is ahead.

If you can't get through, you have to go back and look for a vertical yellow marker on the west bank. A small, dry side canyon also opens here. On the IGN map, this is point 419, south of Saint-André.

You have to climb much steeper than before to get to the shoulder of the inner canyon.

After about 10 minutes the same game again: down to the bottom of the canyon, it is easier to descend here, but you have to avoid the brambles. Always help and secure the weaker ones!

After a few minutes you reach a large and high semi-cave. Here you come across the marked gorge crossing called Traversée de l'Échelle. There are three options now:

1. Continue forward in the gorge and before the canyon narrows again take the via ferrata on the right (east) up to the Belvédère. You are at the top in about 10 minutes, there are climbing aids and iron grips. At the top it's another 10 minutes to the left to the village of Oppedette and to the right back to the Grand Vallat car park in 45 minutes. Here you use the GR long-distance hiking trail, which often leads far away from the edge of the plateau.
2. In the bottom of the gorge you have to advance even further, but you have to swim here and take appropriate precautions (not examined in more detail). However, it pays off to visit this section exploratively and then come back again.
3. Take a well-deserved break, enjoy the area and then turn left up in Aven de l'Échelle. It is our choice!

Section 2: Traversée & Aven de l'Échelle - Oppedette

➙ 3,3 km ... 1 h ➚ 80 m ➘ 145 m ↝ easy

5% hard-surfaced city alleys, without marks

5% dirt roads, with marks

70% easy trails, with marks

10% via ferrata, few marks

5% in the riverbed, few marks

5% hard-surfaced quiet side streets, without marks

At the top of the half-cave, as the name suggests, is effectively a ladder. It leads up steep steel rungs and through a hole between two large boulders up to the circular path around the gorge. Here we go north, so to the right.

The path then leads up a little and the view of the gorge is getting better and better. Later, the few houses in the small town of Oppedette also come into view. On the way you think you are passing the village, but the path follows a ridge down (climbing area on the left) down to the river bed of the Calavon.

The trail is well guided, secured and easy. On the right in the picture it goes downstream.

You ford the stream and then climb up to Oppedette along a conglomerate rock wall. There is a small bar in the village and there is accommodation in the summer. The car park at the Belvédère is quickly reached via the cemetery. A second car parked here shortens the way to the Grand Vallat car park at the gorge exit.

Section 3: Oppedette - Parking du Grand Vallat

➙ 2,1 km ... 1 h 15 min ➚ 80 m ➘ 40 m ↝ very challenging

10% dirt roads, without marks

60% in the riverbed

30% Trails with scramble passages, old marks

You can also stay on the east bank to return to the starting point at the Grand Vallat car park. The way is much easier here. However, it is more interesting to take the more difficult path and descend via the small via ferrata under the Belvédère. The iron clamps and brackets are old but in good condition, the rock is a bit worn. However, you have to lend a hand. Feasible for all good hikers and also children (type A: little difficult).

The vantage point is well secured and much older than the large car park. Opposite you can see the western part of the circular route around the gorge.

This section is well secured, but on the downhill you have to be careful with the smooth stones.

Below we will again see a section from the start of the hike. Even if it wasn't the nicest, we have to trudge up the Aven de l'Échelle again. At the top, however, this time we go left on the Tour des Gorges. This marked path circles the gorge between the end points, where we also pass, but only at the top of the edge. However, it is by no means flat, some side valleys have to be walked out, and the path often deviates from the edge.

The path west of the gorge brings us to the bridge at the end of the gorge. The starting point is on the other side.

Sources and additional information

It is better to use a good topographic hiking map: this tour is on the IGN map "Apt, Parc naturel régional du Luberon", scale 1:25000, 3242OT.

If you don't want to bother with a paper map, you can also use mapping apps on your cell phone. On the one hand, it is the Géoportail app from the official map service IGN. However, it requires access to the data network and this is sometimes difficult in canyons or remote locations.

Alternatively, you can use apps that store data directly on the device. They're generally not free, but they don't cost much. We mainly use OSMAnd, here it is possible to add contour lines, relief shading, markings and others. To store this data on your phone you need a lot of space.

Of course, one needs access to satellites for the GPS signal with any app. In some canyons this is not the case. Therefore, do not rely on the position shown, but read the map on your phone as you would read it on paper. Most apps are available for Android and iPhone. The applications usually allow us to record the route travelled and also view the GPS files offered for each of our hikes.

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