1. Grand Tour of the Merveilles - In the heart of the Mercantour National Park - Stage 1

The departure point for your itinerary is indicated by marker 82 (1400m). Head up the wide track which rises pleasantly through the larch forest. Once you reach the National Park Information Office, (b86), continue to the left and keep rising along a gentle slope on a track which can be used by all-terrain vehicles along the Minière valley (m87, 88). At m88, cross the mountain stream via the footbridge and at m88a turn left alongside the river where there are attractive chalets on your right. At m383, keep heading in the same direction and reach the track having first crossed another bridge, still following the yellow markers.

At marker 89, take the path rather than the track for a while: this provides you with a shortcut, avoiding a few superfluous hairpin bends. Although the path is rather more difficult it does not pose any technical problems and is far more picturesque (Val d’Enfer). Get back onto the track at marker 90 and continue until Lac Long Supérieur des Merveilles (2111 m), upon whose southern shores can be found the Les Merveilles CAF refuge.