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FR-83 Tour de l'Estérel - Gravel 68 km, D+ 1410 m, 37 passes

Author description

Author : René Mercier
Course Completed in May 2024
Departure : Malpey forest lodge; car park 100 metres before it; very popular with walkers, so you need to arrive very early; access via the RD N7, which links Fréjus to Mandelieu. If the car park is full, park at the Col du Testanier on the side of the RD N7.

Tourist information

The Estérel coastal massif is of volcanic origin and is composed of an acidic parent rock that gives it its glowing red colour (red rhyolite). The forests of the massif are of the Mediterranean type (maritime pine, cork oak, etc.) and are protected by biological reserves or Natura 2000 zones. The views of the Mediterranean Sea in the middle of the route are magnificent, but the interior of the massif is just as interesting. Visit forest houses remain in the mountain range. Access is restricted, and many mountain passes are off-limits: before setting off, you should check the list of off-limits passes, as it is subject to change, and the guidelines from the Syndicat Mixte du Grand Site de l'Estérel. Avoid going there in summer because of the high level of tourism and the risk of fire, as the massif could be closed off in the event of drought and wind.

Technical specifications

The route is 97 % suitable for cycling. It starts with a descent along an old tarmac road (apart from the return leg at the Pas d’Adam) until just past the Col des Darboussières.
The route up to the Col des Sacs is a bit tricky: it’s a steep climb and the track is strewn with stones (there may be 400 m of easy pushing, depending on the cyclist). After the Col de Roche Noire, there’s a stretch of at least 700 m where you’ll need to push your bike along a path that’s sometimes tricky. After the Col de la Cabre, you’ll reach the Castelli crossroads without any difficulty.
Those who would prefer to avoid these difficulties should turn back at the Col des Sacs (for example) and return via the Castelli track, starting from the Col de Colle Douce and continuing to the Castelli junction: this will count as three passes, covering barely 2 km and 70 m of elevation gain.
The rest of the route is easier; at the Col du Mistral, you rejoin a tarmac road for about twenty kilometres, except when heading to and from the mountain passes. It is worth noting a 1 km stretch around 9 % after the Col des Lentisques, above Le Trayas.
After the Col des Suvières, once you’ve come back from the Baisse de Mathieu, there’s a 4 km climb, including a tricky 400 m stretch full of pebbles.
Towards the end, the road leading to Mont Vinaigre is quite steep for 3 km (with sections at 8–9 %).
Bring plenty of food and water, as there is no way of getting supplies.

37 passes

1 - No Adam	344 m	FR-83-0344
2 - Pas de la Louve	139 m	FR-83-0139
3 - Darboussières pass	100 m	FR-83-0100
4 - Pas du Lièvre	109 m	FR-83-0110b
5 - Col de Colle Douce	108 m	FR-83-0108
6 - Col de l'Aiguille	103 m	FR-83-0110a
7 - Col des Sacs	156 m	FR-83-0155
8 - Roche Noire pass	249 m	FR-83-0249a
9 - Col de l'Essuyadou	171 m	FR-83-0171
10 - Col de la Cabre	165 m	FR-83-0157a
11 - Col Gueydon	125 m	FR-83-0130
12 - Col de la Laouve	80 m	FR-83-0080c
13 - Col du Mistral	93 m	FR-83-0093
14 - Belle Barbe pass	45 m	FR-83-0045
15 - Baisse de Théole	127 m	FR-83-0127
16 - Baisse de la Croix de Mourrefrey	140 m	FR-83-0140a
17 - Col du Caneiret	115 m	FR-83-0125
18 - Baisse de l'Aire	85 m	FR-83-0085
19 - Toad drop	164 m	FR-83-0164
20 - Col de l'Evêque	160 m	FR-83-0160b
21 - Col des Lentisques	263 m	FR-83-0263b
22 - Drop in wild boar numbers	250 m	FR-83-0250a
23 - Notre-Dame Pass	323 m	FR-83-0323
24 - Col Martin	270 m	FR-06-0270
25 - Col de la Cadière	241 m	FR-06-0241
26 - Baisse des Cascades	263 m	FR-83-0263a
27 - Col des Trois Termes	303 m	FR-06-0303
28 - Col des Suvières	252 m	FR-83-0249b
29 - Mathieu's drop	204 m	FR-83-0204
30 - Baisse de la Grosse Vache	201 m	FR-83-0201
31 - Baisse de la Petite Vache	205 m	FR-83-0205
32 - Baisse Violette	362 m	FR-83-0361
33 - Massacon drop	402 m	FR-83-0402
34 - Truc de Michel pass	390 m	FR-83-0389
35 - Col de l'Aire de l'Olivier	370 m	FR-83-0368
36 - Vinegar drop	550 m	FR-83-0550
37 - Testanier pass	311 m	FR-83-0311

Keywords : Estérel, Vinaigre, Malpey, Fréjus, centcols

Openrunner link, interactive map, profile, track : https://www.openrunner.com/route-details/23502513

This itinerary is provided for information only. The author accepts no liability, nor that of the Club des Cent Cols, for any imponderables due to the cyclist himself, the equipment used or anything to do with the road, tracks and paths, their surroundings or other users.

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